English for Working Life (4 cr)
Code: ZZPC0220-3232
General information
Enrollment
20.11.2023 - 04.01.2024
Timing
05.02.2024 - 28.04.2024
Number of ECTS credits allocated
4 op
Virtual portion
4 op
Mode of delivery
Online learning
Unit
TA94 - Kielikeskus
Teaching languages
- English
Seats
12 - 30
Degree programmes
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Music Pedagogue
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Logistics
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Occupational Therapy
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Rehabilitation Counselling
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Construction and Civil Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Service Business
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Team Academy
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Energy and Environmental Technology
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Electrical and Automation Engineering
- Degree Programme in Midwifery
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Social Services
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Business Information Technology
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Construction Management
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Information and Communications Technology
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Business Management
- Degree Programme in Nursing
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Agricultural and Rural Industries
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Physiotherapy
Teachers
- Petteri Ruuska
- 06.02.2024 08:30 - 09:30, English for Working Life ZZPC0220-3232
Objectives
In the course English for Working Life you will learn to operate in English in situations related to international working life.
You will also increase your self-confidence in speaking and writing in professional contexts. In addition, you will learn to follow the developments in your field locally and globally.
After taking the course, you will have learned to write texts related to your future profession in an appropriate style. You will also have gained confidence in spoken interaction and acquired vocabulary that will benefit you later in your career.
Communication and Team-working: You are able to function effectively in a national and international context and you are able to cooperate effectively with specialists in your own field as well as with other groups of professionals.
Content
The central contents of the course are:
- telling about your studies and looking for employment
- oral and written communication in working life, for example meetings, small talk, customer service, telephoning and emailing, and expressing your own opinion
- producing formal text, such as reports, instructions or summaries
- field-specific terminology
- presentations, workshops, group discussions
Learning materials and recommended literature
Teacher’s material on Moodle.
In addition, the students need to search information and material relevant to their field of study.
Extra material: any school book in English. The better if it is related to the student's own field.
Teaching methods
This implementation is FULL. Please find another one. (Updated 22NOV2023)
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Online implementation between 5 February - 28 April 2024
Kick-Off Webinar on Zoom on Tue 6 February at 8:30 - 9:30am. Attending it is highly recommended; alternatively watch its recording within three days. The address to the Zoom meeting is sent to the enrolled students by the webinar day.
REMINDER: Good time management skills and solid B2-level in English required (see 'Further information for students' or 'Lisätietoja' below).
You study mostly independently on Moodle. You need basic computing skills, web camera and microphone.
The course is divided into four parts, and they are timetabled. It means that you need to finish each part in the given order and by the deadline for the part.
You will have both written and oral learning assignments. The oral assignments are videos. There is also one major group assignment (group discussion) and an exam at an Exam Studio during the last 10 days of the implementation. An Exam Studio can be found at most universities in Finland. Alternatively, the exam can be taken in class at Jamk main campus. The exact date and venue will be given during the course.
The topics include:
- studies
- work and looking for employment
- communication in working life
- professional and academic writing
- field-specific terminology
- presentations
Exam dates and retake possibilities
Assignments on Moodle according to the course timetable (about 1-4 weeks/part).
EXAM at an Exam Studio. Alternatively, students can take the exam at a classroom at Jamk in Jyväskylä. The exact date and venue to be informed later.
Two possible resit times within 6 some weeks after the implementation has ended.
Student workload
Estimated student workload in this course:
- Kick-off webinar, 1-2 hours
- Familiarization with online course environment, self-study and learning assignments: ~100 hours
- Group assignment: 5 hours
Total 108 hours (one credit equals 27 hours of student work)
Further information for students
Grades, evaluation criteria, lecturer's feedback, tasks and exercises on Moodle, self-assessment, peer-assessment
The level of this course is B2 (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/sites/default/files/cefr-fi.pdf). If your English skills do not reach that level in most parts, it is recommended to take 'Englannin tukiopinnot' or 'Improve Your English' first.
Besides the exam, the course includes several assignments that contribute to the course grade. Not following the instructions and the given schedule may lower the mark and thus, most likely, the course grade.
It is necessary for the students to master basic computing skills such as making and sharing videos.
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 work tasks and other 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 for the delivery of their message. The level of their pronunciation is sufficient for the delivery of the main content of their message. The students act responsibly and abide by established agreements.
2 The students are able to communicate understandably both orally and in writing in routine and familiar work duties and situations although their language use is at times slow and incoherent. They understand clear speech and writing with familiar content. They have an adequate command of the basic structures of the language. Their vocabulary is sufficient for every-day situations and reasonably adequate for basic field-specific situations. The level of their pronunciation is sufficient for the delivery of content.The students act responsibly and abide by established agreements.
Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)
3 The students can manage well both oral and written situations in working life and every-day life. The students can write a text with coherent content. They understand speech with a normal tempo, but unusual topics and language deviating from standard use cause difficulties. They can understand demanding written content related to their own field, although some details may remain unclear. They can use the grammatical structures of the language in a versatile way, and their mistakes do not hinder communication. The students’ command of the vocabulary of the language is sufficient for communicating the central content even in demanding tasks and situations. Their pronunciation is adequate. The students act responsibly and abide by established agreements.
4 The students are able to communicate fluently in different situations and produce clear and fluent language with adequate style. They have no difficulty in understanding and producing speech and writing needed in working life 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. The students act responsibly and abide by established agreements.
Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)
5 The students are able to communicate with great fluency and active participation in a wide variety of situations. They also portray considerable versatility and an appropriate sense of style in their ability to apply the learning content of the course to demanding working life situations. They have no difficulties in understanding different kinds of language users although fine nuances and speech deviating significantly from standard language can sometimes be challenging. The students can understand and produce demanding content in both speech and writing. Their language use is practically flawless. The students act responsibly and abide by established agreements.
Prerequisites
The course is on level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If the course Improve your English was recommended to you at the beginning of your studies, please take it before enrolling for English for Working Life.
In this course you will need the basic ICT-skills, such as word processing and creating audio and video files.