FB2CAL: English for Science

Module code: FB2CAL

Module provider: Food and Nutritional Sciences; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Mr James Wylie, email: j.wylie@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is delivered at the University of Reading for international students whose first language is not English, and who have arrived on Part 2 or Part 3 as visiting students or as part of a 2+2 programme. It aims to develop the students' linguistic ability to perform a range of relevant academic and professional skills tasks in the UK Food Science context to which they are adapting. The purpose of the module is therefore ultimately to facilitate the students' performance in concurrent and future Food Science content modules and careers-related tasks, with the tasks specifically tailored to do this.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Produce an effective presentation on a Food Science topic for a specific audience
2. Write Food Science commonly assessed genres (e.g. laboratory report and essay)
3. Perform careers-focused tasks in a Food Science context (e.g. write a CV and cover letter and speak at an interview)
4. Use a wider range of Food Science vocabulary

Module content

• Practical with follow-up laboratory report training
• Presentations
• Source-based essay writing
• Careers-focused tasks – CV and cover letter writing and interview speaking
• Vocabulary development
• Food Science past paper writing practice with linguistic feedback

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning is facilitated through a combination of reflective and productive activities, guided analysis of texts, Library and Careers workshops, a practical session and feedback on assessment tasks. Students are not only encouraged to learn language passively, but also to produce it in interactive communicative tasks, before reflecting on and improving their performance. Guided analysis of model texts is used to develop knowledge of register, genre, structure and cohesion. This includes, for example, analysis of published Food Science journal articles.

Some lessons take the form of workshops led by the Library and Careers staff. These are used, in conjunction with formative and summative assessment tasks, to develop information-finding and careers management skills. One lesson will take the form of a lab practical session led by a Food Science lecturer. This is done in pairs and aimed at developing collaboration skills as well as providing the context for the language-focused laboratory report lessons. One lesson will take the form a lecture delivered by a Food Science lecturer. As well as providing a small-group opportunity to practise listening skills, it also provides context for the subsequent language-focused essay lessons.

There will be a writing clinic in both semesters in order to encourage use of feedback, both immediately on the tasks in this module and in a general sense in concurrent and future Food Science modules.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Lab report – Semester 1 Week 8

Interview – Semester 2 Week 12

Reassessment

Additional costs