UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
SSCs 2015-2016
German for Medicine and Current Affairs
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of German Syllabus D at the UCL CLIE, a high ‘A’ level grade or if you have a very good grasp of
the language and are able to conduct a conversation without difficulty.
Course duration
Year 1 students: double-block (16 x 3-hour classes. Block 1: 8 x 3-hour classes; Block 2: workshops and tutorials related
to Project).
Year 2 students: single block (8 x 3-hour classes).
Self-Study
40 hours in total.
Course codes
LCGM6005.
Aims and Objectives
The course is designed for advanced level students requiring the language for general vocational and professional
purposes. It teaches specialised vocabulary to enable participants to use their language skills in a more professional
environment, such as meetings and interviews, as well as covering related topics such as current affairs and the latest
trends in German society. The course will enhance knowledge of German life, society and business culture using
complex and linguistically accurate structures (different types of discourse, register). The course covers day-to-day
issues a medical professional might encounter and current issues relevant to the medical profession.
Cultural awareness will be further developed and raised within a European/global context. Language learning skills,
including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material, will be further enhanced. Various transferable
skills will also be covered.
Functions
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requesting patient input and feedback, suggesting treatment, giving medical advice;
describing and clarifying aspects of illnesses, medical conditions and ensuing treatment
debating, commenting, negotiating;
describing, defining; analysing and evaluating symptoms;
note-taking from and summarising of medical-related texts and/or patient files
expressing and defending views and opinions, critical topic-related comments;
composing written pieces of information for broadly medical purposes;
preparing presentations on medical topics.
Course Content
Main topics/themes to be covered (selection from the following):
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consultation with patients, eliciting a medical history and symptoms;
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describing, suggesting and explaining possible forms of treatment;
an outline of the German health insurance system;
introduction to medical studies and the medical profession in German speaking countries;
different organic systems and related illnesses;
gathering information about developments in research and treatment;
prominent German speaking figures in the medical field, past and present
Skills
Reading
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reading for gist (skimming), scanning for specific information;
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giving opinions, presenting arguments;
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analysis of current medical and health topics in major newspapers/magazines and online
Writing
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summaries;
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analysis and review of articles;
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preparing presentation outlines
Listening
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radio, TV, audio and video recordings;
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patient-doctor interviews;
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presentations, note-taking
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Speaking
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formal and informal discussions, debates;
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role play;
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presentations
Linguistic Structures
Discourse Strategies
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spontaneous conversation with native speakers in specific situations (doctor-patient-discourse, conferring with
colleagues;
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analysing/comparing texts from various sources (different text types);
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improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of complex authentic materials
Main aspects of these strategies
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improving confidence in using German as a foreign languages in medicine-related situations;
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consolidating and improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of complex authentic materials;
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consolidating and improving oral and written linguistic range as well as accuracy;
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improving the ability to use subject-specific vocabulary
Grammar (selection from the following)
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revision of tenses (forms and usage);
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revision and expansion of cases (forms and usage);
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prepositions; verbs with a fixed preposition; prepositions with case change;
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relative clauses;
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complex sentences;
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passive and alternative structures;
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subjunctive II; introduction to subjunctive I
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two-part conjunctions;
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grammar of texts
Learning Resources
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Bilingual dictionary (e.g. Collins). Not pocket size.
Materials for the course will be drawn from:
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Authentic written material from various sources, including specialist publications and the media;
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Authentic audio and audio-visual material;
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Variety of internet sources
In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials available for self-study in the Self-Access Centre. There
will also be regularly updated information on cultural events connected with Germany, German language and culture,
which can be accessed through the CLIE website.