Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The course builds up the knowledge and use of Finnish language in everyday situations, and it also provides wider perspective to Finnish culture. Estimated level A2.1.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

Tell about future plans to a Finn in common situations.
Understand standard business related messages in Finnish.
Understand standard spoken Finnish.
Communicate with Finns in typical occasions.

Content (course unit)

How to express plans in good and clear manner in Finnish, spoken and written?
How to actively broaden vocabulary in daily situations?
How to understand basic business communication in Finnish?
What are the most common features of spoken Finnish?
How to become an observer of Finnish culture and learn about that?

Prerequisites (course unit)

- Finnish as a Foreign Language 1 (5 cr) or equivalent knowledge.

Further information (course unit)

-

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

The student recognises typical grammatical structures like local cases and object. He/she is able to tell some things about his/her future plans (e.g. travelling) in Finnish in most common situations. He/she is able to tell some simple things of the past and cope to some extent in situations in which Finns use spoken language.

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

The student has an active attitude towards studying the Finnish language and culture showing that by completing written tasks. The student is able to use typical grammatical structures like local cases and object in simple sentences. He/she is able to tell about future plans in simple ways understandable in common situations. The student is able to talk about the past and explain his/her ideas and plans understandably. He/she comprehends main topics in everyday conversations with Finns who talk standard spoken language.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student has a positive and active attitude towards learning the language and is genuinely interested in Finnish culture, and brings it up by expressing his/her findings about cultural matters. The student is able to talk understandably about the past and express himself/herself in various ways. He/she can cope in situations with Finns talking standard spoken Finnish, when topics are related to matters he/she is interested in, and/or when topics concern everyday life.

Location and time

Finlayson

Exam schedules

Monday 28 November and Tuesday 29 November

Assessment methods and criteria

Participation in the course meetings.
Review of the course assignments.
Review of the exams.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

We will have course meetings in a classroom. In addition to that, you will get home work that you need to submit. In the end of the course, we will have an exam in oral and written skills.

We practice speaking, listening, writing and reading. Furthermore, you will get acquainted with the basics of Finnish pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar.

Learning materials

Website Taste of Finnish and teacher's own material

Student workload

5 ECTs course means 5 x 27 hours of work.
Group meetings twice a week.
Home work: 6-8 hours per week (may vary individually) and active attitude towards Finnish-speaking society.

Completion alternatives

Not available

Further information

Final tests (60 % weight on the evaluation)
Home work (25 % weight on the evaluation)
Meeting participation (15 % weight on the evaluation)

Notice that the evaluation criteria below are general descriptions of different student profiles, and will be elaborated in the orientation meeting.

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

Student gets the grade 0 when their course participation fits the following description for all or most parts:

- Has too many absences in the course, and/or does not showcase active and undisturbed participation in the course. Forgets easily about the homework, and is not able to compensate it in other ways (e.g. by classroom participation).
- Does not submit assignments in time, and/or does not follow the general guidelines and instructions in their work.
- Performs poorly in the exams and/or other reviewed assignments, and showcases lack of effort in their work.
- Relies almost solely on friends, translation apps, and other external resources that can prevent genuine learning. Shows very little effort on learning and doing things independently.
- Showcases very little progression in the course, and does not master any of the major skills that are required in the end of the course.

In case the teacher can not choose the grade based on this criteria, the final exam and other reviewed assignments will determine the grade.

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

Student gets the grade 1 or 2 when their course participation fits the following description for all or most parts:

- Attends the required amount of course meetings but might not always show active participation. Forgets easily about the homework, and is not able to compensate it in other ways (e.g. by classroom participation).
- Submits most of their course assignments in time, and has followed the general guidelines in their work, even if the end result needs a lot of improvement.
- Might not perform well in the exams and other reviewed assignments but can showcase at least some type of progress in their studying.
- Relies a bit too much on friends, translation apps, and other external resources that can prevent genuine learning. However, puts at least some effort on learning and doing things indepedently.
- Masters some of the skills that are required in the end of the course but could still benefit from a lot of practice.

In case the teacher can not choose the grade based on this criteria, the final exam and other reviewed assignments will determine the grade.

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

Student gets the grade 3 or 4 when course participation fits the following description for all or most parts:

- Shows active and undisturbed participation in the course meetings. Does at least most of their homework in time.
- Submits most of the course assignments in time, and does their work diligently.
- Performs well or at least moderately well in the exams and other reviewed assignments.
- Relies only a little on friends, translation apps, and other external resources that can prevent genuine learning. Instead, puts effort on learning and doing things independently.
- Masters most of the skills that are required in the end of the course but might still need some practice in certain areas.

In case the teacher can not choose the grade based on this criteria, the final exam and other reviewed assignments will determine the grade.

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

Student gets the grade 5 when classroom participation fits the following description for all or most parts:

- Shows active and undisturbed participation in the course meetings. Does at least most of their homework in time.
- Submits course assignments in time, and does their work diligently.
- Performs well in the exams and other reviewed assignments.
- Relies very little on friends, translation apps, and other external resources that can prevent genuine learning. Instead, puts effort on learning and doing things independently.
- Masters fluently the skills that are required in the end of the course, and even exceeds the expectations in certain areas.

In case the teacher can not choose the grade based on this criteria, the final exam and other reviewed assignments will determine the grade.