ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
A B2 (CEFR_CV) level is required.
Written exam
It will test
- reading and listening skills applied to academic and scientific texts
- writing skills applied to abstract writing
- use of academic language
Abstract (50%)
Reading & Listening (25%)
Language in use (25%)
The course aims to improve students’ knowledge and use of the conventions of academic English. It will cover some of the areas of scientific communication that students should master in order to successfully promote their research, including how to write cohesive and coherent sentences and paragraphs, how to paraphrase, how to read research papers and write abstracts. Students will get a chance to practice their writing and speaking skills, and improve their academic English vocabulary and grammar.
On completion of the course, students should be able to
1. Communicate in a clear, concise and correct manner.
2. Extract required information from spoken or written technology-related material, using skills in research, note-taking and summarization
3. Describe information (data, processes and phenomena) in a formal, objective manner.
4. Exchange technology-related information using language that is appropriate to the medium.
5. Develop communication skills relevant to technology-related employment including professional expression.
The course will cover the following topics:
- using verb tenses properly
- conditionals
- modal verbs (hedging in academic writing)
- passive vs. active
- using articles
- word order
- structuring sentences and paragraphs
- linking words
- avoiding redundancy
- editing, paraphrasing, summarizing
- writing RA abstracts
- reading strategies
cf. Contents section
All lessons will focus on academic reading and writing skills through study and discussion of magazine, and journal articles of varying lengths related to important issues in computer technology. In class emphasis will be placed on
- developing a deep understanding of sentence and text structure,
- developing micro- and macro-reading skills, so that relevant information can be found quickly and effectively,
- individual and group work (peer editing).
When needed, lecturing will provide theoretical guidelines and principles as well as practical examples from scientific texts and exercises to teach students how to apply the guidelines to their own work.
Email silvia.minardi@uninusbria.it for appointments or queries.