Study Guide

Objective

You
- know how to use technical language on a general level
- know the basic vocabulary in the professional field
- understand the need for English in working life
- know how to tell about the studies and oneself in connection with the job application process
- can manage in everyday spoken situations
- know how to present a product, a process, or a service in one's field
- know how to communicate appropriately in spoken and written customer service situations, understands the levels of formality - - in communication
- can prepare and present spoken presentations
- know the basic principles of report writing, and
- can read texts in one's field by using various language aids, such as dictionaries

Content

- Telling about studies and oneself
- Expressing opinions
- Small talk
- Communication styles and registers
- Basic vocabulary in mechanical engineering: materials, shapes, measurements, units, products, services
- Spoken presentation skills
- Customer service situations
- Telephoning and e-mailing
- Communication in the job application process, documents, job interview, pitching
- Basics of intercultural communication
- Basics of reporting in speaking and writing
- Using language aids
- Reading strategies

Location and time

First year, Wärtsilä campus

Materials

Engineer your English, Edita, e-book or traditional paperback (See Edita webstore), and material provided by the teacher in class and in Moodle.

Teaching methods

In this course, the students practice the basic principles of professional English communication in speaking and writing, applied to the professional engineering field. The course is taught at the skills level of B2 (CEFR), applied to the needs of the professional field (mechanical engineering).

After completing the course, the student knows the basic principles of communication in English in international settings in engineering and English at work,
understands the basics of marketing communication, knows how to persuade the listener, and how to present the benefits and features of a technical product or a service.
The student knows how to communicate appropriately in spoken and written situations at work, and
can prepare and present spoken presentations and communicate formally in job interviews and application documents.
The student also
knows the basic principles of applying for work and reporting.
The student learns the basic terminology of mechanical engineering and
can also read professional and formal texts, using reading strategies and various aids, such as dictionaries. He or she understands the different degrees of formality and the importance of register in English.
The course book (see below) and participating in the contact lessons are required.

Completion alternatives

AHOT/ Accreditation of Prior Learning:
Accreditation of prior learning is assessed in writing and speaking at skills level B2 according to the contents of the course. See the course description in the curriculum. Note that this course is a course in professional English.
Prior learning may be attained at work or university, or in other settings where evidence of the attained knowledge and skills can be shown.
Contact your teacher and suggest a way to demonstrate your skills and knowledge of the course contents.
The skills level required for accreditation is B2-C2. If you have not done the skills level test, do the test and mark your results (e.g. on paper) in English 1) vocabulary and 2) structures at Dialang website https://dialangweb.lancaster.ac.uk/
, before contacting your teacher. Note that it will only give you an idea of what level you are at in general English, not professional English.
If you have passed a university course of English with similar contents and extent (ECTS credits), but in a different professional field, you may be asked to compensate for the missing field-specific English e.g. through a vocabulary exam. Discuss the details of the compensation method with the course lecturer.

Student workload

Contact lessons 28-30h. Active participation in the lessons and independent work in Moodle in pairs, groups or individually. Written and spoken assignments and word tests. Possible exam.

Further information

Contact teaching. Active participation in communication in the classroom and in Moodle are required. In case of any online lessons, the use of a webcamera and a microphone headset is needed.

Competences: Learning to learn, Internationality and multiculturalism, operating in the workplace

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment scale: 0-5
The performance is assessed at skills level B2 of English, in writing and speaking, adapted to the professional English courses of a university of applied sciences
(Common European Frame of Reference, CEFR).
Course assessment is based on written and spoken performance in assignments, active participation in class and online, and possible exams or word tests.

Grades overview (B2):

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 coherent 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, 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 is able to 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. The majority of the structures the student uses are correct 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 of the task. Speaking is clear, fluent and skilful 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, even poor. Interaction in speaking is minimal, or partly lacking. The main message is still delivered. There is a lot of hesitation, the pauses 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: 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.

NB: Course activity and exams are also a part of the assessment criteria.

Further information

Access skills level B1; Course assessment skills level: B2 (CEFR)