Introducing the Flipped Classroom Approach in an English for Specific Purposes Subject at a Spanish University

Abstract

The Flipped Classroom (FC) teaching approach has emerged as an innovative teaching model for higher education Nursing studies, especially when aligned with the implementation of English programs in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) subjects in university degrees. The core focus of the Flipped Classroom approach is to provide learners with a more interactive, student-centered learning environment, aiming to better equip nursing students with critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills vital for addressing the challenges of modern healthcare. This research explores how this pedagogical strategy has been implemented within a specific Nursing degree course at a Spanish university. The FC approach improves not only students’ learning skills, self-directed learning, and critical thinking, but also this educational approach in a first year English for Specific Purposes course serves as a springboard to help learners tackle more advanced ESP subjects in later stages of their Nursing studies. This study advocates for further exploration and adoption of the FC approach in Nursing studies, highlighting its role in fostering the quality of training and preparing competent healthcare professionals for international practice.