Study Guide

Objective

The student manages professional situations requiring language skills both orally and in writing. The student masters the central vocabulary of his/her own specific field and is able to apply information from sources available in English. The student has the language skills required by the internationalising working environment.

Content

 
The contents of the study module are based on communication situations occurring in working life. Main topics:
- Education and applying for a job: students are able to tell others about themselves and about their education and work experience
- Working environment and business life: students can communicate in a customer-oriented way in the working environment of their own field and pass information on their job, tasks and the field-specific functions as part of the surrounding society.
 
 
 

Materials

Online material on Optima
Isaacs, Pesso, Rasimus, Rönkä: Engineer Your English. 2014. Edita Publishing Oy.
Copies of the book are available in the library. The students are not expected to buy the book for the course.

Teaching methods

Contact teaching and small group meetings
Teamwork (the students form groups of 5 students at the beginning of the course and work in these teams during the course)
Self-study
Learning by doing

Exam schedules

No exams, no re-sits.
Task-based assessment.

International connections

Flipped classroom method (theory studied individually and practice and guidance in class)
Teamwork
Learning by doing

Completion alternatives

No other options for passing the course.

Student workload

Contact teaching: face to face and online, 4 small group meetings (all obligatory)
Active working in teams (including several assignments)
Evaluated assignments and self-study tasks

Content scheduling

The course deals with work life communication skills in English. The course includes the following topics:
Communicating with Style, using correct register
Professional email communication
Trade fairs & product presentations
Reporting
Professional Presentation Skills
Discussion Skills

Further information

The students need a laptop/ computer with a working microphone and a camera for online sessions.
The study material is available on Optima.

The course starts on September 1, 2020.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Task-based assessment, no exams. The course is assessed on a scale of 1-5 based on the following criteria:
Part 1. Evaluated assignments (50%)
- Professional Email
- Presentation at the trade fair
- Field-related discussion
- Written report
- Professional presentation
Each item on the above list gives the student 0-5 points (max. score 25 points) as follows:
0 = failed/ late return after deadline, task not accepted
1 = pass (CEFR A level)
2 = ok (CEFR A2-B1)
3= good (CEFR B1-B2)
4 = very good (CEFR B2-C level)
5 = excellent (CEFR C level)
The score gives the final grade:
23-25p = grade 5
18-22p = grade 4
13-17 p = grade 3
8-12p = grade 2
5-7p = grade 1
4- 0 p = failed
Part 2. Self-study tasks and continuous demonstration of skills in class
All assignments and self-study tasks must be done even if they are returned late before any credits can be gained. If an evaluated assignment is not accepted when returned, it must be done again at the latest by the end of the course.
In addition, active attendance and participation in class is required due to the nature of the studied subject (small group sessions are obligatory). Absences cannot be compensated with extra work and there are no exceptions to deadlines.
If the student passes the course, it is not possible to raise the score (and the grade) by redoing some of the assignments.
A failed course can be raised to grade 1 by doing some of the evaluated assignments according to the teacher's instructions.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

4-0 points from the evaluated assignments
More than 50% absence from class.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

12- 8 p= grade 2
7-5 p = grade 1
Missing self-study tasks (partly or completely)

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

3= good (CEFR B1-B2)
4= good (CEFR B2 level)
Active demonstration of skills in class and self-study tasks completed at least partly (grade 3)

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

25- 23 p = grade 5
CEFR B2 - C level
Active demonstration of skills in class and self-study tasks completed on time.