Professional English for the Service Industry (5cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The course focuses on developing professional communication skills in multicultural environments in the service industry.

After completing the course, the student:
- is able to communicate about themselves, their education, work experience and tasks as well as use the industry-related special terminology
- is able to use the English language in both spoken and written forms to carry out work-related tasks in a multicultural context
- is able to communicate in a customer-oriented way in various networks, negotiation and counselling situations
- is able to adapt their communication style according to the communication partner in various contexts
- is able to seek and apply professionally essential, industry-related information in a critical and analytical manner
- is able to follow the development in their field of study and participate in it via various channels (e.g. media, conferences, literature)

Content (course unit)

Different professional communication situations in a multicultural working environment, e.g. negotiations, counselling, customer-oriented communication.
Authentic professional texts.
Terminology of the students’ field of study.
Telling about one’s education, work experience, skills and objectives.

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

The student understands the main points of the professional material in their field and is able to use basic aids to acquire basic information and convey it in an understandable way. They manage simple communication situations on professional topics. The student knows some professional terms and phrases. The student recognises different language genres and their features satisfactorily. They pronounce occasionally inaccurately but understandably.

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

The student understands both the main points and most details in professional materials and can implement the acquired knowledge. They express themselves clearly and professionally. The student recognises different language genres and their features well, communicates professionally and expresses situational awareness. The student is able to use a fairly good selection of professional terms and phrases. They pronounce fairly naturally and clearly

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The understands both key points and details in professional materials. They can easily implement acquired knowledge. They can communicate fluently, accurately and professionally with a strong sense of style and appropriate register. They master a wide range of professional terms and phrases. The student pronounces clearly and naturally with varying nuances in tone.

Location and time

Lessons on campus on Wednesdays.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lessons: 3 hours/week on campus
Pair work
Group work
Independent work

Note! This is a collaborative course with the implementation 8T00GK48-3006 Professional English for the Service Industry. This means, for example, that contact lessons may be organized in two groups based on the students' English background. Lessons will take place at the location indicated in the timetable.

1) Basic skills (Slower-paced, focusing on the most essential topics)

2) Advanced skills (Faster-paced, slightly broader material and quicker tempo)

Learning materials

Learning materials will be published in Moodle or distributed during lessons.
As study support, we will use the textbook EXPERT UPDATE: English for Food Professionals (Otava), which is available at the TAMK library.

Content scheduling

- Education, Employment
- Presentation skills
- Communication in hospitality management
- Business vocabulary, quotation
- Complaints

Completion alternatives

If your English skills are strong (levels 4–5), you may apply for the course:
N-00CY46-3024 A Fast Track to Professional English

Previously completed equivalent higher education course or recognition of prior learning (RPL):
https://www.tuni.fi/opiskelijanopas/kasikirja/tamk?page=3126#hyvaksiluku
When applying for credit transfer, the student must contact the teacher well in advance before the course begins.

Further information

Guidelines for using AI in this implementation

If a student uses AI tools in an allowed manner to assist with their learning tasks, they must cite the AI tools used and provide the prompts they used alongside their task responses. If a student presents AI-generated results as their own without citations, sources, and/or prompts, the teacher may reject the work or require it to be redone. The teacher has the right to ask the student if they have used AI in their learning task.