2023-2024 / VETE2104-1

Scientific english I and documentary research

Scientific English I

Documentary research

Duration

Scientific English I : 36h Th
Documentary research : 4h Th, 6h Pr

Number of credits

 Bachelor in veterinary medicine5 crédits 

Lecturer

Scientific English I : Kevin Noiroux
Documentary research : Sandrina Vandenput

Coordinator

Sandrina Vandenput

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Scientific English I

The course focuses on the development of reading and data-gathering skills using texts or sets of texts in the field of Veterinary Medicine.
It includes the following:

  • Graded veterinary medicine texts for global and detailed understanding.
  • An introduction to the terminology of veterinary and animal science.
  • Exam-format exercises as well as reminders of grammatical patterns characteristic of medical English.
  • Several listening comprehension exercises.
  • A few writing exercises.
The objective of this theoretical and practical training is to optimize adequate scientific information search, making the most of different resources and tools available in libraries and on the web.
Acquired knowledge and skills will prove useful during university education and professional career.

Documentary research

The objective of this theoretical and practical training is to optimize adequate scientific information search, making the most of different resources and tools available in libraries and on the web.
Acquired knowledge and skills will prove useful during university education and professional career.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Scientific English I

The course mainly aims at :
(1) developing the global and selective reading comprehension of scientific documents, and
(2) the development of an extensive specialized vocabulary - both active and passive - of Veterinary and Animal Science.
Therefore, it starts from simple reviews for the general public and gradually progresses to genuine articles from reputed veterinary journals.
The skills acquired in the course should allow students to access veterinary literature easily and efficiently.
 

Documentary research

This training will enable students to carry out the first steps of information literacy skills (determine the extent of information needed & access the needed information effectively and efficiently).

This training involves a two-pronged approach:

  • a theoretical part, which will enable students (i) to describe the interest and functioning principles of the different resources and tools serving to optimize scientific information search, and (ii) to highlight the importance of critically assessing any information before using it;
  • a practical part, which will allow students to test and get used to those tools in order to acquire the necessary independence to meet the numerous needs for information in the course of their studies and, later, during their professional life.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Scientific English I

The first-year English course, which introduces the basic vocabulary of Veterinary Medicine and "forces" students to revise (or acquire) the basics of the general language, or any other equivalent (B1) course.
Therefore, second-year students already have a sufficient grounding in English grammar and vocabulary to start the second-year course.
 

Documentary research

There are no prerequisites for this course. However, the habit of using computers and a minimum knowledge of scientific English are pluses.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Scientific English I

The course includes numerous reading & listening comprehension exercises, as well as vocabulary and writing exercises in the exam format. These exercises will give the students repetitive exam practice enabling them to train and improve their skills.
The course is taught in English and will be as interactive as possible.
Students are encouraged to do preparation and consolidation exercises before and after classes. They will also have to do several compulsory self-assessment tests on eCampus.
There is no automatic entitlement to exemption.

Documentary research

Four theoretical hours followed by six hours of practical exercises. The course starts in the second quarter (February). It is organized so as to encourage students' active participation.

Practical training consists of compulsory online exercises followed by in-class Q&A feedback sessions in large groups.  

There is no automatic entitlement to exemption.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Scientific English I

Blended learning


Additional information:

The in-class course is taught for 2 hours every week. Application exercises are put online after each chapter.

Documentary research

In-class course and online exercises

Recommended or required readings

Scientific English I

The Veterinary English course book is available on eCampus.

Course notes (Powerpoint slideshows used during the theoretical course) as well as consolidation exercises will be available on MyULiege at the end of each chapter.

The reference books listed in the course notes are library resources at the disposal of all students.

Documentary research

Course notes (powerpoint slideshows used during the theoretical course) are available on eCampus.
The reference books listed in the course notes are library resources at the disposal of all students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Additional information:

The marks obtained for English and Scientific Information Literacy will be merged in a single grade out of 20, in which the English grade will account for 60% and the one for Scientific Information Literacy for 40%. 

The global grade for VETE2104 is a weighted mean of the marks obtained in the two modules of the course, except if one of the two module marks is equal to or smaller than 8.00/20. In this case, it is that fail mark (of 8 or less) that will be used as global grade for the course VETE2104.

In the September (resit) session, the students have to resit only the modules for which they did not obtain marks equal to or greater than 10.0/20. They cannot resit module(s) they have already passed.

Partial exemptions (based on pass grades of 10.00 or more in one or more modules) will be carried over from one academic year to the next.

Scientific English I

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Additional information:

English Course (January): written exam (50% of the final grade) featuring

  • a listening compehension test,
  • a reading comprehension test based on a specialized text,
  • grammar and vocabulary questions based on the first chapters of the course.
English Course (June): written exam (50% of the final grade) featuring

  • a listening compehension test,
  • a reading comprehension test based on a specialized text,
  • grammar and vocabulary questions based on the 2nd part of the course.
The English grade accounts for 60% of the global grade of VETE2104. However, if the grade for either of the two modules (English or Information Literacy) is less than 8.00/20, this failed grade will be used as global grade for VETE2104.

The students with a global grade of at least 10/20 for English will not have to resit the English exam in September if they failed VETE2104 because of Information Literacy. Their English grade will be carried over.
  

Documentary research

Assessment takes place in June on computers. In about 80 minutes the students will have to demonstrate their ability to efficiently use information literacy tools.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Scientific English I

The course will be held in person.

Short listening comprehension tests are available on eCampus for each chapter to enable students to check their understanding of speech.

Additional exercises, namely language exercises, with their keys are also available on eCampus to enable the students to train online. 

Documentary research

Detailed information about the course content and organization will be given in the first class.

Contacts

Scientific English I

Kevin NOIROUX (PhD) - knoiroux@uliege.be (ISLV)

 

Documentary research

Ms Sandrina Vandenput, DVM, PhD

ULiège Library | Health Sciences

Email : S.Vandenput@uliege.be

Please always use your ULiège email address when sending emails and mention the course code (VETE2104) in the email object field.

Association of one or more MOOCs