MG I 2013-2014, 1st semester - English course

Home assignment

The home assignment this semester is a 3-step student project based on a recent and comprehensive
medical terminology book we will have used in class (mainly chapters 1-4): Medical terminology
systems : a body systems approach (6th edition), by Barbara A. Gylys, Mary Ellen Wedding.
The project concept involves 3 steps, but this does imply that a strict chronological order should be
followed.

Step 1 Individual work
Choose ONE chapter / body system from chapters 5-15 to study in depth and solve the exercises at
home, using the key at the end of the book to check the answers. Choose what genuinely interests
you and make it about more than a string of words. Zoom out on your journey from student to
professional and go deep sea fishing!

Step 2 Group work
Find 1-2 colleagues who have chosen DIFFERENT chapters and get together in a small study
group
1
to brainstorm how you could informally teach to each other the language related to the body
systems your have chosen. Begin by agreeing on a fun name for your group (e.g. The Nervous
Invaders).
You are not expected to go ahead with the actual teaching, but just to develop your concept of peer-
teaching medical English. Discuss what would be most important/useful/challenging to include in
such informal lessons and make authentic learning your main concern. Feel free to get creative
about the kind of experience you could set up for your colleagues. The more memorable, the better!

Step 3 - Reflection
Put together the evidence of your individual and group work, and reflect on what you have learned.
You may do this alone or together with your colleagues. Consider any new or renewed:
awareness
knowledge
understanding
skills
strategies
attitudes
values and motivation
and dont forget relationships with others and yourself!

THE STUDENT PORTFOLIO
The evidence of work and your reflection will be submitted in print (notebook/folder) or in
electronic form (.zip/.rar) as described below:
- The folder cover page OR the name of the .zip file
MG I 2013-2014 English Course, Home Assignment (1st semester)

1
It doesnt matter if you are not from the same official series or group (actually, its better if youre not!). Also, please
note that small means 2-3 students in a group, not 4-5-6-7...
Student name, series and group
Title of the chapter you have chosen
Example .zip file name:
Popescu Emilia, E 43, Chapter 8 Cardiovascular System
- Part 1 Individual work
The title of the chosen chapter
Reading highlights, notes and comments, if any
The exercises (use the answer key at the end of the book for correction)
Evidence of additional work, if any
- Part 2 Group work
How you chose to call your group and the names of the other group members
A short description written collaboratively by the group of how you could
help your colleagues learn the language and discourse related to the body
systems you chose
This is a collaborative piece of writing, so each group
member should include a copy of the same text!
Include samples of materials you would use/
adapt/create for this purpose, if any.
- Part 3 Reflection
A short account of how you have grown on a professional and personal level
by working on this project
With ideas for the future, if any.

DEADLINE:
All the portfolios will be submitted during the final week of the semester.
For print portfolios, the deadline is the last face-to-face meeting of the semester.
For electronic portfolios, the deadline is the end of week 14 (midnight).
- Electronic portfolios should be emailed to ioana.cretu@umfiasi.ro and the email subject
lines should read MG I 2013-2014 Home Assignment - Popescu Emilia, E 43

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
35% of your final grade will be based on your actual attendance and participation in class, and 65%
will result from the more formal assessment and evaluation of your learning. Of the 65%, your
performance at the final colocviu will count as 15%.
This means that the student project as presented in the student portfolio counts as 50%, so make
sure that you understand the project requirements and never hesitate to ask your questions or
express your concerns! Plan your project wisely in order to do good quality work and keep clear
track of it for your portfolio.
The 50% represent 5 points which will be awarded as follows:
- Up to 3 points for the individual work
- Up to 1 point for the group work
- Up to 0.5 points for the final reflection
- Up to 0.5 points for submitting a portfolio that is clearly and effectively presented according
to the requirements
2
.

2
One of the most valuable skills in communication is to see things from the others point of view, in other words to put
yourself in the shoes of your audience, interlocutor or reader (in this case, your teacher).
I thank you in advance for you patience! Do forgive and help clarify any unintentional
misunderstandings or misappreciation of your efforts.

LOSS OF POINTS!!!
Given how many you are and how much freedom this home assigment gives you, nothing would be
easier than to cheat (but is it worth it?). As a teacher and a human being with just one life to live, I
dont like to spend my time playing the suspicious detective, so I wont.
However, if I find any blatant evidence of cheating, the students in question will lose ALL their
points until they comply with new requirements for remedial work.

BONUS POINTS!!!
Some of you may forget this is just a piece of homework for one of the least important courses in
medical school, and may end up surprising yourselves and your teachers with the amount, creativity
or depth of your work. Consequently,
- for truly outstanding quality, not quantity, of work,
- for using additional books and resources in order to learn the language and discourse related
to the chosen body system,
- for choosing more than one book chapter / body system for the individual work,
- for being an active and valuable member of more than one group,
- for going ahead and doing the peer-teaching even if it was not a requirement at this point
- for building bridges between this work for the English course and other assignments for
other disciplines in the curriculum or extra-curricular (e.g. SSMI projects),
- or for any other crazy yet relevant and effective ideas that make a difference,
you may leave me with no choice but to give bonus points as a sign of appreciation and
encouragement.