Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Scientific English II
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
By appointment
Dr Noelia Navarro
nnavarrog@uic.es
Introduction
The aim of this program is primarily to provide students with the necessary language required to interact in various situations of the biomedical profession and with a multicultural and international scope. All language skills, speaking, listening, writing and reading, are equally important for this purpose, although oral skills will be particularly emphasized.
The programme contains three elements consisting of class-based lessons, tutorials and individual study. The teacher-led lessons focus on the necessary communication skills for future biomedicine professionals. Such activities are designed to develop oral communication and comprehension within an academic and professional setting. Tutorials will focus on student development and interpersonal skills and will include an evaluated group project. The final part is the individual study or ‘distance learning’ element which primarily focuses on developing speaking skills, consolidating grammar, specific lexis and increasing the autonomy of the learner when learning a foreign language.
Pre-course requirements
The preferred minimum global level before the start of the course is B1.
Objectives
Classroom: To prepare and equip students with the lexical and grammatical knowledge necessary to understand, synthesize and interact in various contexts of the biomedical profession in English. To reinforce the reading, listening and speaking skills through practice using a variety of stimuli, and to facilitate the development of the productive skills such as speaking and writing.
Tutorial: To develop students’ interpersonal skills and ability to work with others in both their native and an additional language.
Individual Study: To increase reading and oral comprehension skills through tasks requiring students to analyze language on a lexical and structural basis, the main and supporting ideas and organizational patterns common in English literature related to Biomedicine; to strengthen speaking skills; to review high-frequency vocabulary and expressions encountered in the Biomedicine profession.
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:
- Manage terminology and language (in English) related to their area of interest in biomedicine
- Understand and participate in conferences in an academic setting.
- Give oral and written presentations in an academic environment.
- Analyze and synthesize oral and written information.
- Work in a team.
Syllabus
Topics:
Students will cover topics related to post-graduate work and continuing education in the biomedical profession. They will learn to perform in the following areas: recruitment and job search, different types of presentation situations both individually and in groups, communication and collaboration through use of the Internet, and the application process for post-graduate coursework.
Discipline-specific Language Skills:
Students will learn to search for, understand and discuss literature related to the biomedical profession and their own particular fields of interest. They will practice public speaking and synthesis skills using material covered throughout the course and from their training. They will learn to communicate in professional contexts both orally and in written form.
Language Knowledge:
Students will revise/consolidate their knowledge about the pronunciation of general biomedicine terms, high-frequency vocabulary related to professional and academic contexts of the biomedical profession.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Students will become actively engaged in the process of preparing for the professional world by writing their curriculum vitae and cover letters for post-graduate course work, presenting their ideas, proposals and studies. Students will also prepare for a professional interview and participate in poster presentations. They will also work on team projects, sharing ideas with their colleagues and collaborating through on-line communication.
Internet-based language tools and material will be used and applied throughout their overall learning process. These materials will further form an integral part of the students’ individual study, thus equipping and motivating students for the life-long learning of English related to their field.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Students will be evaluated in three general areas: activities of interaction / participation, a variety of tasks related to professional / personal development in the biomedical field and a final exam to revise the contents of the course. The weighting of each area of evaluation as well as corresponding course activities and / or topics is listed in the table below:
|
Activity |
Description |
% final grade |
|
Classroom interaction and participation
|
|
10%
|
|
Professional development |
|
60% |
|
Final exam (May 21st) |
-To skillfully use English terminology and linguistic structures related to different activities of the field of biomedicine |
30% |
If you don't pass the course, you must make an appointment with your teacher so he/she can inform you about the activities/ projects that are required for a second sitting.
Bibliography and resources
Class-based materials have been developed from a wide range of professional and educational resources from current online professional journals and textbooks.
Lang T: How to Write, Publish, and Present in the Health Sciences: A Guide for Physicians and Laboratory Researchers, 2009, American College of Physicians
Evaluation period
- E1 30/05/2025 A08 18:00h
- E2 01/07/2025 A04 09:00h