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
- CB02 - Students must know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and have the competences that tend to be demonstrated through the creation and defence of arguments and the resolution of problems within their field of study.
- CB03 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) to issue judgements that include a reflection on significant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CB04 - That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CE21 - To apply specific communication tools to professional environments in biomedical sciences in English.
- CG08 - To use tools that are complementary to the basic learning on the degree programme, AND that facilitate labour insertion for graduates.
- CT01 - To develop the organisational and planning skills that are suitable in each moment.
- CT02 - To develop the ability to resolve problems.
- CT03 - To develop analytical and summarising skills.
- CT04 - To interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
- CT05 - To use the internet as a means of communication and a source of information.
- CT06 - To know how to communicate, give presentations and write up scientific reports.
- CT07 - To be capable of working in a team.
- CT08 - To reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- CT09 - To have the ability to develop interpersonal skills.
- CT10 - To be capable of autonomous learning.
- CT11 - To apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
- CT12 - To apply scientific method.
- CT13 - To be aware of the general and specific aspects related to the field of nutrition and ageing.
- CT14 - To respect the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values that are specific to a culture of peace and democratic values.
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
- Course outline
- Systems biology and systems medicine
- The language of innovation
- Biomedicine and nutrition
- Research in VTD: case studies
- Introduction to experimental research design
- The anatomy of an RCT IMRAD article
- Article: VTD & Parkinson’s disease
- IMRaD articles: The methods section of an RCT article.
- MIDTERM EXAM
- IMRaD articles: The results section of an RCT article + the CONSORT checklist
- Citation
- FINAL EXAM
- Looking at Vitamin D
- Research in VTD: Population-based studies
- Correlation and causation
- The scientific process and the evolution of the scientific article
- IMRaD articles: The introduction section of an RCT article.
- IMRaD articles: The results section of an RCT article + the CONSORT checklist
- IMRaD articles: The discussion section of an RCT article.
- IMRaD articles: The discussion section of an RCT article.
- Presentation skills and rehearsal
- Oral presentation of group article.
- Completion of project dossier
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 |
|
Final exam
|
15% 25% |
|
|
Weekly |
Course work
|
20%
|
|
Presentation and project dossier |
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
Evaluation period
- E1 21/05/2025 A16 14:00h
- E2 03/07/2025 A04 16:00h