Oral English Skills, CEFR B2.2Laajuus (3 cr)

Objective

The student communicates orally in English in various interactive situations using moderately complex language. The student has good oral language skills to communicate in an international environment and can communicate moderately fluently in everyday, occasionally unfamiliar professional situations. The student understands spoken English and different accents well. The student conveys their intended message and expresses themselves in a clear manner. The student uses conversation strategies while communicating. Target level CEFR (Common European Framework Reference level): B2.2

Content

The course will focus on helping students improve their oral communication skills for professional life in an international environment. Emphasis will be on increasing confidence and fluency through practical activities. The topics on the course include practicing listening skills, pronunciation, improving fluency, learning conversation strategies, practicing small talk and intercultural communication.

Qualifications

Prerequisite studies: SY220303 Työelämän englanti, SY222303 English for Working Life or CEFR level B2.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has enough language to get by, with sufficient vocabulary to express themself with some hesitation on topics such as family, hobbies and interests, work, travel, and current events. They use reasonably accurately a repertoire of frequently used "routines" and patterns associated with more predictable situations. They can keep going comprehensibly, even though pausing for grammatical and lexical planning and repair is very evident, especially in longer stretches of free production. Also, the student can initiate, maintain and close simple face-to-face conversation on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. They can repeat back part of what someone has said to confirm mutual understanding. They can link a series of shorter, discrete simple elements into a connected, linear sequence of points.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student has a sufficient range of language to be able to give clear descriptions, express viewpoints on most general topics, without much conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms to do so. They show a relatively high degree of grammatical control. The student does not make errors which cause misunderstanding and can correct most of their mistakes. They can produce stretches of language with a fairly even tempo, although they can be hesitant as they search for patterns and expressions, there are few noticeably long pauses. They can initiate discourse, take their turn when appropriate and end conversation when they need to, though they may not always do this elegantly. The student can help the discussion along on familiar ground confirming comprehension, inviting others in, etc. Also they can use a number of cohesive devices to link their utterances into clear, coherent discourse, though there may be some "jumpiness" in a long contribution.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student has a good command of a broad range of language allowing them to select a formulation to express them clearly in an appropriate style on a wide range of general, academic, professional or leisure topics without having to restrict what they want to say. They have a good command of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms. The student consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare, difficult to spot and generally corrected when they do occur.