Study Guide

Objective

The student knows how to use technical language on a general level and knows the basic vocabulary in the field as well as understands the need for English in working life. The student knows how to tell about the studies and oneself in connection with job application process, can manage in everyday spoken situations and knows how to present a product, process or service in one's field. The student knows how to communicate appropriately in spoken and written customer service situations and can prepare and present spoken presentations and knows the basic principles of report writing as well as can read texts in one's field by using various aid e.g. dictionaries.

Content

- telling about studies and oneself
- expressing opinions
- small talk
- communication style and register
- basic vocabulary: materials, shapes, measurements, units, products, services
- basic vocabulary in construction engineering: production and manufacturing, construction, housing, building types, spaces, tasks, site safety
- presentation skills
- customer service situations
- telephoning and e-mail
- job application process, documents and interview
- basics of intercultural communication
- basics of reporting

Location and time

Wärtsilä campus

Materials

In Moodle

Teaching methods

Contact teaching (active participation and interaction required), independent study and group work, spoken presentation and interview, written tasks at home and in class. Possible exam. Assessment: written and spoken demonstration of skills and learning on skills level B2.

In this course, you will learn how to talk about yourself and your studies, both verbally and in writing, in relation to your studies in construction engineering. You will also be able to express your opinion and master the principles of small talk.
You will also learn about different communication styles and registers. You will also learn about the tasks of a civil engineer and study basic construction vocabulary such as
materials, shapes, dimensions, units, product, services, manufacturing methods, housing vocabulary, building types and space designations.
During this course you will also learn presentation skills in English and learn telephone and email communication.
During the course you will go through the English language job application procedure, interview and documentation. You will also learn the basics of intercultural communication.
Possible integration with other courses in construction engineering.
In Autumn 2024,the students will complete an English presentation assignment integrated with the course Wood Construction and Wood Products.

Exam schedules

The spoken exam / interview demo will take place during the lessons and the written exam will take place in the classroom at the end of the course. The detailed schedule will be given during the course. See the schedule in Peppi/Tuudo.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation of prior learning (AHOT) is to be agreed upon with the lecturer in case the skills level is sufficient and the student can prove that they have acquired the field-specific knowledge and skills elsewhere.

Student workload

Altogether 81 hours of student work, including 28-32 hours of contact teaching lessons

Further information

In case the teacher decides to have distance learning lessons, the student is to have a working internet connection, a web camera, and a headset (microphone + headphones).

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

0-5
Written and spoken skills and learning/performance (B2), English of construction engineering
Grading scale: 0-5
Assessment skills level: B2 (Common European Frame of Reference, CEFR), in professional English (construction engineering)´
Assignments, written and spoken exam, course activity, and performance

The access level to the course is B1 (CEFR). The student's skill level is tested before the start of first-year studies. If the skills are insufficient, the student is recommended to take the revision course English Refresher (3cr), too. In Karelia UAS, you can also take a lower-level review course Boost Your English Skills.

The performance is assessed in English writing and speaking, and the requirements are adapted to the professional English courses of the university of applied sciences).
Course assessment is based on written and spoken performance in assignments, classroom activity, online activity, and possible exams or smaller tests. Course activity and exams are also a part of the assessment criteria.

Grades overview:
5: The student can use skillful, fluent, and precise expressions on variable subjects, and he/she can communicate effectively in different kinds of professional situations, even complex ones. The student has understood the task extremely well. The student also succeeds in persuading others in English. The text/speech is very clear, logical, and versatile. The message is very cohesive, and the ideas are linked together fluently. The student can deliver the message in a natural and idiomatic way and the message is stylistically appropriate. The use of English is fluent, and the structures are very versatile. In addition, the vocabulary is extensive. The use of non-verbal communication is natural and appropriate. Moreover, it supports verbal language very well. The spoken communication is very interactive and natural. The student's speech, intonation, and pronunciation are fluent, clear, and precise. The tempo is natural and appropriate.

3-4: Discussing the subject is for the most part versatile, and the text/speech meets the requirements of the task in versatile professional situations in speaking and writing. The text/speech is clear and logical or fairly logical. The message is coherent for the most part, but there can be some minor lapses in it. The student has understood the appropriate style and can use it for the most part. There may still be some stylistic errors, but they are minor or not consistent. The language is fluent, clear, and mostly correct. Most of the structures the student uses are accurate, and he/she can use professional terminology to deliver the message. The basic grammar is correct. The more demanding and advanced structures and idiomatic expressions still cause some problems. The student has understood the instructions for the task. Speaking is clear, fluent, and skillful for the most part, and the speaker succeeds well in the communication. The speech is also cohesive, logical, and easy to follow. The speaker engages the audience, in both verbal and non-verbal language. There may still be some hesitation, pauses, and errors in pronunciation, but they are not consistent and they do not obstruct the message.

1-2:
Discussing a subject in different professional situations is rather limited and simple. The text or speech meets only some of the requirements of the task, and there is a lot to improve in the logical structure and fluency of the text/speech. The student has partially understood the task, but there are some aspects still missing. The student uses satisfactory language: it includes simple or basic structures. There are still mistakes in the basic grammar structures too. Some or several parts of the message can be misunderstood. The text is not very coherent or logical. The language includes a lot of simple expressions, which may also contain some errors. Speaking about professional topics is satisfactory, simple, slow, insecure, and on some matters even poor. Interaction in speaking is minimal, or partly lacking. The main message is still delivered. There is a lot of hesitation, the pauses in speech may be long, and the pronunciation may interfere with the delivery. The student may still understand the importance of small talk, and how to be polite in English.

0: (Fail) The student fails to do the given task. / The student fails to understand the task instructions entirely or misunderstands a major part of the task. / The message does not get through to the audience, it is very difficult to follow, and/or there are severe problems in delivering the message. / There are severe problems in delivery and using the language to communicate in the situation or understanding the messages of others. / The student has not understood the situation and his role in it. In a speech, the student fails to speak or consistently uses written language by reading a text out loud. / The student has copied a large part of his message from someone else’s text or speech. The student has not done his part of a teamwork assignment.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

0: (Fail) The student fails to do the given task. / The student fails to understand the task instructions entirely or misunderstands a major part of the task. / The message does not get through to the audience, it is very difficult to follow, and/or there are severe problems in delivering the message. / There are severe problems in delivery and using the language to communicate in the situation or understanding the messages of others. / The student has not understood the situation and his role in it. In a speech, the student fails to speak or consistently uses written language by reading a text out loud. / The student has copied a large part of his message from someone else’s text or speech. The student has not done his part of a teamwork assignment.
The skills level is insufficient (= too low).
The assessment of the course is done at level B2.