Curricula

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to improve your knowledge in basic and intermediate grammar and vocabulary, as well as give you confidence in spoken English.

During the course, you will refine your grammar and practice your spoken English through activities such as group discussions and text-based speaking activities. You will have an opportunity to practice speaking in multicultural groups and also with native Finnish speakers. Writing texts, such as essays and reports, will also be included in your curriculum.

After completing the course, you will be more confident in expressing yourself in English in different written and spoken contexts.

Content

The central contents of the course include basic and intermediate grammar, for example verb conjugation, noun declension, conditionals, prepositions and quantity words, and vocabulary related to, for example, cultures, travelling, sustainability and employment.

After the course, you will have improved your personal communication skills in speaking and writing. You will also be directed to rich materials from which you can seek out additional information both during the course and well after the course has been completed.

Time and location

Between 14.02.2022 - 20.05.2022 in Jyväskylä on the JAMK Rajakatu campus.

Learning materials and recommended literature

The materials will be found on our Moodle-web platform with possible additional materials dealt out by the teacher. There will be no additional literature that students would need to acquire.

Teaching methods

IMPORTANT NOTE: This course is reserved for the exchange students of the International Business Department, with an emphasis on the exchange students from the IGS Paris HRM-organization. If you are not an exchange student in the IB-Department, please seek out another course and don't enroll here.

The format will be classroom contact teaching at the JAMK campus in Jyväskylä unless the pandemic situation forces online implementations via Zoom. We duly hope that will not be the case through the Spring term of 2022.

Please note that there will be no recordings of the contact sessions or streaming of the sessions as they happen. This is not a course that can be done at an independent pace without participating in weekly sessions.

The course will contain a written exam and other written and oral assignments, while class attendance and performance will also be evaluated.

In situations where a student or a portion of students get sick and cannot participate, the teacher will take care that absentees will know what was done during the sessions that they missed so that they can catch up later on their own time.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

Final exam will be held in May 2022. Re-sit chances can be had either at the end of the same month or if possible for the student, in September 2022.

Alternative completion methods

None.

Student workload

Contact teaching 45-50 hours, Independent work outside of lessons 85-90 hours, for a total of 135 hours (one credit equals 27 hours of student work).

Further information for students

For Study Abroad students (HBI22VKESS, HBI22VKIGS)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

1 The students are able to communicate understandably both in speech and writing in simple and routine situations. They can understand the central content of speech and writing dealing with familiar topics. They have a sufficient command of the basic structures of the language so as to be able to usually deliver their message. The level of their pronunciation is sufficient for the delivery of the main content of their message.

2 The students are able to communicate understandably both orally an in writing in familiar situations although their language use is at times slow and incoherent. They understand clear speech and writing with familiar content. They have a reasonable command of the basic structures of the language although they also show uncertainty in their correct use. Their vocabulary is sufficient for every-day situations. The level of their pronunciation is sufficient for the delivery of content.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

3 The students can manage well both oral and written situations in every-day life. They understand speech with a normal tempo and texts dealing with general topics, but unusual topics and language deviating from standard use cause difficulties. They can use the basic grammatical structures of the language. Their use of grammar is not error-free, but their errors do not hinder communication. The students’ command of the vocabulary of the language is sufficient for communicating the central content in different situations. Their pronunciation is on an adequate level.

4 The students are able to communicate fluently in different situations and produce clear and fluent language. They have no difficulty in understanding speech with a normal tempo and texts dealing with general topics although expressions deviating from the standard use of the language cause problems to some extent. The students have a good command of the language and its use, but occasional problems may arise.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

5 The students are able to communicate fluently and actively participating. They can also apply the learning content of the course in versatile ways. They have no difficulties in understanding speech with a normal tempo and texts dealing with general topics although fine nuances and speech deviating significantly from standard language can be challenging. The students can produce almost errorless speech and writing. Their language use has no major defects.

Prerequisites

Your English skills should be on level A2 in the Common European Framework of Reference (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/sites/default/files/cefr-en.pdf).

Further information

The course is primarily intended for exchange students and international degree students.