English Professional Skills, B2 (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

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
- Reporting
- Professional Presentation Skills
- Meetings
- Discussion Skills
- The Pump Design Project (in co-operation with Pekka Jukantupa: Engineering Physics 2)

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 provided in itslearning.
Field-specific material and sources chosen by the students.

Teaching methods

Self-study, practice, evaluated assignments, teamwork

Exam schedules

Task-based assessment. No exams or re-sits. No possibility to raise the grade or redo any course assignment (as stated in the degree regulation).

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

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 and at the campus and students' own teamwork.
This is a hybrid course that includes both online and contact teaching.

Some sessions are reserved for spoken evaluated assignments and are obligatory. More information available in itslearning at the beginning of the course.

Evaluated assignments and self-study tasks, working in teams.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Part 1:The evaluated assignments (max. 25 points):
1.Professional Email
2. Presentation at the Trade Fair
3. Project Meeting
4.Project Report (team assignment)
5.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 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: Obligatory pre-class work and other given tasks (professional call, field-related discussion, team meetings) completed on time and active demonstration of skills in online meetings (may lower or raise the final grade)

NB:
Active attendance is required due to the nature of the studied subject. The student must be present in some specified 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 (as stated in the degree regulation).

Failed (0)

4-0 points from the evaluated assignments

Pre-class work not completed and absence from obligatory meetings/ sessions.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

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

B1 level

Pre-class work and other tasks not completed (partly or completely) and some absences from obligatory meetings/ sessions.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

17-13p= 3
22-18p = 4
B2 level

Active demonstration of skills in contact teaching sessions.
Pre-class work and other given tasks completed at least partly (grade 3). Participation in obligatory meetings/ sessions.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

25- 23 p = grade 5
CEFR B2 - C level

Active demonstration of skills in contact teaching sessions and pre-class work and other given tasks completed on time.

Further information

The students need a laptop with a working microphone and camera for online lessons and are expected to participate actively.

Study material is provided in itslearning.

The course starts at XX according to the timetable.
The link to the opening lecture can be found in the timetable, itslearning and in Teams > English Professional Skills & Project Teams