Study Guide

Objective

The student achieves a sufficient oral and written level of Finland's other official language (Swedish or Finnish as a second language) specified in the Universities of Applied Sciences Decree (1129/2014, §7) and required for work in their field. The student is able to communicate orally and in writing in their own work environment and as a member of a multidisciplinary work community in Swedish, taking ethically into account the various actors, in Finland and the Nordic countries OR in Finnish (S2) in Finland, taking into account the cultural and linguistic starting points of the persons in the communication situation. The student's oral and written communication skills (Swedish or Finnish as a second language) are at least B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The student is able to obtain information about their professional field from various sources and to communicate about such information in writing and orally, making use of any appropriate technology and digitalisation in their work. During the studies, the student will develop an ability to take responsibility for the development of their language and communication competence and an ability and motivation to improve it.

Content

The course content is determined on the basis of the degree programme, consisting or oral and written exercises relevant to each field of study:
• The field's key international and international-at-home interaction situations: individual and group communication
• Key concepts and terms used in the field
• Professional organisations, work environments, duties, processes and tools
• Self-assessment of language and communication skills, and development of learning strategies

Prerequisites

B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student can communicate in their most typical general and field-specific professional situations in working life. The student can write simple texts with a reasonable amount of consistency. There may be errors, but the message comes across nevertheless. The student takes part in simple interaction, but often needs help from other speakers. The student is comfortable with everyday vocabulary and the vocabulary of their own field, but inaccuracies and the influence of other languages may make it difficult to get the message across. The student uses the commonest basic structures in a one-sided way and sometimes incorrectly. The student can pronounce understandably but not like a native, and the slowness makes it difficult to assess how well the message may get across.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can communicate reasonably well in their daily general and field-specific professional situations in working life. The student is able to write a text with coherent content, getting the message across, and is proactive in interaction in common situations in the field. The student is reasonably fluent in basic vocabulary of their field and general language. Word choices may sometimes be inaccurate and the sentence structures imperfect, butthese do not interfere with the communication. The student pronounces understandably, and pauses in the flow of speech do not prevent the message from getting across.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student can communicate in versatile and demanding general and field-specific professional situations in working life. The student can write clear and detailed text in a way that is suitable and accurate for the situation. The student takes an active part in interaction in a way that is appropriate in professional situations. The student speaks fluently and effortlessly and takes into account the other speakers. The student uses general vocabulary and the vocabulary in their own field in a versatile way, making very few grammatical errors. The student pronounces clearly and the speech sounds natural.

Further information

The course content is determined individually for each degree programme and integrated into the degree context in the curriculum and into substance studies. Oral and written language skills are assessed separately.