Critical thinking skills, English language, and intercultural competence among Chinese medical student

The study aimed at exploring the relationship among critical thinking skills, English language and intercultural competence among Chinese medical students.It proposed an English program to enhance these skills and competence.The study employed descriptive method and respondents answered through the e-questionnaires.A total of 630 students from four-year levels from a medical college in Anhui in the eastern part of China were involved in the study.Results showed that respondents hold a generally positive attitudes towards critical thinking, English language and intercultural competence, however, they have relatively weak confidence and abilities in understanding within the aspects of thinking critically, listening capacities and knowledge of other cultures, especially in the subscales of understanding texts from various fields, listening and comprehending spoken English in a variety of accents and dialects, and understanding foreign cultural taboos.It also indicates that critical thinking skills and English language competence are closely related, critical thinking and intercultural competence are closely related, and intercultural competence and English language competence are closely related as well.The study showed that the better the English language competence is, the better critical thinking skills are employed.In addition, the better critical thinking skill are applied, the better intercultural competence is.Therefore, an English program was put forward to help students in medical college to improve their English related abilities and skills.