English for Working Life (4cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Completion alternatives

Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (eRPL):

Depending on your prior studies or informal learning and experience, you may be able to replace this compulsory language course through accreditation of higher education studies or recognition of informal learning. To find out if you qualify and to submit an eRPL application, read the Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience page using the following URL (copy and paste the address into your browser's address bar):

https://jamkstudent.sharepoint.com/:u:/r/sites/Kieli-ja-viestintaopinnot-Elmo/SitePages/en/Recognition-of-prior-learning-and-experience.aspx?csf=1&web=1&e=KjY9bq

Further information

Course assignments: Individual and pair work reviewed and approved primarily by the course lecturer. Students will also take part in self- and peer assessment.

Oral exam: Criterion-referenced assessment designed by the course lecturer and enhanced by AI (Copilot).

Virtual portion

4

Student workload

Student workload for this course is 108 hours spread out over the course of 10 weeks, which translates to approximately 11 hours of study per week. The course is managed and implemented according to a fairly fast-paced and intensive schedule, so please be aware of this and prepared to maintain the necessary output of work to stay with the program.

Weekly study may include any or all of the following:

* contact and/or virtual lesson attendance (1.5 hrs),
* reading course materials and messages in Moodle (2 hrs),
* homework (4 hrs),
* group meetings (2 hrs),
* practice and self-study regarding the use of hardware and software for making various types of recordings (1.5 hrs)

Note: The workload plan presented above is not necessarily meant to be prescriptive. Each student will have different, unique learning needs and study preferences/habits, so there will naturally be some variance from student to student in terms of how much total time is spent on the course, how many hours per week, etc.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

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.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

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.

Assessment 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.

Content scheduling

Online (Zoom) lessons according to the following schedule:

Tuesday, September 16 from 9.00–10.30
Tuesday, October 7 from 9.00–10.30
Tuesday, October 28 from 9.00–10.30

Exam schedules

Oral exam submission: Monday, November 10, 2025

Resit 1: Monday, November 17, 2025

Resit 2: Monday, November 24, 2025

Teaching language

en

Teaching methods

Online learning with a timetable.

Location and time

This course will be implemented during the Autumn semester 2025 from September 16, 2025–November 10, 2025 as online learning with a timetable.

The Moodle workspace opens to students approximately one week before course start.

The course starts on September 16, 2025.

The final date for assignment submissions is November 10, 2025. After this date, you cannot submit your assignments anymore.

The course ends on November 10, 2025.

Course assessments will be ready by December 9, 2025.

Number of ECTS credits allocated

4

Qualifications

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.

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

Objective

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 in a national and international context and you are able to cooperate with specialists in your own field as well as with other groups of professionals.