Study Guide

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

Materials

No textbooks. Materials linked onto the course itslearning platform or provided by the students themselves.

Teaching methods

Reading, writing, discussing, thinking both individually and in pairs and groups.

Exam schedules

No final exam and thus no re-exam. Possibly a few small tests along the way on some limited subject areas (based on homework).

International connections

Contact sessions in a classroom setting or online once or twice a week. Weekly home assignments.
Note that all assignments include dealing with the topic both orally and in writing. For successful task completion, both components need to be taken care of. Thus, active attendance is necessary.
Language use and thinking skills are interrelated, which is why the course aims to provide food for thought on various themes.

Completion alternatives

None

Student workload

30 h of contact lessons, 110 h of independent/group working

Content scheduling

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

Further information

This is a skills course, and skills need practice.
Minimum attendance requirement 75%.
Active attendance brings in points for grading, see below.
Laptop with microphone & webcam required

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Task-based assessment
The study unit is assessed on a scale from 1 to 5 based on course assignments and active attendance and participation. No exam.
There are 6 checkpoints for grading. One is attendance and contribution activity, and the rest are assignments. Each of these brings in 0 to 2 points such that
0 points = task done but not handed in on time/not accepted before revision
1 point = accepted
2 points = good work.
Grade Points
5 11 - 12
4 9 - 10
3 7 - 8
2 5 - 6
1 1 - 4
0 Tasks not accepted.

For attendance, points can be gained such that
- 1 point = 13 out of 15 sessions, "mentally awake"
- 2 points = 13 out of 15 sessions, actively contributing to discussions, taking others into account in group situations, and showing initiative.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

- tasks undone or not accepted AND/OR
- attendance below 50%

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

- deficient mastery of language mechanics, e.g. problems with tenses or sentence formation
- pronunciation issues which hamper understanding
- message often unclear
- limited use of vocabulary
- deficient mastery of register (politeness, appropriate style, choice of words)
- tasks late or only partly completed
- little or no contribution to discussion and/or pair work in class
- references not provided

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

- tasks completed in accordance with instructions and by due date
- close to error-free mastery of language mechanics (CEFR C)
- clear pronunciation
- message coherent and clear
- good grasp of text structure
- versatile use of vocabulary
- good grasp of register (politeness, appropriate style)
- active contribution to class discussions and pair work
- correct use of references