English for Music Professionals (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The student:
- can communicate appropriately in a range of professional situations.
- can, when working in a multi-cultural group, take into account different cultural backgrounds and their effects on communication and working habits.
- is familiar with the core terminology of the music field.
- is able to describe his/her own professional expertise and aims for the future.
- can write work-related texts in an appropriate style.
- can search for and apply critical judgement to information in English-language source materials related to his/her own professional field.
- can follow developments in his/her professional field by reading English-language publications and journals.
- can evaluate, maintain and develop his/her own language skills, and language-learning skills.

Content (course unit)

- authentic professional texts; music terminology and vocabulary
- occupations in the field of music
- describing one’s own education, qualifications and personal aims
- describing the artistic output of one’s own field
- different kinds of communication situations: teaching and negotiating
- writing different types of text: curricula vitae, email, formal letters
- writing applications: grants, participation in competitions

Prerequisites (course unit)

Language A at Primary School

Evaluation methods and criteria

The student has to be present on at least 80% of the lessons. The grade is based on oral competence (presentation, discussion tasks) and written competence (formal text, written exam).

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

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

Learning materials

Electronic materials on the course Tabula area.

Student workload

Classroom teaching 9 x 4h, independent study 45h

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 tell briefly about his/her own instrument and teach others how to play it in an understandable way
- 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 tell about his/her own instrument and teach others how to play it
- 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 tell about his/her own instrument fluently and in a versatile way and teach others how to play it using rich language
- 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