English for the Construction IndustryLaajuus (3 ECTS)

Objective

On completion of this course:

The student is able to communicate fluently and effectively in the English language in study- and work-related contexts, and is able to use English in developing his/her professional skills. He/she is able to operate effortlessly in multi-cultural environments, considering the special features of communication situations and paying attention to the cultural and linguistic origins of the other parties.
The student is able to acquire information required in his/her professional field from multiple of sources and process and communicate it both in writing and orally.

The student will have a realistic understanding of his/her linguistic and communicative skills, and has motivation to develop them as part of his/her professional knowhow. The student will be aware of the importance of life-long learning language studies. The oral and written communication skills will comply with the level B2 in accordance with the European Framework of Reference for Foreign Languages.

Content

Contents of the course will focus on field-related topics which will contribute towards oral and written communication skill, with the emphasis on:

- Key interactive and communicative situations of the professional field, including meetings, negotiations, technical presentations, process descriptions, reporting
- Key concepts and terminology of the professional field, in accordance with the specialization
- Written discourse practices and documents of the professional field
- Critical search, processing, application and communication of information
- Self-evaluation of language and communication skills, and development of learning strategies

Contents are in compliance with the study programme and specialisation. More detailed description of contents is provided in the course programme.

Qualifications

Acquisition of professional communication and English language skills requires the threshold level B2 of the European Framework of Reference for Foreign Languages.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Active language skills rather limited, passive barely level B2. Self-assessment skills of one’s own linguistic knowhow is weak as well as application of linguistic strategies.

Reading
- knows some terminology of texts needed in the profession of a structural engineer / construction and site manager / infrastructural engineer
- knows some strategies for understanding texts with complex terminology and structures
- recognises some relevant texts and sources
- usually knows how to evaluate the reliability of sources

Writing
- knows how to compile a simple report based on sources
- knows the strategies for finding the essentials in a field-related text
- is able to write a rough but incomplete abstract of a graduate study

Speaking
- is able to prepare a presentation based on a report and present it in a simple manner
- is able to bring up some issues in meetings
- knows the basic phrases of meetings and knows the differences of practices in formal and informal meetings
- knows the common phrases in expressing opinions
- knows how to prepare a field-related technical presentation and present it understandably using simple language, although the pronunciation and rhythm are imperfect

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Passive language skills clearly at level B2, active exceeds level B2. Self-assessment of one’s own linguistic knowhow is rather good but application of linguistic strategies still rather weak.

Reading
- knows rather well the terminology of texts and different discourses needed in the profession of a structural engineer / construction and site manager / infrastructural engineer
- knows some strategies for understanding demanding texts with complex terminology and structures
- recognises and knows how to make use of some relevant texts and sources
- usually is able to evaluate the reliability of sources

Writing
- is able to compile a good yet not incomplete report based on sources
- knows how to find the essentials in a field-related text and draw up a summary by using relevant tools
- is able to write a rather good abstract of a graduate study

Speaking
- is able to prepare a presentation based on a report and present it rather well
- is able to bring up issues in meetings
- knows the basic phrases of meetings and knows the differences of practices in formal and informal meetings rather well
- is able to use some common phrases in expressing opinions
- is able to prepare a field-related technical presentation and present it understandably, although the pronunciation is imperfect

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Both active and passive linguistic skills clearly exceed level B2. Student knows how to assess, apply and independently improve his/her linguistic skills.

Reading
- knows well the terminology of texts needed in the profession of a structural engineer / construction and site manager / infrastructural engineer, is able to communicate them
- has many strategies for understanding texts with complex terminology and structures
- is able to search and use relevant texts and sources
- is able to well evaluate the reliability of sources

Writing
- is able to compile a fluent and grammatically correct report based on sources
- is able to find the essentials in a field-related text and draw up a grammatically and structurally good summary
- is able to write an abstract of a graduate study

Speaking
- is able to prepare a presentation based on a report and present it well
- is able to use appropriate discourse both in formal and informal meetings and is able to defend his/her views
- is able to prepare a field-related, structurally and linguistically good technical presentation and present it fluently