EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND ENGLISH PREPARATORY SCHOOL
2019-2020 Academic Year
ENGL131 Course Outline
COURSE CODE: ENGL131
COURSE LEVEL: Intermediate-Advanced
COURSE TITLE: Medical English
COURSE TYPE: University Core
CREDIT VALUE: 4
PRE-REQUISITES: None
CO-REQUISITES: None
DURATION OF COURSE: One year (4 committes)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ENGL131 is a first year English course for the students studying at the Faculty of Medicine. It is an intensive course for doctors, medical students in the clinical phase of their studies and other medical professionals who need to use English in their work. The course covers medical terminology, practice in specialist vocabulary and a review of basic grammatical structures. Communication with patients and medical colleagues is also thoroughly studied. Reading and writing medical journal articles, case reports using the correct abbreviations and format is another empahised subject in the course.
The course includes materials drawn from a range of specialist course books and resource books, such as “English in Medicine” by Oxford University Press or “Good communication Practice for the Medical Practitioner” by Cambridge University Press as well as up-to-date authentic materials and videos. Students are given an opportunity to study further following the website -www.study-medicalenglish.com-
specifically designed for this course.
This course includes the use of multi-media, such as using the Data Projection systems and tape. Role-playing is frequently used to practice the language structures learnt in the class.
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The aims of ENGL131 course are:
• to introduce students to Medical English as an aid to Patient-Doctor Communication
• to raise awareness in using Medical English among colleagues for effective communication
• to introduce communication, listening, reading, writing skills in medical contexts.
• to enable students to avoid jargon when speaking to a patient for the best doctor-patient communication.
• to help students be confident in writing medical articles in their studies.
The objectives of the ENGL131 are:
• to help students to communicate effectively with patients
• to familiarize students with the basic language skills for an effective professional colleague communication
• to help students understand and compile patient histories
• to introduce students with the required language related to discussing treatments, presenting opinions and assessments
• to help students use imperatives effectively when guiding a patient in patient examination
• to help students understand the importance of avoiding jargon in doctor-patient communication
• to familiarize students with medical vocabulary, terminology, and idioms and using them effectively and appropriately in the right context
• to help students understanding the basic components of medical reports and case studies and write their own.
The learning outcomes of ENGL131 course are:
Students will be able to:
• Communicate effectively with patients
• Communicate effectively and efficiently with their professional colleagues.
• Take patient history
• Discuss treatments with their patients
• Present opinions on medical conditions
• Analyse and interpret medical tests, assessments.
• Give directions when examining the patients avoiding jargon
• Use the correct wording when communicating with a patient to maximise the effectiveness of the communication
• Understand all medical terminology (prefixes, suffixes, roots), medical vocabulary needed for their jobs, idioms daily used by the doctors.
• Write referral letters, case reports and medical articles for journals.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Quiz 1- 15%
Midterm Exam- 35%
Quiz 2-15%
Final Exam- 35%
GRADING CRITERIA
A (85-100%) and A- (80-84%)
The student has demonstrated the ability to meet all the above outcomes with ease (Very clear, high B1 performance on the European Common Language Reference Framework).
B+ (75-79%), B (70-74%) and B- (66-69%)
The student has demonstrated some ability to meet some of the above outcomes, with some difficulties.
C+ (63-65%), C (60-62%) and C- (57-59%)
The student has demonstrated some ability to meet some of the above outcomes, but with a lot of difficulties, further study is required.
D+ (54-56%) and D (50-53%)
The student has demonstrated some ability to succeed at an A2 level, but only at a minimum level; much of the work completed is more typical of A2 level in the framework, and the student will need to study for a considerable period yet to meet A2 outcomes.
D- (45-49%)
The student has demonstrated poor evidence of the ability to succeed at an A2 level, or has made very little effort to complete the course work.
F (44% and less)
The student has not demonstrated the ability to succeed at this level, and has not succeeded in achieving the outcomes required at this level.
NG (Nil Grade)
Insufficient body of work / attendance to enable a grade
I – Incomplete
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students are required:
• to attend 80% of class hours in the semester,
• to submit assignments and complete all course work on time,
• to actively participate in the discussions and activities,
• to always bring course materials to class.
ATTENDANCE
In order to achieve passing grade, students are expected to attend classes regularly and to complete all necessary tasks and assignments. It is a requirement of the administration that all students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes. The administration keeps in close contact with the Faculty of Medicine in this regard.
PLAGIARISM
This is intentionally failing to give credit to sources used in writing regardless of whether they are published or unpublished. Plagiarism (which also includes any kind of cheating in exams) is a disciplinary offence and will be dealt with accordingly.
MAKE-UP and RE-SIT EXAMS
Make-up exams will be given for midterm exam. Re-sit exams will be given for the students who do not take the final exam or fail the course. Dates of make-up and the re-sit exams will be announced on the Faculty of Medicine building notice-boards or on the student portal. There is no make-up for in-class assessment (e.g. quiz). Any student absent from the midterm or final exam should provide a reasonable excuse or a medical report within three days following the exam in order to be able to take the make-up / re-sit exams.
