English for Music Professionals (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The course focuses on developing various workplace communication skills in English.

After completing the course, the student
- knows how to effectively communicate in English in professional situations
- masters the relevant professional terminology in the field of music
- can write professional documents related to the field of music
- can search and interpret professional knowledge from various sources in English
- can assess, maintain, and develop their own language and study skills

Content (course unit)

- Authentic professional texts, music terminology
- Different jobs in the field of music
- Telling about one’s own education and objectives
- Describing productions and pieces in the field of music
- Different communication situations: e.g. teaching an instrument and musical theatre
- Formal letter, email, and CV
- Competition and scholarship applications

Prerequisites (course unit)

Starting level: Upper secondary school English courses or skill level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference. Do the starting skill level test in English and if necessary, complete a preparatory course before the start of the course.

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

The student
- can give a simple and understandable presentation utilising aids
- can tell briefly about their own instrument
- manages simple conversations on professional topics
- usually reacts in some way to what's being said to them
- 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 they are looking for in texts that discuss familiar topics
- uses the basic professional vocabulary so that the essential message is communicated
- uses basic grammatical structures

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

The student
- can prepare and give a brief but clear presentation on a professional topic
- can tell about their own instrument
- manages conversations on professional topics quite fluently
- usually reacts appropriately to what's being said to them
- 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 their errors if they have led to misunderstandings

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student
- can give an engaging, structured presentation with the needed materials
- can tell about their own instrument fluently and in a versatile way
- manages conversations on professional topics fluently and naturally
- reacts quickly and appropriately to what's being said to them
- 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 their vocabulary in a discreet way
- understands and skilfully and accurately uses the professional terminology of their own specialisation
- uses complex grammatical structures mostly correctly

Assessment scale

0-5