Social Contacts (2 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

You adopt communication and social interaction skills to cope with various situations and formalities. You are able to work with people with different cultural backgrounds. You are able to use learning strategies efficiently. You learn to use language aids, dictionaries, and other sources in English studies. You are able to work in verbal communication situations at work and tell about your background, skills, strengths, education, and profession. You learn to communicate appropriately using the right style, to write emails and other working-life messages. You can create a formal text, a CV, and an application letter, and familiarise yourself with the communication in job interviews. You are able to read and summarise texts in your own field using dictionaries and other reference aids. You can give a formal presentation on a media topic.

Accomplishment methods

Practice in spoken and written communication and interaction, independent study, group work, self-assessment and peer assessment, oral and written assignments or demonstration of learning.
Assessment: 0-5 at skills level B2 (CEFR)

Content

Communication in social contacts related to media studies and work. Learning strategies, language aids, reading techniques, written communication (email, CV, application) and oral communication (talking about yourself, your education, and profession, interviews, small talk, phone situations, expressing opinions, socialising), formality levels, basics of media English and academic English, and the basics in professional terminology.
Applying for work in English: job interview demonstration (simulation), CV, Job Application, and the basics of pitching). A prepared presentation on a media topic (Ethics in media), and a short essay.

Location and time

Tikkarinne campus, contact teaching

Materials

Material in Moodle for the most part. Authentic text, audio, and video examples. Independent study material, document samples (CV, application, emails), style guides and samples. Interactive learning material to be used on the lessons and as independent study. Glossaries, dictionaries (eg Sanakirja.fi), phrase lists, and language tools. Grammar references and some tasks also partly in Finnish. Oral practice handout material distributed also on the contact lessons.

Teaching methods

Contact lessons: active participation and interaction are required. Languages: Finnish and English.
Required skills level minimum B1. Assessment on level B2 (CEFR).

The objectives:
You adopt communication and social interaction skills to manage in various situations in English in your working life and your media studies.
You are able to work in verbal communication situations in media studies and your media profession and tell about your education and profession in a job interview. You learn to communicate appropriately using the right style, present your work, write emails, and persuade others. You will familiarise yourself with writing work-related messages and narrative essays or academic essays. You create a CV and an application letter, and familiarise yourself with recruiting and interviewing. You are able to follow and discuss English-speaking media. You can summarise texts and understand the basics of briefing and reporting. You can use dictionaries and other reference aids. You are aware of the basics of how cultural differences affect communication and are able to work in intercultural settings. You are able to use learning and communication strategies efficiently. You learn to use language aids, dictionaries, and other language tools in your studies.

The methods:
Spoken and written assignments as well as active participation and interactive
communication in English during the lessons.
Contact teaching, independent study, and teamwork.
Participation in the contact lessons and on the Moodle course platform. A job interview demonstration and a
prepared spoken presentation /briefing integrated with a photography or digital environments course. Possible vocabulary tests.

Media texts, language learning strategies, reading techniques and discussion strategies, information retrieval, dictionaries, the basics of written business communication (email, CV, Application), styles and formality, spoken verbal communication (talking about yourself, education, and your profession at a job interview, conducting small talk, telephoning, expressing opinions, networking), pitching, marketing, and slogans on English, writing narrative essays, basics of academic language, analysing the features of newspaper and magazine writing, and storytelling. A prepared spoken presentation integrated with a photography course or digital working environments course.

Peer assessment and self-assessment in spoken and written assignments.
Grading: skills level B2 (CEFR)

Exam schedules

The time of the possible exams will be announced during the course. Spoken ands written assignments to be submitted and performed during the course.

Completion alternatives

Accreditation of prior learning should be agreed with the teacher and demonstrated by speaking and writing. See the course description first. Provide the evidence of prior learning. The required level of skill is C1.

Student workload

54 hours of student work altogether.
20-22 contact lessons (including interview demos and spoken presentations)

Qualifications

Required skills level in English: B1 (according to CEFR)
The skills level is tested at the beginning of studies during the first study year. If the skills are not sufficient, the student can take a review course to support studies in English.
Course assessment: 0-5 in writing and speaking at skills level B2