Mastering medical French: an essential asset for international doctors in France

Medical French Importance **Communication with patients:** Understanding and making oneself understood is essential in diagnosis and treatment. Mastery of medical French allows for the establishment of a trust-based relationship with patients, which is crucial in the health sector. **Collaboration with colleagues:** Smooth communication with other healthcare professionals ensures better coordination and quality patient care. It also allows easier access to professional networks and career development opportunities. Resources for Learning Medical French Online Courses and Applications: Platforms like Duolingo or Babbel offer solid foundations in French. For private lessons, we recommend the Italki platform. For more specialized vocabulary, we recommend the work "Le Français des Médecins". Training Programs and Workshops: French universities and institutions offer intensive training courses. These programs often include practical scenarios and medical role-playing games. We also offer intensive training through our campus. Immersion and Practice: Nothing replaces immersion in a French-speaking environment. Participating in internships or working in a French-speaking environment accelerates learning. Effective Learning Methods Work-Integrated Learning: Taking notes in French during consultations, using French in professional discussions, and asking for feedback from French-speaking colleagues are beneficial practices. **Discussion Groups and Linguistic Exchanges:** Joining online or local discussion groups can promote regular practice. Linguistic exchanges with French-speaking colleagues are also very useful. Foreign Doctors' Testimonials When I talk about French classes, I often remember Marco, our first candidate who had benefited from our campus, at the time, in Rome. Marco had chosen a particularly intensive pace: 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. In addition: reading in French, French media, regular exchanges in French. After 6 weeks, Marco was expressing himself in "the language of Molière". After 12 weeks, he was starting in France.

Conclusion

The path to mastering medical French can be fraught with difficulties, but it is undeniably rewarding. For international doctors in France, it's a crucial step for successful integration, both professionally and personally. It's also a mandatory step for successfully registering with the medical association.