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English for Social Services (3 cr)

Code: 7S00EL18-3027

General information


Enrolment period

12.01.2024 - 10.03.2024

Timing

04.03.2024 - 21.04.2024

Credits

3 op

Virtual portion

1 op

Mode of delivery

67 % Contact teaching, 33 % Online learning

Unit

TAMK Languages and Communication

Campus

TAMK Main Campus

Teaching languages

  • Finnish

Degree programmes

  • Degree Programme in Social Services

Teachers

  • Kirsi Saarinen

Person in charge

Kirsi Saarinen

Groups

  • 23SO
  • 23SOB

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

Further information (course unit)

Also open to international exchange students.

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

Abandoned
-the student is unable to participate in oral interaction because of problems in producing his / her own speech and / or understanding the speech of other parties
-pronunciation is difficult to understand
-the student masters a very narrow vocabulary that is not sufficient to handle the situation. Repeatedly uses inappropriate words and phrases
- Lack of mastery of infrastructure
- Student fails to properly handle written communication situations
- Does not write comprehensively
- Difficulties in finding information in text that deals with familiar topics Satisfactory (1-2) The student
- can make a simple and comprehensible presentation using ready-made materials and tools
- can explain the Finnish social security system in a concise way
- cope with routine oral and written interactions (eg e-mail, CV, presentation of work unit, self-report)
- provide simple, oral and, if necessary, written instructions to clients
- ask client for information about current and past life, correctly for successful treatment or follow-up
- to some extent aware of the style requirements of different types of texts
- to write in a comprehensible manner
- to understand the main points of normal-paced speech in a familiar context when repeating when needed
- to pronounce comprehensively
- to find the information basic grammar structures

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

The student
- knows how to prepare and give a concise but clear presentation on the topic in his / her field
- the student communicates clearly in key multidisciplinary and multicultural interaction situations (eg oral and written reporting) and is able to give and justify individual guidance in most common guidance situations and previous health or life situation and, if necessary, ask more specific questions and be able to answer the questions asked by the client
- fairly fluent in topics related to his / her field
- responds most appropriately to the messages of his / her interlocutor
- communicates most often in the style required by the situation
- speaks fairly fluently and clearly
- understands people with different accents when familiar
- speaks - be able to express it in other words, if needed
- understand and use the vocabulary of the field fairly accurately
- know how to use various sources and dictionaries
- use structures correctly and correct mistakes in language themselves if they have led to misunderstandings

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student
- is able to prepare and deliver a convincing, structured presentation with the necessary materials
- is able to explain the key issues of the Finnish social security system in a clear and structured way
- communicates proficiently in demanding multidisciplinary and multicultural interaction situations (eg reporting, meetings)
- is able to interview clients in the manner required by the situation and to communicate in challenging and unexpected client situations in a professional manner
- speaks fluently on topics related to his / her profession
- responds quickly and appropriately to messages from his / her interlocutor
- communicates in the style required by the situation - speaks fluently and purposefully with almost no linguistic errors be able to apply what he reads
- explain in other words and imperceptibly replace the shortcomings of the vocabulary
- understand and use skillfully and precisely the vocabulary of the field and the terminology of his specialty
- usually find different sources by using the appropriate terms
- uses versatile grammar structures and manages them almost perfectly

Location and time

Our first meeting on Monday 4th March at 10.00-11.00 23SOABCD (all groups at the same time) in Zoom

ZOOM:
https://tuni.zoom.us/j/67950250599?pwd=VENPR2xURE5TMTNsRHZuWjMvb29KUT09

Passcode: 248787

Exam schedules

Presentation (separate schedule)
Written exam in EXAM
Retake in EXAM

Assessment 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 ( written exam).

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Group and pair work, individual work

Learning materials

Saarinen & Saarinen: Way to Welfare . English for Social Services
Electronic materials on the course Moodle 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.



Teacher: Kirsi Saarinen
Tel. 040 800 4326
email: kirsi.saarinen@tuni.fi