Courses

Welcome to an overview of the optional short course and workshops offered by the ELCP.

For the dates and times of all courses and workshops offered in SPRING 2024, go here

All courses are advertised approximately one week before starting on Campus Connect, where you can also sign up for the course of your choice.

Please remember that if there is a course or workshop not advertised here, but which you would like us to provide for your student group or Research Center, please go here

Scientific

Research Writing

This course aims to familiarize students with the conventions of scientific writing style and writing for a scientific audience. In examining the various sections and key linguistic features of a dissertation/thesis and research paper across scientific disciplines, students will develop the awareness, understanding and skills to write more effective scientific research papers, dissertations or theses. Combining this language and structural analysis with practical in-class tasks and activities, students will gain the language confidence and competence to be able to prepare, develop and write more accurately, clearly and cohesively when telling their scientific story. Students are also encouraged to bring along their authentic written work to class, with emphasis given to the format of relevant paper sections and the language use and style that should be included.

 
Learning Outcomes/Competencies

On completion of this course, students will:-

1. be aware and appreciative of scientific research writing style.

2. be aware of the key structural components and linguistic features in the sections of a scientific research paper.

3. be able to prepare, develop and write scientific research papers more confidently and competently.

 

 
Course Content

Running for 6 x weekly 1.5 hour sessions, the following course themes are covered:-

Session 1: Scientific Writing style

Session 2: Writing an Introduction section

Session 3: Writing a Methods and Materials section

Session 4: Writing a Results section

Session 5: Writing a Discussion section

Session 6: Writing an Abstract

 

Scientific

Discussion and Debate

This course aims to engage students in discussion and debate around some of the key, current concerns and approaches within science. Offering guidance as to useful spoken language and phrases, style and strength of argument, students are encouraged to create their own ideas and understanding of the content and connect it to their scientific experience and expertise. Students are encouraged to think more deeply and critically about the ideas and arguments and to gain a broader insight through the shared ideas and different perspectives of others.

 
Learning Outcomes/Competencies

On completion of this course, students will be able to: -

Articulate their thoughts more confidently and effectively.

Actively participate in high-level scientific discussion and debate.

Construct and put forward solid arguments in real-time.

Appropriately inform and/or persuade an audience more effectively.

Running for 4 x weekly 1.5 hour sessions, this course covers a different scientific theme or concern in each session.

 

Pronunciation for

Academic and Professional Purposes

This course in pronunciation is designed to help students improve their spoken English by focusing on key aspects of pronunciation. Through a series of interactive sessions and practical activities, students will develop their ability to produce and recognize English sounds, stress and intonation patterns, as well as word and sentence rhythm. The course will also cover common pronunciation errors and provide strategies for correcting them. The course is particularly useful for those who need to communicate in English in an academic or professional context, with learners gaining a better understanding of English pronunciation to communicate more effectively and confidently in spoken English.

 
Learning Outcomes/Competencies

On completion of this short-course, students will be able to:

1. Recognize and produce individual vowel and consonant sounds in English, thus improving their overall pronunciation and communication skills.

2. Recognize and produce word and sentence stress patterns which are key aspects of English pronunciation that can greatly affect the meaning and clarity of spoken communication.

3. Recognize and produce intonation patterns of spoken English key to effectively communicating oral messages.

 

 
Course Content

Running for 4 x weekly 1.5 hour sessions, the following course themes are covered:

Session 1: The anatomy of speech and the schwa sound

Session 2: Short and long vowel sounds, some difficult consonants

Session 3: Consonant clusters, word and sentence stress

Session 4: Intonation, shadow listening

 

Reading for

Academic and Professional Purposes

This course is designed to help students improve their reading skills in order to succeed academically and professionally. The course is structured around developing a number of key reading strategies and techniques such as skimming and scanning to quickly identify key information, as well as how to take effective notes and summarize key points. Participants also learn how to use different reading aids and technologies, such as online dictionaries and other resources, to aid their comprehension and understanding of texts. In addition, the course will focus on reading critically, whereby students analyze and evaluate information, identify biases and assumptions to make evidence-based decisions. Students will develop a solid foundation in reading skills that will help them succeed in their academic and professional lives and be better equipped to engage with complex texts in a variety of contexts.

 
Learning Outcomes/Competencies

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Use a variety of reading techniques to identify the information they need from a text more quickly

2. Read a text critically to eliminate biases and better understand the writer’s implicit meanings

3. Use note-taking strategies to digest and organize their reading more effectively

 

 
Course Content

Running for 3 x weekly 1.5 hour sessions, the following course themes are covered:

Session 1: Introduction to a variety of reading techniques and critical reading.

Session 2: Scanning, skimming and intensive reading.

Session 3: Note-taking, extensive reading, introduction to speed reading.

 

Workshops

 
Research Proposal Writing

A research proposal should convince others (including your supervisor) that you have a worthwhile project and a realistic work plan to carry out and successfully complete the research. In this 1.5 hour workshop, guidance is given to help students plan, structure and become more aware of the appropriate language use and style to make a clear, compelling argument for their research.

 

 
Effective Scientific Research Presentation Skills

This 1.5 hour workshop will teach you how to effectively plan, develop and communicate your ideas and scientific research to achieve a clear, engaging and successful presentation. Areas covered include slide content and design, principles of oral delivery, understanding one’s audience, and the use of body language and voice.

 

 
Effective Scientific Research Posters

With very few scientific posters actually read at conferences due to their poor design, the excellent research they represent is often completely hidden. This 1.5 hour workshop will give you the tools to develop the perfect scientific poster, teaching you how to create successful posters that people will stop to read, understand and engage with. You will learn how to create and present your poster and research in a way that makes people want to learn more.

 

 
Three-Minute Thesis

Presenting your scientific research or thesis in a clear and concise format and manner is increasingly required and popular with varied academic or professional audiences. This informative and practical two-part ( 2 x 1.5 hour) workshop will give you the tips, techniques and feedback to make an immediate impact, enabling you to communicate the importance and main messages of your research in an attractive and engaging manner.

 

 
Avoiding Plagiarism: Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, not only represents poor scholarship but is also seriously seen as dishonesty and the breaching of academic and research integrity standards. Avoiding plagiarism and knowing how to do this is therefore essential for academic integrity and your success as a student, researcher and writer. This two-part (2 x 1.5 hour) workshop will give you further guidance and advice on the topic, whilst highlighting useful strategies that can be employed to help you avoid unintentional plagiarism. Techniques such as the employment of paraphrasing and summarizing skills and the effective use of citations and references will be considered.

 

 
Presenting your Research Proposal

Having developed your written Research Proposal, this two-part workshop (2 x 1.5 hours) will give guidance and practice on how to plan and present your proposal clearly, logically, and with maximum effect. The structure and design of your talk, the incorporation of data and graphics, use of language and delivery, as well as appropriately dealing with assessor and committee questions, will all be examined so that you can deliver your proposal both confidently and effectively. Session 1 includes trainer input and guidance. Session 2 includes in-class practice, when participants can practice the tips and techniques covered in Session 1.