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 studies, working life and society. In addition, they will learn to utilize tools and techniques to further develop their skills in authentic, field-specific contexts.
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 academic and professional texts
- Presenting and discussing field-specific topics in academic and professional contexts
- Reading field-specific texts and utilizing the information in academic and professional contexts
- Learning and using key terminology of their field
- Becoming professional, autonomous language users in working life

Materials

Will be provided on course workspace. Use of all other relevant material is encouraged.

Teaching methods

Independent/pair work; Applied research, reporting and presenting; Online meetings in groups.

Independent/pair research and reflection

Interactive online meetings
Team discussions and sharing
Reading materials

Exam schedules

No examinations.

International connections

Innovation pedagogy; international and business-life oriented assignment-based individual/pair work

Individual/pair study supported by peer discussions and teacher guidance
Co-creation and co-teaching
Assignment-based and continuous assessment

Completion alternatives

The student can apply for accreditation prior to the course starts.
Alternative ways must be discussed with course teachers.

Student workload

5ECTS, 135 hours student work
-applied research
-reporting
-presenting
-working as pairs
-discussing and sharing in teams

Meetings integrated with Intercultural Communication for Global Work course. Meetings are compulsory even if student takes only one of the courses.

Content scheduling

- Writing using appropriate, professional style
- Presenting and discussing field-specific topics in professional contexts
- 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

Implementation in autumn 2023, exact dates in the schedule
Kick-off session during orientation days

Further information

Itslearning and email

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Career documents
Professional email
Pair Culture Project Report and Presentation

Activity in meetings (peer feedback, participation in written online discussions, sharing of own expertise)

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Student did not complete required course assignments that show competence in course topics, did not participate in the online meetings to showcase competence in course topics or take an active part in the course to share expertise and learn from others.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The student can describe satisfactorily the importance of business communication skills in oral and written business context, and shows some ability to communicate in situations requiring business communication skills.
The student can produce text that shows some only the basic features of professional
writing.
The student knows how to refer to sources. There are clear inconsistencies in the format and style of writing.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The student is able to describe the communication skills needed in oral and
written business contexts and demonstrates ability to communicate in various
business situations.
The student can produce text that contains some features of professional
writing.
The student can refer to sources and compile a reference list although there are inconsistencies in the format and style.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student is able to analyse different communicative situations in business and suggest ways of improving the communication in challenging situations. The student shows ability to adapt and adjust his/her communication style in various situations requiring professional communication skills.
The student can produce text that contains most features of professional writing, has well-developed elements of paragraph and essay structure.
The student can produce text that displays unity and coherence as well consistency throughout the documents.
The student can refer to sources and compile a reference list in a consistent format and style.