Study Guide

Objectives

The course focuses on developing typical workplace communication skills in English.
After completing the course, the student:
• can communicate with proficiency in work-related communication situations, including telephoning, online calls, and email etiquette.
• is familiar with essential business terminology and can deliver a company presentation.
• knows the key vocabulary relevant to their field of study.

Content

• Workplace communication situations
• Business English
• Terminology specific to students' field of study

Prerequisites

English studies completed in upper secondary education or level B2 in European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Sufficient skills in Finnish.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Student
• copes with simple conversational situations, also related to companies in his field
• reacts to what the interlocutor says most often in a comprehensible manner
• is aware, to some extent, of the style requirements set by different types of texts
• writes clearly in outline
• understands the main points of normal-paced speech in a familiar context, when the message is repeated if necessary
• pronounces intelligibly most of the time
• finds the information the student is looking for in texts that deal with familiar topics
• uses the basic vocabulary of the field so that the essential message is conveyed
• uses simple basic grammar structures
• uses available aids, e.g. online dictionaries

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Student
• discusses both general topics and topics related to his field and its companies quite fluently
• reacts to what his interlocutor says mostly appropriately
• mostly communicates in the style required by the situation
• writes fairly fluently and clearly
• understands people speaking with different accents when the topic is familiar
• pronounces quite naturally and clearly
• understands the main points and most details of the text read
• can, if necessary, express the matter in other words
• understands and uses the vocabulary of the field quite accurately
• knows how to use different sources and dictionaries
• uses structures mostly correctly and corrects mistakes in language if they have led to misunderstandings

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student
• fluently discusses both general topics and topics related to his professional field and its companies
• reacts quickly and appropriately to what the interlocutor says
• communicates in the style required by the situation
• writes fluently and appropriately with almost no grammatical errors
• understands relatively easily also people who speak with different accents
• pronounces naturally and clearly
• understands both the main points and the details of a demanding professional text and is able to apply what he has read
• explains in other words and makes up for gaps in vocabulary discreetly
• understands and uses skillfully and precisely the vocabulary of the field as well as the terminology of the student's own specialty
• usually finds different sources using appropriate words and expressions
• uses versatile grammatical structures and manages them almost flawlessly

Further information

Alternative methods of completion if the course is compulsory:
Approved skills test or corresponding course at another university of applied sciences.