English for Science

This course focusses specifically on communication related to medical research; it may be of interest to researchers in the health and life sciences more broadly.

Using scientific jargon in spoken and written texts, like communicating professionally with colleagues and non-scientists, demand special skills beyond everyday language use. In this course you train your scientific communication skills, using current authentic publications and presentations from academic and professional contexts related to medical research. You build vocabulary and develop the analytic reading, listening, speaking and writing skills necessary to actively participate in university courses and research related to health as well as interact effectively with others in the workplace. The course offers you plenty opportunity to develop confidence and fluency when speaking to others about current scientific topics. It also offers you ample training in turning what you read, hear and think into scientific writing that is correct, clear and convincing.

Some of the oral and written skills we will cover include:
- presenting a problem and how it could be addressed
- interpreting, describing and summarizing data
- describing complex cause-and-effect relations
- recounting processes and methods clearly and accurately
- analyzing, discussing and presenting results in a persuasive but rigorous manner.

This course is offered in the spring semester only.

Course information

Course level
C1
Date
24 Lessons
Credit points
2 ECTS
Course fee
Students and PhD candidates: CHF 315.00
Members of staff: CHF 579.00
Alumni: CHF 579.00
Alumni FHNW: CHF 579.00
Registration is possible as of December 2024.

Target group

This course is suited to students studying any of the natural sciences from bachelor upwards.

Course materials

Script

Requirements

To earn credit points, participants are expected to

  • not be absent more than twice,
  • participate actively in class,
  • complete four satisfactory assignments (if an assignment is unsatisfactory, it may be resubmitted once),
  • deliver one satisfactory oral presentation, followed by a class discussion,
  • submit a portfolio consisting of the four assignments, along with the improved versions thereof.

Workload for ECTS:
In addition to class time, participants must plan to spend 3 hours per week on preparing and reviewing for class and on autonomous learning.

You can earn 2 credit points.
The course is graded with either pass or fail.

Certificate of attendance

Active participation is assumed. In order to receive a certificate of attendance for this course, you are not allowed to be absent more than twice.

Placement test

This course requires either an obligatory placement test or completion of a preceding course. If you have not attended a preceding course, a computer placement test has to be taken prior to registration.

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