Scientific Communication Skills

Objectives

This course introduces you to the scientific and academic language and skills that you need to study specific subjects in English in the area of biosciences during your degree.

The main aim of the course is to familiarise you with dealing with basic science communication at university level in English. To do this you will:

• Improve reading, speaking, writing and listening in a scientific context.
• Build up knowledge of scientific language.
• Demonstrate learner autonomy by maximising use of resources and producing quality work.
• Enhance your awareness of other cultures and countries

Learning outcomes

This course has 8 learning outcomes (RAs):

• RA1. Shows understanding and analyses specialised academic texts looking for general and specific information.
• RA2. Shows understanding of everyday conversations and the general idea of scientific discourse.
• RA3. Gains competence in writing more effectively and precisely for science.
• RA4. Participates with a certain confidence and coherence in conversations in class or in small groups.
• RA5. Prepares and gives a scientific presentation.
• RA6. Identifies scientific vocabulary and grammatical rules, and applies them to some extent in context.
• RA7. Participates appropriately in a group with personal initiative and harmony within the team.
• RA8. Performs self-assessment and peer-assessment critically and responsibly.

Competencies

General skills

• Endeavour to combine independence and personal initiative with teamwork in multidisciplinary activities.

Specific skills

• Have oral and written skills in English for communicating results, conclusions and processes deriving from research in the field of biology.

Basic skills

• Students can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists.
• Students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of independent learning.
• Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific and ethical issues.

Core skills

• Become the protagonist of one's own learning process in order to achieve personal and professional growth and acquire all-round training for living and learning in a context of respect for linguistic, social, cultural, gender and economic diversity.
• Interact in international and worldwide contexts to identify needs and and new contexts for knowledge transfer to current and emerging fields of professional development, with the ability to adapt to and independently manage professional and research processes.
• Use oral, written and audiovisual forms of communication, in one's own language and in foreign languages, with a high standard of use, form and content.

Content

The course contents includes:

1. Reading: articles on science
2. Listening: everyday English and scientific monologues
3. Writing: opinion essay, for and against essay, report, proposal, motivation letter
4. Oral communication: class discussions, debates and authentic communication in class and through COIL project
5. Oral production: scientific presentations
6. Scientific terminology and grammar

Evaluation

Course assessment is as follows:

Tests

• 20% Test 1 (Writing, Grammar and Vocabulary, Listening)
• 20% Test 2 (Writing, Grammar and Vocabulary, Listening)
• 10% Test 3 (Speaking)
• 15% Test 4 (Reading Comprehension)

Continuous assessment

• 15% Speaking (Presentation, Discussion, Debate)

Assignments

• 15% COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) Project

Attendance

• 5% Class participation

General assessment criteria

• Possession of cell phones or digital devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) during an examination will result in a zero for the exam.
• Absence or no-submission within the established deadlines for assessed activities will result in a zero for that activity. This mark will be taken into account when calculating the final course marks.
• Final course grades will be obtained by summing the averages of the different assessed activities.
• If an assessed activity may be retaken, you can see it clearly in the course programme. Reassessment will be carried out in the final weeks of the semester devoted to this function.
• You cannot retake more than 50% of the course. If you refuse to retake an assessed activity, initial grades will hold. If you cannot retake an activity, no minimum grade is required to calculate the final course grade.
• You will obtain a final assessment of "No presentat" if you have not participated in any assessed activities.

Methodology

The methodology used includes communicative activities, authentic materials in English, individual work, group work and whole class participation. Class sessions require attendance and active participation in English to maximise learning outcomes (RAs). You have between 50-60 contact hours during the semester. Classes are 4 hours a week, 2 hours in a subgroup and 2 hours with the whole group. You also have 90 hours of autonomous self-study to read class material and prepare for assessed activities.

Absence from assessed activities in class results in:

• 25% penalisation of the group mark for a justified absence.
• 50% penalisation of the group mark for an unjustified absence.

Bibliography

Bibliography

• Mann, Malcolm & Taylore-Knowles, Steve (2008). Destination B2: Grammar and Vocabulary with Answer Key. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/40792840/Destination_B2_Grammar_and_Vocabulary_with_Answer_key

Reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.