English Professional Skills, B2 (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

September – December 2024
1. Before you start
2. Introducing yourself & studies
3. Emails
4. Presentations
5. Reporting
6. Meetings
7. End of course evaluation

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

teacher’s own and web-based material

Teaching methods

teacher-directed classroom activities, independent work, pair work, group work, project work, online activities (quizzes, meetings)

Exam schedules

No exam. There is continuous assessment.

International connections

The contents and the assessed outputs of the course are designed to provide the students with English language communication skills they need in working life especially when working in projects. Examples include producing instructions and reports, organizing physical and online meetings and producing the relevant documents and emails, collaborative writing and presentation of results. In addition, the students have to complete tasks individually, in pairs and as a group which enhances their communication and interpersonal skills. The assessment is continuous and teacher and peer assessment is provided after the completion of each task.
The course deals with the theme of sustainable development in discussing presenting, reading articles about general concepts ( e.g. green IT, energy efficiency), technologies & strategies (such as cloud computing, virtualization); social & ethical issues ( e.g. data privacy, digital divide, inclusive access)

Completion alternatives

A: The student can complete the English Professional Skills B2 (5ECTS) and complete Accreditation of Prior Learning based on Competence (not transfer of credits):
Within two weeks since the course start, the student submits a video and a written report showcasing expertise in oral and written workplace communication and professional communication. The report must include concrete examples of workplace communication (e.g. meetings, negotiations, written reports, instructions, emails, and so on). If the submission fulfills the assessment criteria, the student can attain the credits. If the submission does not meet the criteria, the student joins the course.
B: The student can complete the English Professional Skills B2 (5ECTS) and complete Transfer of Credits within the first two weeks of the course if the student has completed a course with the same credits and similar content at a same level (higher education)) educational institution within the last 5 years. The student will also need to provide an official transcript and course content description. Please note that this method of attainment does not apply to Open Path students

Student workload

classroom activities: 28 h
individual work: 45 h
pairwork work: 30 h
group work: 27h