ERIC Number: ED171120
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1978
Pages: 16
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Report on the Postgraduate Course in Scientific English to Students from the Faculte des Sciences, Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
Beardsmore, Hugo Baetens; Lee, E. J.
An experimental course in English for non-English speaking post graduate research students is described here. The course was intended to enable the students to use English efficiently in exchanges related to their profession. The selection process, teaching methods, and the "exit test" are described and a discussion of the adequate and inadequate aspects of the course is given. The entry tests were in spoken English, grammar, and listening comprehension coupled with written production. During the course two teachers were involved, one generally presenting the material and the other facilitating group discussion. Films, slides, articles, closed-circuit television, language laboratory sessions, and personal tape recorders were used extensively along with teacher-directed private study. At the end of the course, the test of spoken English and the listening comprehension test, administered on entry, were given. A third test was added to measure oral fluency based on activities of the course. Evaluation of the course revealed a noticeable inadequacy in the ability of students to read a paper or present material from private notes. Although proficiency in listening comprehension, oral production, and limited written production all showed improvement, it was indicated that higher standards might be reached with the use of more course-specific materials. Several recommendations are provided in the light of this pilot experience. (AMH)
Descriptors: Admission Criteria, Class Activities, Communicative Competence (Languages), Course Content, Course Descriptions, Course Evaluation, Course Objectives, English for Special Purposes, Group Discussion, Higher Education, Instructional Materials, Language Instruction, Language Proficiency, Linguistic Competence, Pretesting, Pretests Posttests, Scientists, Second Language Learning, Skill Development, Speech Communication, Teaching Methods
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A