Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The students will be able to:
- plan and develop their communicative competences in Finnish and in English in team learning situations.
- build positive communication culture company image
- verbalize their plans and communicate them according to the needs of their business.
- produce the most common professional documents of a company.
- know how to write an academic report according to TAMK standards.
- know how to prepare for and act in meetings and negotiation situations.
- know the principles of powerful presentations.
- give confident company presentations and sales pitches.
- find valid, relevant and reliable information from the university's library services and other public sources.

Content (course unit)

What are the essential language related competences in bilingual entrepreneurship community?
How to write and basic business texts and essays at Proakatemia?
What are the components of a powerful pitch? Are there differences in Finnish and English?
How to find valid information sources?

Further information (course unit)

language skills needed at Proakatemia, the most important accounting terms, business writing, essay writing, basics of pitching, library services

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student can communicate via simple messages in spoken English and Finnish and present simple, factual information and follow templates to produce routine written communications content in English. The student is able to communicate in bilingual entrepreneurship environment by participating in both speaking/listening, reading/writing activities. The student knows the most common, reliable information sources for their study needs.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student can explain and apply communications processes to their own business and develop internal and external communications strategies. The student is able to explain phenomena clearly by speaking and writing in English and take account of cultural norms when devising or responding to communications from other cultures. The student is able to present ideas and information, take account of and adjust communication so that it is appropriate for the audience and medium being used. The student demonstrates the ability to evaluate and adapt their communications approach based on the context and reaction of recipients and is open to new communications methods, channels and ideas. The student is skilled in information search.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student can explain and apply communications processes to their own business and develop internal and external communications strategies very well. The student is able to explain phenomena clearly by speaking and writing in English and take account of cultural norms when devising or responding to communications from other cultures.
The student can improvise during a presentation to deal with unforeseen challenges and connect ideas and information from diverse sources and synthesis this to construct new understanding. The student can demonstrate the ability to adapt their communications as appropriate to context, situation, and level of formality. The student is tolerant of those who have different cultural communication norms and values. They are open to new communication methods and ideas, including those driven by modern technological solutions. The student is able to adapt their communications techniques and strategies as appropriate to the given situation, including tone, pace, intonation, body language, facial expression, dress and appearance, as well as level of formality. The student is able to demonstrate the ability to listen actively. The student has excellent information searching skills.

Assessment criteria, pass/fail (course unit)

The student has not demonstrated entrepreneurship related communication competences. The student is not able to find valid information from TAMK sources.

Location and time

More specific information in Pakki. Any changes will be notified in Teams channels.

Assessment methods and criteria

Self-evaluation, peer evaluation and evaluation by the teachers.
Evaluation is based on:
- Participation in classes
- Essay
- BMC project + pitch
- Homework, pre-tasks and other assignments
- Workshops organized in groups

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Team learning, projects, lectures

Learning materials

Hofstede, G. & Hofstede, G.J. 2005. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind.
Bennett, M.J. 1998. Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication: Selected Readings.
Chaker, A.N. 2011. The Finnish Miracle.
Willans, J. 2017. 101 Very Finnish Problems. The Foreigner's Guide to Surviving in Finland.
Talbot, F. 2016. Outstanding Business English.
A reading list from the coaches.

Student workload

1 ECTS = ca 27 h of work
Participation in classes
Essay
BMC project + pitch
Homework, pre-tasks and other assignments
Workshops organized in groups

Content scheduling

At the beginning of the course, the focus will be on language and communication in general. The second part will focus on texts in business life and negotiation skills. The third part of the course will be about company image and pitching skills. The course will end with academic writing and intercultural communication.

Completion alternatives

Need to be negotiated with the coaches before the course.

Practical training and working life cooperation

Cooperation with other team entrepreneurship students in Finland.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student has not demonstrated entrepreneurship-related communication competencies. The student is not able to find valid information from TAMK sources.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can communicate via simple messages in spoken English and Finnish and present simple, factual information and follow templates to produce routine written communications content in English. The student can communicate in a bilingual entrepreneurship environment by participating in both speaking/listening, and reading/writing activities. The student knows the most common, reliable information sources for their study needs.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can explain and apply communications processes to their own business and develop internal and external communications strategies. The student can explain phenomena clearly by speaking and writing in English and take account of cultural norms when devising or responding to communications from other cultures. The student can present ideas and information, take account of and adjust communication so that it is appropriate for the audience and medium being used. The student demonstrates the ability to evaluate and adapt their communications approach based on the context and reaction of recipients and is open to new communications methods, channels and ideas. The student is skilled in information search.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can explain and apply communications processes to their own business and develop internal and external communications strategies very well. The student can explain phenomena clearly by speaking and writing in English and take account of cultural norms when devising or responding to communications from other cultures.
The student can improvise during a presentation to deal with unforeseen challenges and connect ideas and information from diverse sources and synthesis this to construct new understanding. The student can demonstrate the ability to adapt their communications as appropriate to context, situation, and level of formality. The student is tolerant of those who have different cultural communication norms and values. They are open to new communication methods and ideas, including those driven by modern technological solutions. The student can adapt their communication techniques and strategies as appropriate to the given situation, including tone, pace, intonation, body language, facial expression, dress and appearance, as well as the level of formality. The student can demonstrate the ability to listen actively. The student has excellent information searching skills.