OVERCOMING LANGUAGE INTERFERENCE: STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING LATIN AND ENGLISH LEARNING BY HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of interference between Latin and English in medical students and offers strategies to mitigate its impact on language acquisition. The simultaneous study of these two languages presents unique challenges for medical students, particularly in phonetics, grammar, and the translation of medical terminology. Latin, the foundational language for medical terminology, and English, the dominant language in modern scientific and medical literature, both require mastery for students to excel in their fields. However, interference – when elements from one language negatively affect the learning of another – often complicates the learning process. The study, conducted among first- and second-year medical students at I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, identifies key difficulties students face when learning Latin and English. These include challenges in pronunciation, grammar, and semantics, with phonetic interference being the most pronounced issue. The research findings suggest that while students find Latin more difficult, learning Latin does not significantly hinder English acquisition, and vice versa. However, both languages present distinct phonetic and grammatical challenges that can cause confusion. To reduce interference and enhance language learning outcomes, the article proposes several methods: focusing on pronunciation and stress differences, intensive practice with grammatical rules, bilingual exercises to highlight linguistic contrasts, special phonetics training, and the use of visual aids such as charts and flashcards. These techniques aim to address the primary sources of interference – phonetic and grammatical differences – while facilitating the simultaneous study of both languages. The recommendations derived from this research are designed to improve the quality of medical education in Ukraine by providing effective teaching strategies to help students overcome language interference. Ultimately, by enhancing their proficiency in both Latin and English, students can improve their competitiveness in the global medical field.