In the first part of this article, we document and reflect on a six-year project to develop materials and a word list for undergraduates studying English for Medical Purposes (EMP) at a medical school in Japan. We describe the initial planning, early stage, mid-term innovation, and final stage of the project. We also recount how plans changed to reflect developing understandings of medicine and the need to consider both discourse and vocabulary together in order to create a word list embedded within the student materials. In addition, we note how plans for online materials were changed to create a flipped-learning course rather than a purely online course.
In the second part of the article, we discuss the relationship between general English and English for Medical Purposes, particularly with regard to vocabulary and grammar. We conclude by considering how further research on EMP could lead to a fully integrated English language curriculum for undergraduates.