English Professional Skills, B2 (3 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 work life communication skills in English. The course includes the following topics:
•Communicating with Style, using correct register
•Professionalemail communication
•Trade fairs and product presentations
•Talking about faults and problems
•Reporting
•Professional Presentation Skills
•Discussion Skills
•Negotiation Skills

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 their field
- becoming professional, autonomous language users in working life

Location and time

Sepänkatu campus, classes once a week (2 hrs).

Materials

Online material on Optima
Isaacs, Pesso, Rasimus, Rönkä: Engineer Your English. 2014. Edita Publishing Oy.
(The students are not expected to buy the coursebook. There are copies available at Sepänkatu library.)

Teaching methods

Classes, self-study tasks, assessed assignments

Exam schedules

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

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

Flipped classroom method (theory as self-study, practise and guidance in class)
Teamwork, pairwork

Completion alternatives

No options for passing the course.

Student workload

Classes 13 x 2 hrs = 26 hrs
Self-study tasks and preparing the evaluated assignments 54 hrs

Evaluation 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%)
1.Professional Email
2.Presentation at the trade fair
3.Negotiation
4.Written report
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)
3= good (CEFR B1-B2)
4 = good (CEFR B2-C level)
5 = excellent (CEFR B2-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 (50%)
All assignments and homework 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 (at least 75% of contact teaching, min. 50% to pass 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.

Failed (0)

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

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

8-12p = grade 2 (CEFR A2-B1) or late return of assignments
5-7p = grade 1 (CEFR A level) or late return of assignments
Self-study tasks missing partly or completely, absence from class

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

18-22p = grade 4 (CEFR B2-C level)
13-17 p = grade 3 (CEFR B1-B2) or late return of assignments
Self-study tasks done (most), active demonstration of skills in class

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

23-25p = grade 5
(CEFR B2-C)
Self-study tasks done, active demonstration of skills in class

Further information

Prerequisite: Upper secondary school English or equivalent knowledge.
The students are advised to bring a laptop or a tablet to class because the devices are needed actively in classroom work.