Finnish language communication 1 and language (Swedish) skills (5 cr)

Objective

The student knows how to use communication and the Swedish language in architectural studies and in the profession of building architect.
After completing the course, the student understands the requirements of written and oral expert communication and masters the basics of information acquisition. The student can write an essay about his own field and can prepare an expert presentation in his own field. The student can evaluate his own competence and give constructive feedback to others.
The student is able to function during the study period in all interaction situations, e.g. in group work.
The student is able to act purposefully and skillfully in communication and interaction situations in working life. He knows how to take into account the requirements of the recipient, the situation and the industry, and communicate in a structured, comprehensible and persuasive manner. He knows and wants to develop his Finnish language and communication skills as part of his professional skills.
The student achieves the oral and written knowledge of the second domestic language required by the university of applied sciences legislation (Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences 352/2003 8§) and required for work tasks in their own field.
The student knows how to communicate in the working environment of his field in Swedish both in Finland and in the Nordic countries, taking into account the cultural and linguistic starting points of those involved in the communication situation.
The student's oral and written communication skills are at least skill level B1 of the European Framework of Reference. The student can acquire information related to his professional field from different sources and convey information in writing and orally.
During the studies, the student develops a positive and realistic understanding of his language and communication skills, as well as the ability and motivation to develop his language and communication skills.

Content

The course is implemented as a joint teaching of building architecture, communication and language teaching, the theme of which is defined in the course implementation plan.
Expert and group communication:
- teamwork skills
- messengers and interaction parties
- interaction situations in working life
- performance technique
- the requirements of persuasive communication and matter-of-fact communication
- knowledge acquisition and structuring skills.

The content of the Swedish language teaching is determined by the education program.
The contents include oral and written exercises related to the following subjects, essential for each field of study:
- Self-assessment of language and communication skills and development of learning strategies
- Education and career
- Industry organizations, work environments, tasks, processes, tools
- Professional texts and the accumulation and activation of professional terminology
- Key interaction situations in the profession: individual and group communication
More detailed content is described in the study course implementation plan.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Successful completion of the study course requires that the student achieves the goals of the study course in the manner defined in the implementation.
The student is able to name the characteristics of his own communication based on the instructions and feedback he receives and recognizes the components of the communication process.
The student participates in community interaction situations, receives and gives feedback. He recognizes the characteristics of interaction situations in communities.
The student prepares messages according to the given instructions and template, acquires information in a controlled manner and uses it in his/her output.

A student in Swedish-language communication situations related to his professional field
• Copes with the most common general and industry-specific language situations in working life.
• Can write simple, partly inconsistent text. Errors can make it difficult to understand, but they don't prevent the message from getting through.
• Participates in simple interactions, but often needs support from the interlocutor.
• Controls the usual vocabulary of one's field and general language; inaccuracies and the influence of other languages can interfere with the delivery of the message. He uses the most common basic structures unilaterally and partially incorrectly.
• Pronounces mostly intelligibly, although the pronunciation differs from the target language and the slowness of the sentence rhythm makes it difficult to evaluate the functionality of the communication.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to evaluate his own communication skills and form communication development goals. The student works goal-oriented in interaction situations in the field, knows the importance of internal and external communication within the community. He listens, observes and interprets messages appropriately.
As an expert, the student communicates in a structured, comprehensible and interesting manner and targets his message according to the recipient and the situation. The student justifies his point of view.
The student acquires knowledge in his field and uses it critically. The student can work on a goal-oriented written, oral or visual presentation for the target audience. The student uses the knowledge of text genre in the assignments in accordance with the language usage recommendations.
A student in Swedish-language communication situations related to his professional field
• Copes moderately in general and sector-specific language situations of everyday working life.
• Can write a content-intense text that conveys the message.
• Takes initiative in interaction in familiar situations in the field.
• Can moderately use the basic vocabulary of one's field and general language. There may be inaccuracies in the choice of words and flaws in the structures, which, however, do not interfere with communication.
• Pronounces intelligibly. Breaks in sentence rhythm do not hinder getting the message across.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student wants and knows how to develop his/her Finnish language and communication skills as part of his/her professional skills and is able to communicate purposefully, creatively and personally.
The student uses communication methods creatively and uses communication channels and tools appropriately in internal and external interaction situations of communities. The student argues skillfully and demonstrates, shares and builds his expertise in the community.
The student acquires information independently and expertly in order to produce new information or new perspectives. The student uses the language creatively and in accordance with the practices and language usage recommendations of his field.
A student in Swedish-language communication situations related to his professional field
• Copes well in versatile and even demanding general and sector-specific language use situations in working life.
• Can write clear and detailed text in a way that is suitable and appropriate for the situation.
• Actively and appropriately participates in interactions in professional situations. The speech is smooth and effortless and takes the interlocutor into account.
• Uses the vocabulary of one's field and general language in a versatile manner and structures almost flawlessly.
• Pronunciation is clear, sentence rhythm is natural.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Successful completion of the study course requires that the student achieves the goals of the study course in the manner defined in the implementation.
The student is able to name the characteristics of his own communication based on the instructions and feedback he receives and recognizes the components of the communication process.
The student participates in community interaction situations, receives and gives feedback. He recognizes the characteristics of interaction situations in communities.
The student prepares messages according to the given instructions and template, acquires information in a controlled manner and uses it in his/her output.

A student in Swedish-language communication situations related to his professional field
• Copes with the most common general and industry-specific language situations in working life.
• Can write simple, partly inconsistent text. Errors can make it difficult to understand, but they don't prevent the message from getting through.
• Participates in simple interactions, but often needs support from the interlocutor.
• Controls the usual vocabulary of one's field and general language; inaccuracies and the influence of other languages can interfere with the delivery of the message. He uses the most common basic structures unilaterally and partially incorrectly.
• Pronounces mostly intelligibly, although the pronunciation differs from the target language and the slowness of the sentence rhythm makes it difficult to evaluate the functionality of the communication.

Qualifications

Acquiring professional language and communication skills in the second domestic language (Swedish) requires the entry level B1.1 of the European reference framework.

Further information

The student demonstrates oral and written Swedish language skills that correspond to the knowledge of a second domestic language according to § 6 of Act 424/2003 on the language skills required of public sector personnel in a bilingual authority with a grade of good or satisfactory. (rating scale: 4-5 = good and 1-3 = satisfactory).