Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
-  communicate as a professional in field specific tasks in Swedish, both orally and in writing
-  develop his/her interaction and communication skills
-  understand the Nordic operating environment and its specific features
-  make use of material in Swedish in professional publications and databases
-  reach at least level B1.2 in Swedish language skills and meet the language skills requirements for Swedish as the second official language in public administration

Teaching methods

- Contact teaching on Tikkurila Campus 4.2.-11.3.. Optima included.
- Oral and written tasks + oral and written exam
- 75% attendance in contact teaching to practice oral communication skills
- Oral tests on campus or in Skype in March according to a separate time schedule, written exam on the last contact lesson

Location and time

- Contact teaching on Tikkurila Campus 4.2.-11.3.

Learning materials and recommended literature

1) Flexsocial-study book (ISBN 9789511218395, Otava, 2013) by Maria Tuunanen, Kirsi Wallinheimo
-You can borrow or buy the book, but pay attention to the delivery date and make sure you have the book before the course start.
2) Teacher's material in Optima

Alternative completion methods of implementation

HOT-prosedure, must be agreed before the course start.

Co-operation with working life and/or RDI

Eventually expert visitors during contact lessons.

Important dates

Contact teaching 4.2.-11-3., written exam on the last contact lesson.

Students workload

-The course gives 5 credit points which means 5 x 27 h = 135 h work including contact teaching , independent work and exams.
- Note that self studies play a large role and the course is run in a few weeks time.
-You can make your work load easier by starting self-studies before the contact lessons start. Listen to and read news or up-to-date topics, go through grammar etc. In the study book there is a grammr chapter, which we are not going to deal with during the contact lessons.

Content and scheduling

More detailed instructions in Optima, which opens on the first contact lesson. The students will receive an email about practicalities one week before the course start.

Further information for students

- Requirements before the course: The Swedish level test passed OR Preparatory Swedish passed (or studies simultaneously) or corresponding studies with the minimum level A2.
- The central topics/themes of the course: Telling about oneself, studies, work experience, workplaces in social services, recruiting process, social services (Kela, support services, refugees, and asylum seekers), kindergarten, young people, family care, children, elderly people, marginal groups (homeless, game addict, substance abuse), disabled
- In addition general communication skills in work life like customer encounters, telephone dialogues, oral and written communication.

Evaluation methods and criteria

- Attendance in contact teaching 75%
- Oral and written exams decide the course grade. To be able to participate in the exams you have to finish course tasks on time and take part in contact teaching actively.
- Oral and written evaluation separatedly. Evaluation criteria will be presented in the beginning of the course.

Further information

The study unit is compulsory for those whose language of education is Finnish. After passing the study unit, students meet the language skills requirements for Swedish as the second official language in public administration and the civil service language proficiency certificate will be registered in student’s records.