OVERVIEW

In today's globalized world, the health professional has often the need to communicate in English with patients and colleagues. The aim of this course is not that of teaching how to read a medical text, but to help to practice medicine in English, possibly in a human context different from the one we are familiar with. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To reach a good level of knowledge of English (B2, upper intermediate level). To acquire the writing skills in technical English that are needed to draft a scientific text.   To communicate in English with patients and colleagues, and overcome cultural barriers, in order to practice medicine in a foreign environment. The program is carried out over three years from English 1 (improving the student’s knowledge of English) to English 2-3-4 (Scientific and Medical English).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Although English has been the lingua franca of science for over a century, young Italian researchers often find it difficult to produce a manuscript for an international journal in a style acceptable for publication. From the point of view of the journal editor who receives the manuscript, if the English language is poor, difficult to read and understand, or includes grammar and style faults, the paper is unacceptable. In fact, it would require heavy and expensive editing before publication.  What is more, a weak style of the manuscript may cast a shadow on the scientific soundness of its results and the fairness of its discussion and conclusions. On the contrary, an easily readable text, devoid of repetitions or contradictions, which presents in logical sequence the author’s findings and comments, is a great wild card to rapid publication of the work done in the laboratory or in the clinical ward.

The first section of our Medical English course is dedicated to the technique of scientific writing, in particular in the medical and biological fields. The lectures address the common grammatical errors of morphology and syntax that are often encountered while editing manuscripts written by Italian authors.  Specific areas being covered include use of pronouns, punctuation and dangling participles.  Next come specific issues of technical writing, such as abbreviations, units of measure, and choice of standard scientific terms. A video lecture is dedicated to the different types of scientific publications and the logical sequence of presentation of the work done in the sections of the article. Finally, practical examples of text editing are used to deal with finer points of style, such as how to organize the text in paragraphs, and how to avoid redundancy, elegant variation, or ambiguous phrasing.

The second section includes two lectures on the cultural barriers that may hamper communication with patients of a different ethnic background. In additional lectures, the health professional enters a virtual hospital, meets its staff, and visits its individual operating units. 

Teaching methods

Formal lectures, videos, additional resources

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction & Cultural Barriers

National Health Services

Scientific Writing, Grammar, and Style

 Scientific Journals

 Layout of a Scientific Article

 Grammar

 Sentence Fragments

 Comma Splice

 Colons &  Semicolons

Hyphen

 Fahrenheit vs Celsius

 British vs American Spelling

 Units of Measurement

 Style

The Hospital

Standard Precautions

Medical Records

Anatomy

Health,  Disease, Death 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Carlo Pesce. Medical English. Zanichelli 2020.

Exam Board

ANGELA TESTI (President)

CARLO PESCE (President)

LINDA BATTISTUZZI

ANTONELLA LOTTI

LUISA ALEXIA PIAGGIO

FILIPPO ANSALDI

MARIA PIA SORMANI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

Teaching methods

Formal lectures, videos, additional resources

LESSONS START

October 2020

Exam description

Multiple choice test (end of 4th year)

Assessment methods

Multiple-choice test (end of 4th year)

Exam schedule