Study Guide

Learning outcomes

Proficiency level: B2

Students are able to
- communicate clearly and effectively in different generic and field-specific work place situations both orally and in writing
- find, evaluate and use information effectively
- function collaboratively in international working environments.

Implementation and methods of teaching

The focus is on learning through individual guided work and active participation in online meetings which aim to simulate the activities of professional engineers. In addition to reading about various developments in engineering and listening to authentic discussions on them, students will also discuss the developments themselves, take part in different online oral and writing activities.
The following equipment is needed to participate in the course: a computer, a web camera, a headset.

Timing and attendance

100% online course.
Periods 3 and 4 of the spring term 2024.
All assignments need to be submitted before their designated deadlines.
During the course, there are five mandatory online meetings. Required attendance is 80 percent (student can miss one meeting). There are no substitutes for the online meetings.

Learning material and recommended literature

All course materials are provided via Moodle.
Authentic articles, videos, podcasts are used as materials for the course.

Learning environment

Moodle.
Online meetings are held via Zoom.

Student time use and work load

4 ECTS course, which means about 108 hours of student work.
The student's workload consists of
- studying theory
- watching video materials
- completing interactive exercises in the study material
- completing 4 assignments for the teacher's evaluation
- completing 3 Moodle tests
- participating in 5 online meetings.

Contents

Current topics of relevance to the engineering profession:
- managing job application processes (CV, video application, job interview);
- understanding the key terminology and concepts of the engineering field (one topic of a student's choice: pollution, energy, digitalization, transport, design and manufacturing);
- managing written and oral communication situations required in professional studies and at work: professional meetings, formal writing, professional speech;
- recognizing and applying the different sources and tools to help students improve their English skills: critical use of dictionaries and other resources.

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

The course is taught at a B2 level according to the Common European Framework.

Assessment criteria

The course is evaluated on the basis of continuous assessment.

Each individual test and assignment must be passed to pass the course. The 80 percent attendance requirement must be met.

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

Criteria for grade 1 are not met.

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student has a satisfactory knowledge of the course content.

The speech is understandable with some difficulty to follow. Interaction is mostly missing. The speech is hesitant, pauses are rather long and pronunciation mistakes sometimes make it hard to understand the message. The student uses only basic structures and makes some mistakes.

Written communication consists of simple expressions and there are plenty of mistakes. The language is clumsy, but the message is delivered.

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student has a good knowledge of the course content.

The student communicates in English well, interacts adequately, and uses means of nonverbal communication. The speech is fairly easy to follow. The speech is fluent and clear, but pauses, hesitations and pronunciation mistakes may occur.

Written communication is quite fluent, clear and mostly correct. The structures and professional vocabulary are adequate to deliver the message. Minor mistakes occur concerning the genre and/or style.

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student has an excellent knowledge of the course content.

The student communicates in excellent English. Interaction is very skillful, and nonverbal communication supports spoken words effectively. The speech is targeted, extremely logical, relevant and consistent. The speech (language, pronunciation and intonation) is fluent, clear, accurate and naturally paced.

Written communication is very fluent and versatile. The student uses varied structures and extensive professional vocabulary, making occasional mistakes only in the most complex structures. The student can deliver the message effortlessly in the appropriate, genre-specific style.