English for Working Life (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Content scheduling

Before the spring holiday at the beginning of March the course covers:

Basic components of working life - professions, work environments, team-work, job adverts and applications, interviews, professional communication, longer pieces of writing such as essays/reports.

In the second part of the semester the course focuses on practical communication at work, the purchasing process, presentations, meetings and negotiations, and related documentation.

Objective

Students will be proficient in the basics of English for business and working life using spoken and written English.

Execution methods

Contact teaching and independent study
For other ways of completing this course, please contact the course teacher.
Groups studying in the blended degree follow their own course plan.

Accomplishment methods

Participation in contact teaching (approx. 60 hours in the classroom and approx. 60 hours of independent study)
Speaking and writing assignments
Written exams
To pass this course, it is mandatory to participate in lectures (80% attendance required) and to complete and pass all independent assignments and the exam.
It is possible to identify and recognize previously acquired expertise in Business English on a case by case basis according to the instructions provided in the KAMK Intranet.

Content

Communication in working life and customer service
Applying for work
Writing for business purposes
Meetings and negotiations
Company presentation

Location and time

Spring 2026 at KAMK on campus
January - May
Please check your timetable to find the correct classroom - it may change weekly.

Materials

Material in Reppu and other material indicated by the teacher.
Arjopalo, N., von Bonsdorff, R., Stevenage, C. (2021) Work Matters - English for Working Life, Finn Lectura - some copies available in the KAMK library

Teaching methods

Classroom teaching, lectures, group and pair work on campus
Individual speaking and writing assignments that must be returned by given deadlines.

Employer connections

The course provides basic information about working applying for work in Finland and can include, if so agreed, cooperation with projects.

Exam schedules

Exam 1 24.2.
Exam 2 7.5.

The retakes will be in the autumn. Please see the link for more information about retake exams at KAMK:

https://edukainuu.sharepoint.com/sites/KAMKOpinto-javiestintpalvelut/SitePages/en/Tenttik%C3%A4yt%C3%A4nn%C3%B6t.aspx

International connections

This course is for international students but also welcomes cooperation, if so agreed, with Finnish-taught groups.

Completion alternatives

This course is currently only offered on campus and is not available online.

If you have completed a similar course(s) before as part of a higher education degree qualification (must be less than 10 years old) and these courses involve approximately 135 hours of work by the student (including lectures/lessons), then you may be able to have this course accredited.

If you have accomplished an English-taught higher education degree (must be less than 10 years old) in business/marketing/economics or the equivalent or an English language and literature higher education degree in a university or university of applied sciences, then you may be able to have this course accredited.

If you have worked in marketing, finance, international trade, investment, banking, communication, media and other major business sectors for one year or more and have used English face to face, online, and for written communication as the main language of work, you may be able to have your acquired working/business English language competence recognized for possible accrediation purposes.

In all cases you may be asked to demonstrate your language skills with an exam and/or a speaking assignment. Accreditation and other applications are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Please see https://edukainuu.sharepoint.com/sites/KAMKOpinto-javiestintpalvelut/SitePages/en/Tenttik%C3%A4yt%C3%A4nn%C3%B6t.aspx for more information.

Student workload

The course is worth 5 credits which is approximately 135 hours of work by the student.
Approx. 64 learning hours of work in the classroom (2 x 1.5 h per week)
Approx. 71 hours of independent work

The exams are in February and May.

Deadlines for the tasks that are returned to the teacher for assessment:

Presentation – my professional and student life 21.1. in class
CV with profile, job application letter 27.1.
Job interviews in pairs/small groups 2.2. & 4.2.
Essay exam in class 24.2. in class
Company and product presentations in groups 31.3. & 2.4. in class
Meetings in class (small groups) 21.4. & 23.4. in class
28.4. & 30.4. in class
Business communication and AI analysis
portfolio 8.5.
Exam (vocabulary and professional writing) 7.5.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students are able to use basic business and working life vocabulary so that their message is communicated. They are able to communicate understandably in simple routine situations.

To be awarded a grade 1, all assessed assignments must be completed and approved and any possible exam result must be at least 50%.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students are able to express themselves in a different way if necessary and use business and working life terminology somewhat accurately. The students are able to communicate clearly in key situations.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students are able to explain in their own words and fluently compensate for any lack of vocabulary as well as being able to use business and working life terminology accurately. They are able to communicate in demanding situations.

Qualifications

B2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Further information

The use of AI is not permitted unless otherwise indicated by the teacher.

Oral assignments are graded on a scale of 0-5

To achieve grades 3-5, students must be able to speak in their own words (spontaneous language production), and not read directly from a text or script unless the instructions for the assignment require it.

If students read directly from a text or script and even though their English pronunciation and intonation is almost error-free, the highest possible grade for such work will be 2.