English Communication Skills for Biotechnology and Food EngineeringLaajuus (3 ECTS)

Objective

At completion of the course, the student will be familiar with the vocabulary and terminology of his or her field of study and will understand the main content of field-specific texts. The student will be able to acquire field-specific information from English sources and evaluate their reliability. The student will have an adequate knowledge of formal and technical writing to compose business letters and abstracts for reports. The student will be able to deal with work-related communication situations and to deliver a presentation on a topic related to his or her field of technology.

Content

1. Field-specific English.
2. Information acquisition from field-specific sources in English.
3. Characteristics of formal and technical writing.
4. English for trade fairs, conferences and corporate communications.
5. Describing a product, a production process and a work flow.
6. Improving field-specific presentation skills

Qualifications

Professional English

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1. understands the main content of less advanced field-specific texts and knows how the meanings of unknown words and terms can be determined.
2. recognizes field-specific English sources that are relevant with respect to his or her informational needs.
3. is able to compose a simple, short formal text independently and slightly longer texts using a dictionary and other supporting material.
3 - 6. is familiar with field-specific vocabulary and terminology and is able to use some of it in his or her texts and speech.
4 - 5. manages simple work-related communications by asking for repetition or clarification and by participating in the conversation with short, fairly clear utterances.
6. is familiar with the principles of making a professional presentation and is able to give a short, intelligible and fairly coherent field-specific presentation.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

1. understands the main content of field specific-texts and is able to determine the meanings of unknown words and terms.
2. recognizes and is able to use field-specific English sources that are relevant with respect to his or her informational needs.
3. is able to compose a clear, simple formal document.
3 - 6. is generally able to use field-specific vocabulary and terminology accurately.
4 - 5. communicates spontaneously, clearly and fairly fluently in work-related communication situations, considering to a certain extent contextual requirements and the other participants’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
6. is familiar with the principles of making a professional presentation and is able to give a clear, fairly fluent field-specific presentation.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

1. understands more advanced field-specific texts effortlessly and can deduce and determine the meanings of unknown words and terms.
2. is able to search for and use relevant field-specific English sources.
3. uses advanced field-specific vocabulary and terminology accurately and naturally in different situations.
3-6. is able to compose well-organized and clear formal documents that meet the contextual requirements.
4-5. is able to operate as an equal communication partner in more demanding work-related communication situations, communicating ideas clearly and fluently and considering the other participants’ linguistic and cultural background.
4. is familiar with the principles of making a professional presentation and is able to give a well-organized, fluent field-specific presentation using natural, rich language.