English as a Foreign Language (2 ECTS)

Objective

The students are able to communicate fluently and efficiently in English in the study and work assignments of their professional field in Finland and abroad and they are able to use English to develop their own professional skills. They are able to communicate naturally in multicultural environments, taking the communication situations and the cultural and linguistic starting points of the participants into account. The students are able to acquire the necessary information from various sources in their field of and process and convey it in writing and orally. The students have a realistic understanding of their language and communication skills and display a positive attitude towards them as a part of their professional skills

Content

The course contents focus on the following themes improving oral and written communication skills highlighting each professional field:
• Key international and domestic international situations in the professional field: individual and group communication
• Key professional concepts and terms in the texts of each professional field
• Professional textual conventions and text types
• Professional organisations, working environments, assignments, processes, and tools
• Education and career planning in each professional field
• Self-assessment of language and communication skills and development of individual learning strategies

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

In the communication situations related to their professional field, the students trust their communication skills so that they can cope with professional situations using a foreign language by posing specific questions and short speech lines of their own. The students understand the communication of the communication partner in such a way that they act appropriately. The students express their thoughts in plain language and mainly in a coherent and comprehensible manner, even though there may be shortcomings in the professional language use and language errors may occur that hinder conveying the message. The students draw up texts in a specific format independently, as well as broader texts with the help of linguistic aids.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

In communication situations related to their professional field, the students trust their communication skills so that they can handle the language situations in the field in accordance with the objectives of the professional task. The students exchange ideas as equal partners with an independent language user, communicate proactively in professional language situations, taking into account the participants' linguistic and cultural backgrounds and the requirements of the situation. The students express themselves without delay in a clear and detailed manner and use the professional vocabulary accurately. The students clearly pronounce English so that the overall message is conveyed and produce or different purposes, the linguistic shortcomings do not interfere with conveying the message.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

In communication situations related to their professional field, the students trust their communication skills so that they will take part and take the initiative in language use situations in the various communication situations in the field, following the conventions. The students exchange ideas clearly and fluently equally with a proficient language user and communicate taking the initiative if necessary also in demanding professional language use situations, taking into account the other participants' linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The students express themselves efficiently and accurately, using demanding professional vocabulary accurately. The students pronounce English clearly with natural stress and rhythm so that the overall message is emphasized, and produce clear, well- structured and compelling texts in various text types.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

In the communication situations related their professional fields, the students trust their communication skills to handle the language situations required in the profession by asking more specific questions and by producing short speech lines so that they understand the communication of the interaction partner in such a way that they can act appropriately expressing their thoughts in a simple and comprehensible manner. Even though there may be shortcomings in the specific professional language use and language errors occur, which can interfere with getting the message across, they can write simple texts with specific formats independently as well as produce wider texts with linguistic aids.

Qualifications

Level B2 of the Common European Framework of References (CEFR).

Further information

The detailed content of the course is determined by each degree programme and is integrated into the context of the degree in the curriculum and professional studies.

The language clause in Metropolia's current degree certificate: The student has acquired the necessary oral and written skills in English for professional practise and development (Decree 1129/2014, 7 §)

Further information

The detailed content of the course is determined by each degree programme and is integrated into the context of the degree in the curriculum and professional studies.

The language clause in Metropolia's current degree certificate: The student has acquired the necessary oral and written skills in English for professional practise and development (Decree 1129/2014, 7 §)