Assessment of German Language Needs Among Health Professionals in Nigeria Seeking Specialist Training Abroad

This study assesses the German language needs of Nigerian health professionals seeking specialist medical and surgical training in German-speaking countries, with a focus on medical doctors and pharmacists from institutions in the South South geopolitical zone, particularly in Bayelsa and Edo states. Germany has become a preferred destination for Nigerian health professionals pursuing postgraduate specialist training, driven by the availability of DAAD scholarships, the quality of German medical education, and the long-standing ties between Nigerian and German academic medical institutions. However, the specific German language requirements of health professionals in clinical and academic training contexts remain inadequately mapped for pre-departure planning purposes. The study employs a survey design, administering a structured needs analysis questionnaire to 90 health professionals who had either applied for or returned from specialist training placements in Germany. The questionnaire covers professional communication domains, self-assessed proficiency gaps, and the perceived adequacy of pre-departure language preparation. Findings reveal critical gaps in medical German vocabulary, patient communication, and formal academic writing, with oral clinical communication identified as the area of greatest need. Pre-departure language courses are reported as insufficient in duration and clinical specificity. The study recommends the development of a specialised medical German language preparation programme and guidelines for Nigerian postgraduate medical training institutions. Keywords: German language needs, health professionals, specialist training, South South Nigeria, medical German.