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English Professional Skills, B2 (5 cr)

Code: 1001005-3023

General information


Enrollment

01.05.2020 - 04.09.2020

Timing

01.09.2020 - 06.12.2020

Number of ECTS credits allocated

5 op

Virtual portion

5 op

Mode of delivery

Distance learning

Unit

Engineering and Business

Campus

Kupittaa Campus

Teaching languages

  • English

Teachers

  • Piia Pesso

Teacher in charge

Piia Pesso

Groups

  • PKONTK20

Objective

The aim of the course is to activate and develop the students’ field-relevant English language and communication skills. The students will gain professional skills in various spoken and written communicative situations encountered in working life and society. In addition, they will learn to utilize tools and techniques to further develop their skills in authentic, field-specific contexts. More specifically, students will focus on developing their language and communication skills in.
Upon completing the course, the students should have acquired skills to communicate at level B2 according to European Framework of Reference for Languages, which states that at B2-level students should be able to produce clear, coherent and well-structured texts, present detailed descriptions related to one’s field of interest, express and exchange opinions using fluent language, follow complex arguments, and read longer articles and reports.

Content

- writing professional, field-specific texts
- presenting and discussing field-specific topics in a professional manner
- reading field-specific texts and utilizing the information in professional contexts
- learning and using key terminology of the field
- becoming professional, autonomous language users in working life

Location and time

Sepänkatu campus, autumn 2018 from September to December

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

Self-study, practice, evaluated assignments, teamwork

Exam schedules

Task-based assessment. No exams or re-sits.

International connections

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

Completion alternatives

No optional ways to pass the course other than completing the given assignments on time and participating in obligatory sessions.

Student workload

Contact teaching online, small group meetings and students' own teamwork.
Some sessions are reserved for spoken evaluated assignments and are obligatory. More information available on Optima at the beginning of the course.
Evaluated assignments and self-study tasks, working in teams.

Content scheduling

The aim of the course is to activate and develop the students’ field-relevant English language and communication skills. The students gain professional skills in various spoken and written communicative situations encountered in working life and society. In addition, they learn to utilize tools and techniques to further develop their skills in authentic, field-specific contexts.
Upon completing the course, the students have acquired sufficient skills to communicate at level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Languages which states that at level B2, students should be able to produce clear, coherent and well-structured texts, present detailed descriptions related to their field of interest, express and exchange opinions using fluent language, follow complex argumentation, and read longer articles and reports.
The course deals with various communicative situations in English. The course includes the following topics:
•Communicating with Style, using correct register
•Making Contact through Email and Telephone
•Trade fairs & product presentations
•Analyzing & discussing problems
•Reporting
•Professional Presentation Skills
•Meetings
•Discussion Skills
•The Pump Design Project (in co-operation with Pekka Jukantupa: Engineering Physics 2)

Further information

The students need a laptop with a working microphone and camera for online sessions.
Study material is provided on Optima.

The course starts on Thursday, September 3:
PKONTK20B at 8.30 am (online, link to meeting in the timetable)
PKONTK20A at 12.30 (online, link to meeting in the timetable)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Part 1:The evaluated assignments (50% of final grade):
1.Professional Email (written)
2. Presentation at the Trade Fair (spoken)
3. Project Meeting (spoken)
4.Project Report (written)
5.Professional Presentation (spoken)
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 levels)
3= good (CEFR B1-B2)
4= very good (CEFR B2 level)
5 = excellent (CEFR B2- C level)
The score is equivalent to grades 0-5 as follows:
25- 23 p = grade 5
22-18 p= grade 4
17-13 p= grade 3
12- 8 p= grade 2
7-5 p = grade 1
4-0 p = failed
Part 2:Self-study tasks and active demonstration of skills in class (50% of the final grade)
The students report their self-study in a journal and demonstrate their skills by participating in the activities in class.
NB:
Active attendance is required due to the nature of the studied subject. The student must be present in some sessions in order to be able to pass the course. The obligatory sessions will be informed by the teacher in more detail at the beginning of the course.
All evaluated assignments must be done even if they are returned late before any credits can be gained. If an evaluated assignments not accepted when returned, it must be done again at the latest by the end of the course.
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.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

4-0 points from the evaluated assignments

Self-study tasks not completed.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

7-5 p = grade 1
12- 8 p= grade 2

Missing self-study tasks (partly or completely)

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

17-13p= 3
22-18p = 4
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.