We started off in the spring of 2012 with a few dedicated English-speaking SPs (ESSPs) who volunteered to act as simulated patients for medical students. Up until that time, students were practicing English medical interviews through role-playing with peers. Although SPs were already playing an important role in Japanese medical education by then, only the Japanese speaking SPs were involved. The ESSPs helped students gain authentic experience in interviewing patients in English.

The ESSPs were trained in acting, speaking, and on giving effective feedback to the students. Feedback focuses not only on the students’ English language skills but also on their communication skills, professionalism, sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the patient’s illness.

With the increasing importance placed on English communication skills in healthcare, more universities began working with ESSPs. Akita University was one of the first, and the ESSPs continue to go to Akita twice a year since December 2012. Universities that we have worked with include The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, University of Tokyo, Showa University, Toho University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, St. Luke’s International University, Tokushima University, Keio University, Okayama University, Kobe Pharmaceutical University and Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, some of which we continue to work regularly.

As the number of foreign visitors and residents increase in Japan, we hope this association will expand to help healthcare professionals better care for foreign patients.