Professional Communication Seminar (PCS)

Now in its thirteenth year, the Professional Communication Seminar (PCS) provides Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) international students with an opportunity to improve their academic, writing, and oral communication skills, and to experience the School's interactive style of teaching and learning before formal classes begin. 

For those unaccustomed to its educational culture, United States’ universities can present significant challenges.  Students are required to be highly proficient in the English language since they will be expected to understand and complete assignments based on large amounts of information.  All students must be able to critically read large amounts of information, write analytical and comparative papers, create and deliver oral presentations, and take part in fast-paced discussions in a competitive classroom environment.

PCS helps HSPH international students meet these challenges. Using public health materials, students gain the academic skills and communication strategies they need to succeed at HSPH.

The program begins on the afternoon of Sunday, August 17, 2008 with a mandatory introduction that includes a  program overview followed by dinner. The intensive classroom portion of the program starts Monday morning.  Classes meet six hours each weekday, August 17-25, 2008. The final day of the PCS program will coordinate with the HSPH orientation and registration.

PCS focuses on developing and strengthening the following skills:

• Listening Comprehension: Students become better acquainted with rapidly spoken native English through the use of guest speakers on public health issues.
• Reading: Students receive instruction and practice in learning to read quickly, analytically, and accurately, so they can absorb the large amounts of information they will be responsible for in their coursework.
• Writing: Through a wide range of activities, including individual conferences, students learn to write and then revise their work for organization, flow, and clarity of ideas.
• Classroom participation: Students learn strategies for participating in the highly interactive HSPH classroom. 
• Small group discussions: By working together on public health issues, students learn to problem-solve, negotiate, and collaborate.
• Public speaking: Through videotaped practice sessions and individual conferences, students learn new presentation skills and gain confidence in giving individual and group presentations.
• Conversation: A wide range of classroom activities, as well as informal lunches with HSPH students, administrators, and faculty, provide students with numerous opportunities for improving their conversation skills and their ability to discuss public health issues.

Who Should Apply

Students who have not previously attended a university in the U.S. or spoken English on a regular basis have found PCS to be very valuable in preparing for the academic year. Students whose TOEFL scores are 260 (computer) or 620 (paper) or below are strongly urged to enroll.

You should attend PCS if you want to: 

• Improve your ability to speak and understand English 
• Develop your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills
• Gain confidence in speaking in front of groups 
• Become familiar with HSPH teaching methods before classes begin
• Meet fellow classmates and get a head start on the year ahead

Brochure and Application

2008 PCS Brochure (4 pages, 1,303 KB)

2008 PCS Registration Form (2 pages, 28 KB)

Please note: Deadline to register for PCS is June 30, 2008.

Program Faculty

Donald Halstead, Instructor

Stockholm University, Political Economy; BA, Franconia College

Donald Halstead has extensive experience working with international students and researchers in the Boston area and abroad. He is an instructor at Harvard School of Public Health, where he teaches several writing courses, including the Dissertation Writing Seminar for doctoral students; he is also affiliated with Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. In addition, Donald works with public health researchers and practitioners around the world on editing their work for publication.

Joyce LaTulippe, Instructor

MEd, Harvard Graduate School of Education; BA, Wheaton College

A leader in educational IT innovation, Joyce LaTulippe works with international students to improve their communication and academic skills by developing interactive technologies to enhance cross-cultural communications and second-language acquisition. Joyce is a senior instructor and thesis advisor for graduate students at Cambridge College and has lectured on the topics of e-learning, technology, and distance education in numerous settings. Joyce also coordinates the professional development of educators throughout Massachusetts, as part of a National Science Foundation grant.