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

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).

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

Some lessons are obligatory. More information available in itslearning 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:
- Formal English, using correct register
- Making Contact through Email and Telephone
- Trade fairs & product presentations
- Reporting
- Professional Presentation Skills
- Project Meetings
- Discussion Skills
- The Pump Design Project (in co-operation with Pekka Jukantupa: Engineering Physics 2 and Antti Meriö)

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 on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 according to the timetable.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Part 1:The evaluated assignments (grade 1-5):

The scale of 1-5 per assignment:
1 Professional Email
2 Online meeting
3 Professional Report
4 Presentation

Part 2: Pre-class work, tasks and participation in class

The final evaluation: the average of assignments 1-4 and active participation in lessons + completion of pre-class work and other course tasks on time (+/-)

NB:
Active attendance is required due to the nature of the studied subject. The student must be present in some specified lessons in order to be able to pass the course. The obligatory lessons 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 assignment is 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 grade by redoing some of the assignments (as stated in the degree regulation).

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Evaluated assignments and other course tasks not completed.
Absence from obligatory lessons.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

One assignment not completed on time, average 1.5 from the other assignments (grade 2) or at least 1 (grade 1).
Pre-class work or other tasks not completed and/or absence from some obligatory lessons.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The average from the assignments at least 3.5 (grade 4) and 2.5 (grade 3).
Active demonstration of skills in lessons and pre-class work and other course tasks completed (grade 4). Attendance in obligatory lessons.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

All assignments completed on time and the average at least 4.5.
Active demonstration of skills in lessons and pre-class work and other course tasks completed on time. Attendance in obligatory lessons.