Technical English for Professionals (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The aim is to further develop the written and spoken competence in English needed in the working life as an engineer.

The students have a good command of the special terms in their particular field and are able to read technical texts. They know the job application process in English. The students gain experience of negotiating in English. They know how to give an effective professional presentation and how to write reports.

Content (course unit)

Terms needed in engineering. Meetings and negotiations. Presenting a technical process or product. CV, job application and job interview. Grammar and intercultural communication if necessary.

Prerequisites (course unit)

Working English for Engineers or equivalent

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

The student completes the tasks.
The student is able to
- enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current events).
- briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
- write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. I can write personal letters describing experiences and impressions

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

The student is able to
- interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.
- take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts
- present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects.
- explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
- write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects as well as abstracts of material related to one's own field

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student:
- can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
- is able to use language flexibly and effectively for social and professional purposes
- is able to formulate ideas and opinions with precision and relate his/her contribution skillfully to those of other speakers.
- can present clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion
- can express him/herself in clear, well-structured text, expressing points of view at some length.
- can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report, underlining what I consider to be the salient issues
- can select a style appropriate to the reader in mind

Location and time

Classes are on Tuesdays from 11 AM to 1 PM or 11 AM to 2 PM at TAMK from January 14th to April 29th, 2025. There is no contact teaching every week. The non-teaching sessions are intended for independent or small group work.

Exam schedules

Suullinen koe: 22.4. ja 29.4. Opiskelijat valitsee päivistä toisen.
Kirjallinen koe: 21.-30.4.2025 TUNIEXAMISSA
Uusintakokeet: Hyväksyttyä arvosanaa voi korottaa kerran, hylättyä arvosanaa suorittaa kaksi kertaa opettajan määrääminä uusintakoepäivinä. Ajankohdat tarkentuvat, kun nähdään uusintakokeiden tarve.

Kirjallinen koe, uusinta 12.5. - 1.6.
Suullinen koe, uusinta 12.5. tai 19.5. Sovi aika opettajan kanssa.

Assessment methods and criteria

Hyväksytty arvosana 1-5

-kirjallinen koe, 30%
-suullinen koe 40%
-ryhmätyö 30%
-lähiopetukseen osallistuminen
-Kotitehtäviä tulee olla palautettuna min. 80%.

Kotitehtäväpaketti ja niiden oikeat vastaukset (key) ilmoitetaan Moodlessa. Opettaja tarkastaa, että tehtävät on palautettu Tunimoodleen palautusalustalle deadlineen mennessä. Opiskelijan tulee itse tarkastaa, että tehtävät on tehty oikein ja kysyä tarvittaessa. Kotitehtäviä ei voi palauttaa opettajan sähköpostiin, eikä sen jälkeen, kun oikeat vastaukset on annettu. Saadakseen kokeiden ja ryhmätyön osoittaman arvosanan, kotitehtäviä tulee olla palautettuna vähintään 80 %. Liian vähäinen kotitehtävien teko voi vaikuttaa arvosanaan.

Lähitunneilta voi olla pois 2 kertaa omalla ilmoituksella. Jos poissaoloja tulee tätä enemmän, ne tulee korvata osallistumalla saman opettajan jonkin muun soveltuvan kurssin lähiopetukseen. Vakavat sairastapaukset käsitellään erikseen. Poissaoloja ei voi korvata lisätehtävillä.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

contact lessons, independent on-line study in Moodle, spoken and written individual, pair and group tasks, written and spoken exam, assessed group work

Learning materials

No textbook is used in the course. The teacher provides the material during the class and through Moodle. Students are asked to find and produce suitable study material.

Student workload

27 h / opintopiste
Tähän sisältyvät lähiopetustunnit, kotitehtävät, ryhmätyöt sekä tentteihin valmistautuminen.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation Procedure
• English language courses completed during previous higher education studies
• Exchange programme abroad, studies of one's own field in English
• English language skills acquired, for example, through work.
In these situations, contact the teacher no later than the beginning of the course. Accrediation is not possible after the contact teaching of the course is over.
The course can be replaced by a so-called Fast Track course.

Further information

The students have passed the course when they have been present to 80% of the classes, completed the agreed tasks and taken part in the exam.