Background- Internationally speaking, it is becoming more and more competitive to obtain a position in academia or in international companies. In the PhD courses overseas, it is often the case that students have to give presentations after critical readings of important scientific papers or logical essays. After obtaining PhD, interviews to obtain post-doctoral position or a position in international companies will be decided based on an interview with emphasize on the performance on the Q&A session. Even in the job interview to become faculty members, lively discussion in front of the white board will be required. In such circumstances, it is becoming necessary skills to strengthen their practical ability in English for the PhD candidates to overcome upcoming hurdles. Aim- The lecture will be given by the international lecturer who has experience and has developed his/her career in international academic environment. Latest topics in modern life science will be chosen. Building up on those topics,it will be important for the students to develop their abilities to grasp the scientific issue behind the data, to discuss scientific matters in logical way in English, to build up their original research proposal, organizing the research network with cooperators, to persuade or convey the ideas to international collaborators, to communicate with the local public. Furthermore, by exposing to the international environment where you have to present and discuss the scientific matters in English, the students start to intensify their own abilities to go through multiple interviews on their upcoming career path. A report assignment that summarizes the career development in international environment might be required to be submitted.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Absorb the contents of scientific literature or presentation in English and understand swiftly.
2) Build their ideas on how to solve the upcoming questions through accurate understanding of the scientific data and through discussion with a group of people.
3) Learn how to efficiently convey their messages, how to ask efficient questions,and come up with a discussion strategy to draw a solution for the problem.
4) Learn how to make the job interview successful in academia or in international companies.
Scientific description, scientific papers, oral communication, group work, discussion, presentation
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The rough frame of this course is: Problem assigned by the lecturer → discussion in English → oral presentation. Therefore, active participation and contribution to the lecture will be strongly encouraged. The students will be assessed by their ability in language skills, and divided into groups. According to the group's ability, a scientific problem will be given. The students will have to present their ideas to solve the problem multiple times after thorough discussion within the group. Mutual evaluation will enhance the practical effect of the active learning process. Assignment work (report) might be given to promote the acquisition of abilities to follow the flow and summarize the issues of the the discussion in English.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | 【tentative】How to read and discuss the scientific papers critically | Will be given during the lecture |
Class 2 | 【tentative】How to understand the scientific papers and to ask critical questions | Will be given during the lecture |
Class 3 | 【tentative】How to understand and discuss the scientific oral presentations | Will be given during the lecture |
Class 4 | 【tentative】How to understand the scientific oral presentations and to ask critical questions during discussion | Will be given during the lecture |
Class 5 | Exercises in job interview and mutual evaluations (1) | Will be given during the lecture |
Class 6 | Exercises in job interview and mutual evaluations (2) | Will be given during the lecture |
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The students will be evaluated by the extent of participation and contribution to the group work and multiple presentations.
As this lecture will deal with topics on Life sciences, specialized knowledge of related subjects is preferable.