AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides students with theoretical and practical knowledge for the use of the English language in scientific contexts. The knowledge gained will be applied in the preparation of a presentation on a scientific topic chosen by each student. The presentation will be created during the course under the guidance of the instructor and will be presented to the peer group during the final lesson, which will also serve as the exam session.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

By attending and actively participating in the proposed learning activities (lectures, interactive lessons, research and writing labs, and creating a presentation with the support chosen by the student) and through individual study, students will be able to:

- Understand specific vocabulary related to the topics covered
- Apply basic knowledge about the structure and presentation of scientific research in English
- Become aware of the differences between everyday and scientific English, as well as the structural, communicative, syntactic, and grammatical differences between scientific English and Italian
- Present in public in English within the allocated time (conference simulation)
 

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures given by the instructor, interactive lessons, and practical laboratory sessions. Whenever possible, theory and practice will be alternated within the same lesson, so that students can immediately apply what they have learned.

Students will have access to materials available in the Aulaweb repository.

Students with a valid certification of physical or learning disabilities filed with the University who wish to request compensatory tools, accommodations, or other support for classes, assignments, and exams should speak with both the instructor and Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the department’s disability coordinator.
 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Reading and analyzing various scientific articles in terms of language, vocabulary, structure, and bibliography. Selected articles on specific topics of general and relevant interest to the field of study will be read and analyzed in class.

Theory: structure of a scientific text/presentation, examples of phrases for scientific writing, the importance of the bibliography, reliable sources, and the crime of plagiarism.

Laboratory: In the lab sessions, students will work on their research to create a PowerPoint (or other format) presentation on a topic of their choice, which they will present to the class within a set time frame. This part of the exam will simulate a conference: the remaining students will ask questions at the end of the presentation. This will take place during the final lesson, which will also serve as the exam session. All students are therefore encouraged to prepare their presentation for the agreed-upon date, both for their benefit and for the success of the simulation.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CORINNA NUNNERI (President)

PAOLO VASSALLO (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written and an oral test, which will take place simultaneously, simulating an international conference. The written test is the digital support for the presentation, and the oral part is the presentation itself delivered by the student.

The evaluation will consider:

- Written part: structure, content, grammatical correctness, and the appropriateness of sources
- Oral part: comprehensibility (sufficiently correct pronunciation and grammar), presentation effectiveness, and the ability to answer questions about the content presented

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on the exam preparation will be provided during the lessons.

The exam will verify the student’s actual acquisition of basic knowledge regarding the specific use of the English language in the preparation and presentation of scientific presentations.