Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Scientific English I
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
By appointment through email
Monica Clua - mclua@uic.es
Josh Frank - jfrank@uic.es
Introduction
Evidence-based practices and professional activity in biomedical science rely on the fruitful navigation and critical reading of the scientific literature, namely the full scientific article, which is largely published in English. This course offers students fast-track access to understanding this complex genre with its dense text, by looking at the structure, function and intention of the text. Furthermore, students will be introduced to simple tools to critique the quality of a scientific article also.
The course focuses on vitamin supplementation, and in particular Vitamin D, and the relationship to disease outcomes. The course materials are designed to optimise interaction between students and teachers as the vehicle to learning the content and the language in learning to ‘talk the talk’. Knowledge and its language are inseparable
Pre-course requirements
Recommended minimum level of English at the start of the course is B1 or higher
Objectives
- To prepare and equip students with the language resources necessary to understand, analyse and present biomed research in English.
- To give students a basic understanding of research designs.
- To develop students’ interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in an additional language
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
BASIC COMPETENCIES
CB3: to be able to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) on which a critical reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature can be based
CB4: to be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialized and non-specialized audience
GENERAL COMPETENCES:
CG8: to be able to use complementary tools towards the fundamental training in the Ddegree, which will facilitate the graduate’s later job placement.
TRANSVERSAL COMPETENCES:
CT1 to develop the appropriate organizational and planning skills when needed.
CT2 to develop the ability to solve problems.
CT3 to develop the necessary skills for analysis and synthesis.
CT4 to be able to interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
CT6 to learn how to communicate, present presentations and write scientific work.
CT7 to be able to work as a team.
CT10 to be able to carry out autonomous learning.
SPECIFIC COMPETENCES:
CE21: to be able to apply communication tools specific to the professional environment of the biomedical sciences in English.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students will be able to:
- Describe the metabolic processes of different vitamins
- Synthesize evidence from various sources.
- Distinguish between experimental and non-experimental research
- Describe the contribution of non-experimental research to experimental research
- Identify the relationship between a research question and research methodology
- Identify and describe the structure and function of a full research article
- Analyse a research article using validated criteria
- Discern main points of a study
- Give a clear and well-organised oral presentation of an experimental study
Syllabus
|
Monday, Jan 30: 4-6h
|
Tuesday, Jan 31: 2-4h
|
|
Monday, Feb 6: 4-6h
|
Tuesday, Feb 7: 2-4h
|
|
Monday, Feb 13: 4-6h
|
Tuesday, Feb 14: 2-4h
|
|
Monday, Feb 20: 4-6h
|
Monday, Feb 27: 4-6h
|
|
Monday, Mar 6: 4-6h
|
Tuesday, Mar 7: 2-4h
|
|
Monday, Mar 13: 4-6h
|
Monday, Mar 20: 4-6h
|
|
Tuesday, Mar 21: 2-4h
|
Tuesday, Mar 28: 2-4h MIDTERM EXAM |
|
Monday, Apr 11: 2-4h
|
Monday, Apr 17: 4-6h
|
|
Monday, Apr 24: 4-6
|
Tuesday, Apr 25: 2-4h
|
|
Monday, May 8: 4-6h
|
Tuesday, May 16: 2-4h
|
|
Wednesday , May 31: 2-4h FINAL EXAM |
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Course activities are based on collaborative problem-based learning designed to promote the development of research related knowledge and discussion using the language of Biomedical Science in English.
The main project of the course is based on the reading, analysis and presentation of a full research article in small groups.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
|
Date |
Activity |
% of final course mark |
|
Tuesday, March 28: 2-4h Wednesday , May 31: 2-4h |
Final exam
|
15% 25% |
|
Weekly |
Course work
|
20%
|
|
Presentation and project dossier due Tuesday, May 16 |
Group project
|
40% |
Attendance and participation in class form part of continuous evaluation, which is fundamental to passing the course. You cannot pass the course by only taking the final exam in any sitting.
An overall score of 5/10 is necessary to pass the course.
Should a student miss the midterm or final exam, they should present a valid justification to make arrangements at the discretion of the teacher.
Second sitting exam
Students must contact their teacher before the second sitting exam to arrange any additional tasks required.
Bibliography and resources
Pedagogical materials are based on a wide range of professional and educational resources from current scientific publications and textbooks
Mayer D. Essential Evidence-Based Medicine. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. 2009