Clinical Communication (Medicine, English)-E3

Numbering Code U-LAS51 10012 SE48 Year/Term 2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type Seminar
Target Year 2nd year students or above Target Student For science students
Language English Day/Period Wed.3
Instructor name YAMADA YUKARI (Graduate School of Medicine Program-Specific Senior Lecturer)
Outline and Purpose of the Course


Successful communication helps us better understand people and situations, which is the cornerstone of patient-centered healthcare as well as in a research career. This course aims to develop effective (clear and sensitive) communication skills in English within both clinical and academic context. To achieve this goal, the course incorporates practical training sessions, such as small group discussion and role-play on simulated clinical situations.

To make the classroom more intensive and the learning experience more learner-centered, so that students can explore topics in greater depth by themselves before/after participating in the classroom, we employ an alternate classroom/self-directed learning (SDL) format. While one group participates in classroom activity, the other group engages in SDL sessions outside of the classroom, and then vice versa. The course is run in collaboration with a part-time lecturer, Guita Youssefian, as well as several international medical graduate students as teaching assistants throughout the course.



Course Goals By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1) improve communication skills in English

2) collect and interpret relevant evidence, discuss it with other people, and express their opinions showing traces of reasoning

3) understand the importance of empathetic listening in clinical consultation and be able to assimilate some of its principles.
Schedule and Contents [1] Introduction/First try to listen to an episode about science and health
[2] Onsite1: Review past episode/ Listen to more episodes and discuss
[3] SDL1: Research about misinterpretation of facts in Japan
[4] Onsite2: Sharing the findings. Listen to others and discuss
[5] SDL2: Preparation of own argument to convince citizens with misinformation
[6] Onsite3: Presentation of argument (Evaluation I)
[7] SDL3: Reflection
[8] SDL4: Self-reflection to know about own feeling and values
[9] Onsite4: Group exercise of overcoming barriers to empathy 
[10] SDL5: Medical consulatation,knowledge base
[11] Onsite5: Medical consulation, practice
[12] SDL6: Preparation for role playing
[13] Onsite6:Demonstration of role-playing with a simulated patient (Evaluation II)
[14] SDL7:Ways to improve English conversation
[15]  Feedback & Make-up exam (Medical students)
The schedule shown above is for one of the two groups. The other group starts with [14] followed by [2][3]..
Evaluation Methods and Policy Since the course employs a small group discussion style, not only your presence in the class but your active participation in the discussion is essential for this course. Students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives as defined by the instructor. Grading consists of “Evaluation I” 25% (Onsite 3:presentation), “Evaluation II” 25% (Onsite6: role-playing), and “Participation” 50%. Required submissions for SDLs indicate student’s level of participation. Criteria are different in each assignment, and we announce them in the class and make it clear and open to all students.
Course Requirements This course is primarily for the 2nd year students in the Faculty of Medicine, but we welcome a few international students from healthcare-related departments, with a short English proficiency test on the first day of the course.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) This class requires minimum study out of the classroom/SDL requirement. Active participation in the classroom is highly expected based on Self Directed Learning.
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