English for Science

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. You build vocabulary and develop the analytic reading, listening, speaking and writing skills necessary to actively participate in university courses and research 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.

Course information

Course level
C1
Date
27.09.2022–13.12.2022
  • Tuesday, 18:00–19:40
24 Lessons
Lecturer
Kumiko Masai, PhD
Credit points
2 ECTS
Registration deadline
Sunday 25.09.2022
Course fee
Students and PhD candidates: CHF 315.00
Members of staff: CHF 579.00
Alumni: CHF 579.00
Alumni FHNW: CHF 579.00

There will be no class on 11 October 2022.

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,
  • submit four satisfactory assignments of at least 200 words each (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.
Coursework is assessed by means of a portfolio (pass/fail).

Certificate of attendance

Active participation is assumed. In order to receive a certificate of attendance (available on request) 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.

Replacement date

The supplementary replacement date for lessons that might not take place is: 10 December 2022 from 10:00 - 16:00.

nach oben