IL1BDNU: English for Data Scientists

Module code: IL1BDNU

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Ms Laura Connolly, email: l.connolly@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mr Aaron Woodcock, email: a.e.w.woodcock@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Ying Zhu, email: zhuying_313@126.com

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: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will equip you with the lexical knowledge and communication skills you need to learn your subject at Level 4 in English. It will also equip you with tools and techniques you can use to develop your linguistic knowledge and competence throughout your university career and beyond. 

This module is intended for students with an entry level of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in general English of B2, but an entry level of CEFR B1 when communicating specifically within or about their field of specialisation.  On successful completion of the course, you will have achieved CEFR B2 when communicating within or about your field of specialisation.  

Any students with entry levels that fall outside these parameters will be identified and supported so that they can achieve their best on this module. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Without recourse to a dictionary or a machine translator, use the main discipline-specific vocabulary of your field with generally high accuracy and fluency
2. Communicate discipline-specific ideas effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences through a range of media
3. In your own words
   • Explain familiar discipline-specific concepts and processes
   • Summarise discipline-specific data and texts effectively
4. Articulate what and how you have learned, awareness of your strengths and areas to develop, and demonstrate commitment to learning language

Module content

Content will include: 

• Key discipline-specific vocabulary and its usage, e.g. multiple-meanings, pronunciation, collocations and word forms 
• Key structure, discourse and language features used for communicating your subject, e.g. given to new information flow, summary noun phrases and expressing degrees of confidence 
• Key strategies for summarising texts and data, e.g. amplifying and streamlining 
• Basic frameworks for reflection and critical analysis 
• Useful tools and techniques for developing your discipline-specific vocabulary independently, e.g. discipline-specific dictionaries, word-list apps and concordance line tools 
• A range of discipline-specific texts aimed at specialists and non-specialists 
• Basic theories and research on learning vocabulary and working in a team 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

We will use an overall ‘genre’ approach, taking the social purpose of texts as the starting point to help you understand key structure, discourse and language features. We will use spoken and written texts from your subject to develop your receptive and productive disciplinary language knowledge and skills.  

Teaching and learning will be student-centred and task-based: 

• Lectures (teacher-centred) 
  • analysis of example texts from target genres 
  • exercises practicing use of target vocabulary 
• Seminars (student-centred) 
  • text reconstruction and reading circles (e.g. dictogloss, ARC) 
  • group speaking and reflection tasks  
• Independent Learning (self-directed) 
  • reading and listening collaboratively and interactively (e.g. dictogloss, ARC) 
  • individual reflection on your progress and language development needs 
  • utilisation of tools and techniques for independent learning (e.g. SkELL) 

Study hours

At least 84 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.

Practice Vocabulary Test (Semester 1 Week 9) creates feedback for Vocabulary Test and Reflective Journal 

Video Tutorial (Semester 1 Week 16) creates feedback for Poster Presentation and Reflective Journal 

Reassessment

Additional costs