English for Social Services (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

Students:
- have cultural awareness and sensitivity so that they can mediate between own and foreign cultures
- master the key terminology of social and health care so that they can make use of professional English literature in their work and professional growth
-can present a social work unit or project and describe the work of a Bachelor of Social Services
- can explain the principles of Finnish social services and income security
- can explain their education
- can write work related texts in neutral and formal style (e.g. e-mail, CV)
- can maintain, develop and assess their own language skills

Content (course unit)

Content
- face- to- face situations and appropriate language and register
the work and clientele of a Bachelor of Social Services
- Finnish social services and income security
Education
visits to social work units and presentations
authentic professional texts and key terminology of social and health care
business letter, cv and e-mail
- business calls

Assessment methods and criteria

The student has to be present on at least 80% of the lessons. The grade is based on oral competence and written competence.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Classroom teaching, group and pair work, e-learning.

Learning materials

Saarinen and Saarinen: Way to Welfare English for Social Services. Keuruu:Otava
Electronic materials on the course Tabula area

International connections

Exchange students in classes if/when possible

Further information

Prerequisites
A-level upper secondary school English or equivalent skills, a passed TAMK skill level test, or a passed preparatory course.

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

The student
- can give a simple and understandable presentation utilising ready material and aids
- can explain the principles of Finnish social welfare system briefly
- manages simple conversations
- usually reacts in some way to what's being said to him/her
- is somewhat conscious of the stylistic requirements of various types of text
- can produce mostly understandable writing
- understands the main points of a normally paced conversation about a familiar topic, when the message is repeated if needed
- can pronounce in a way that is mostly understandable
- can find the information he/she is looking for in texts that discuss familiar topics
- uses the basic professional vocabulary so that the essential message is communicated
- uses basic grammatical structures
- uses the most easily available aids, such as free dictionaries

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

The student
- can prepare and give a brief but clear presentation on a professional topic
- can explain the principles of Finnish social welfare system clearly
- manages conversations on professional topics quite fluently
- usually reacts appropriately to what's being said to him/her
- usually communicates using an appropriate style in various situations
- can produce quite fluent and clear writing
- understands speakers who have various accents when the topic is familiar
- can pronounce fairly fluently and clearly
- understands the main points and most details of various texts
- can express things using other words if needed
- understands and uses the professional vocabulary fairly accurately
- uses grammatical structures mostly correctly and self-corrects his/her errors if they have led to misunderstandings
- can utilise different sources and dictionaries

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

The student
- can prepare and give an engaging, structured presentation with the needed materials
- can explain the principles of Finnish social welfare system clearly and in a structured way
- manages conversations on professional topics fluently
- reacts quickly and appropriately to what's being said to him/her
- communicates using an appropriate style in various situations
- can produce fluent, appropriate writing with only a few errors
- understands speakers who have various accents relatively easily
- can pronounce fluently and clearly
- understands the main points and details of a demanding professional text and can adapt the information
- can express things using other words and bridges the gaps in his/her vocabulary in a discreet way
- understands and skilfully and accurately uses the professional vocabulary and the terminology of his/her own specialisation
- uses complex grammatical structures mostly correctly
- usually finds the terms he/she needs by utilising different sources