Academic and Professional Communication in English (5 ECTS)

Objective

The student is able to communicate fluently and efficiently in English in study and working life assignments of the professional field in Finland and abroad, and is able to use English to develop the professional skills. The student is able to work in a multicultural environment, taking into account specific characteristics of the communication situations and the other participants’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The student is able to obtain and process information in the professional field from various sources and to communicate the information further in writing and in speaking.
The student has a realistic understanding of the current language and communication skills, and is willing to develop these as part of the professional skills.

Content

The course content focuses on the following field-specific subjects, improving both oral and written communication skills:

•The field's key interaction situations: individual and group communication
• Key concepts and terms used in the field-specific texts
• The professional field's text conventions and text types
• Information acquisition, processing, application and dissemination and the reading of scientific information in a foreign language
• Professional organisations, work environments, duties, processes, tools, and safety matters
• Education and career planning in the professional field
• Self-assessment of language and communication skills, and development of learning strategies.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

In communication situations related to the professional field, the student:
• trusts the communication skills enough to manage professional language-use situations by asking questions to check any unclear points
• expresses thoughts in a simple way and for the most part coherently and intelligibly, despite difficulties in grammar, vocabulary, and style
• can communicate simple messages/texts independently, and longer messages/texts with help of various language tools.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

In communication situations related to the professional field, the student:
• trusts communication skills enough to manage language situations in the field as expected from a professional
• exchanges ideas on an equal basis with an independent language user, and if necessary, takes initiative to communicate in professional language-use situations, taking into account to some extent the other participants' language and cultural backgrounds, and the context
• communicates clearly and in detail without delay, using professional vocabulary accurately
• uses clear English pronunciation so that the message is conveyed
• produces texts for different purposes without major language difficulties that may hinder communication.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

In communication situations related to the professional field, the student:
• trusts communication skills enough to take part and take initiative in various communication situations in the field, following the required stylistic conventions
• exchanges ideas clearly and fluently on an equal basis with a skilful language user, and communicates with initiative also in demanding professional language use situations, taking into account the other participants' language and cultural backgrounds
• expresses ideas efficiently and accurately
• uses demanding professional vocabulary accurately
• pronounces English clearly with natural stress and rhythm, so that the message with its tones and implications is properly conveyed
• produces clear, grammatical, and well-structured texts for various situations.

Qualifications

Prior competence
B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)