English for biomedical students

The students  should have followed the  LANGL1850  course or a course of a similar level.

The prerequisite(s) for this Teaching Unit (Unité d’enseignement – UE) for the programmes/courses that offer this Teaching Unit are specified at the end of this sheet.

The course is divided into units (one per week).  Each unit focuses on current topics.

At the end of the course, students are expected to have reached a B2 upper level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in the 3 following skills:

1. reading,
2. writing and
3. speaking.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

1. Continuous assessment (25 % of the global mark)
2. Oral presentation in class (25 % of the global mark)
3. Written exam (50 % of the global mark)

The course is based on an introduction designed to improve and stimulate oral skills as well as on exercises testing the reading comprehension of scientific texts.  As far as speaking skills are concerned, techniques are taught by means of audiovisual materials pinpointing the main mistakes to avoid.  In addition, students are given detailed feedback on their presentations in class.  A complete range of exercises on writing skills is provided.  The exercises done at home are corrected in class.

Students should have acquired the following skills :

Reading Comprehension :

• be able to understand complex scientific texts. 

Speaking skills :

• be able to give a detailed presentation on a scientific topic linked to their domain.
• be able to go through an interview for a job linked to their domain.
• be able to take part in/chair  a meeting on a topic, either general or linked to their domain
• be able to hold a telephone conversation in everyday English.

Writing skills :

• be able to write a well-structured summary of a scientific text
• be able to write an e-mail message in everyday English
• be able to write a letter of application for a job linked to their domain.

The level to be reached is the B2 level of the Council of Europe.

Course notes: « English for biomedical students » (available at the ILV) ' Compulsory.