Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The Student:
- is able to ask relevant questions relating to sampling and examinations when conducting a patient interview
- can instruct various patients in most common patient situations and laboratory examinations
- can communicate in English as part of a multiprofessional care team in the typical duties of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists
- understands and utilizes articles and texts in the field of Biomedical Laboratory Science
- can further develop one’s English skills in the field of Biomedical Laboratory Science by fluently utilizing dictionaries and other language learning tools

Content (course unit)

Sampling situations
Instructing patients prior to sampling and examinations
Instructing patients during sampling and examinations
Relevant terminology in the field of Biomedical Laboratory Science
Research report
Medical terminology

Prerequisites (course unit)

Level: Upper Secondary School studies or equivalent skills
Common European Framework for Languages Level B2.1

Further information (course unit)

This course can be attended also by overseas exchange students.

Written exam
Oral presentation / performance
Submitted written assignments
Participation throughout the course
Independent study throughout the course
Self-assessment
Following the schedule and meeting the deadlines

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student
- can communicate in familiar, simple and routine situations in a manner that is mostly understandable
Guidance skills:
The student
- can provide patients/clients with simple oral and written instructions
- can ask patients/clients basic questions relevant to professional procedures (e.g. obtaining samples)
- can employ basic professional terminology as required by the situation (e.g. obtaining a consent, giving instructions, referring to further care) Professional data acquisition:
- can search for information in scientific publications and other professional sources but has problems in interpreting and utilizing it
- understands the main points in relatively easy biomedical laboratory science-related texts when consulting a dictionary
Linguistic skills:
- can communicate in English but has problems with grammar and style
- manages simple conversations provided that the other person talks slowly and clearly, and sometimes repeats the information
- responds to questions in discussions, but pauses, mistakes and reformulations occur
Additional information:
- understands the significance of knowing professional English, and works purposefully to gain linguistic competence in one’s special field
- is aware of some ways to further develop one’s professional language skills and language learning skills by utilizing different tools and strategies
- makes progress in the course, based on one’s individual level and linguistic needs

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student
- communicates clearly in multi-professional and multi-cultural interaction situations
Guidance skills:
The student
- can provide patients/clients with individual instructions in the most common patient guidance situations (e.g. MSU, ECG, blood tests)
- can successfully respond to the questions asked by patients/clients
- can employ relevant biomedical laboratory science terminology
Professional data acquisition:
The student
- can search information in scientific publications and other professional sources to promote one’s professional growth
- can critically assess the references
- can apply and utilize most of the information obtained
Linguistic skills:
The student
- almost invariably communicates fairly effortlessly, and in a way appropriate to the situation
- discusses field-specific topics fairly fluently
- responds to questions in discussions fairly successfully
- can pronounce fairly clearly and effortlessly
- employs grammatical structures fairly successfully, and self-corrects potential errors if causing misunderstandings
- can re-formulate one’s sentences if and when needed
- understands and employs field-specific terminology fairly accurately
- can utilize various resources and dictionaries
- expresses oneself and conveys the message to the reader/listener fairly idiomatically without misunderstandings (H4)
- conveys the information to the reader/listener understandably without misunderstandings, but somewhat non-idiomatically, at times with features from the mother tongue (H3)
Additional information:
- works in an active and self-directed manner to improve one’s special field English, based on one’s level, linguistic needs and personal interests

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student
- communicates successfully even in demanding multi-professional and multi-cultural interaction situations (e.g. potential extra-curricular activities, such as projects or international collaboration)
Guidance skills::
The student
- interviews and instructs patients/clients successfully and adapts to the interaction situation, also in challenging and unexpected situations
- employs specific terminology and field-specific concepts
- speaks fluently and idiomatically
Professional data acquisition:
The student
- can search for information in scientific publications and other professional sources, interprets it, and uses it with ease to promote one’s professional growth
- can critically assess the references
- can apply and utilize the information obtained
Linguistic skills:
The student
- communicates effortlessly, almost flawlessly, and in a way appropriate to the situation
- discusses field-specific topics fluently
- responds to questions in discussions appropriately and without delay
- can pronounce clearly and effortlessly
- employs grammatical structures almost flawlessly, and self-corrects potential errors
- re-formulates one’s sentences if and when needed
- understands and employs field-specific terminology accurately
- can utilize a vast variety of resources and dictionaries
- expresses oneself fluently and conveys the message to the reader/listener idiomatically without misunderstandings
Additional information:
- works in an active and self-directed manner to further improve and maintain one’s special field English, based on one’s level, linguistic needs and personal interests

Assessment criteria, pass/fail (course unit)

Reasons for failing the course:
Written / Oral exam is failed
- the student has considerable problems in linguistic structures and grammar
- the student’s biomedical laboratory science terminology is very limited, or almost non-existent
- the student fails to convey the relevant message across to a listener or a reader.
Negligence or delays in submitting the assignments.
Non-compliance with attendance requirements.

Assessment scale

0-5