FOREIGN LANGUAGES AS ELECTIVE COURSES IN MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES OF SOUTH KOREA AND THE USA: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH IN THE LIGHT OF PEDAGOGICAL COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF A. V. VYKHRUSHCH

Abstract

Abstract. The article analyzes the teaching of foreign languages as elective courses in medical universities in South Korea and the USA, particularly through the lens of pedagogical comparative studies, taking into account the scientific legacy of A. V. Vykhrushch. In the context of globalization and the internationalization of the educational space, foreign language proficiency has become an important element of medical students’ professional training. Communicative competence facilitates effective communication with patients, colleagues, and the academic community, and also provides opportunities for international academic mobility and collaboration. Special attention is given to the experience of South Korea, where the study of foreign languages became an important part of medical education after the Korean War, when the need to learn foreign languages was linked to international cooperation and access to scientific medical literature. Later, English became dominant, but the practice of learning other languages, such as Chinese and Japanese, also developed, enhancing the competitiveness of graduates in the international labor market. In the USA, the history of foreign language teaching in medical universities has had several stages, from limited language studies to the introduction of specialized Spanish language courses for doctors, driven by the multicultural situation in the country. A comparative analysis of the experiences of South Korea and the USA shows that the integration of foreign languages into medical education contributes to the development of cultural sensitivity, which is an important aspect of modern medical practice. The article also discusses the significance of language courses in improving medical students’ professional skills and their role in preparing for participation in international medical research and conferences.