ØASPR2300 Professional English: Course B for exchange students Emneplan

The course will address sustainability from an individual perspective. Studies in well-being involves physical, social, cultural, ethnic, gender-related and ethical areas of investigation. The course will explore the interrelation between technologies, particularly computer science, materials, human actions and the environment. The course has a broad and critical perspective on health, such as public health, quality of life and daily functioning from a critical perspective. It will address human interaction with the environment and the issue of change and disruption in a socio-material perspective. The course will introduce innovative approaches for developing products, services, and systems to enhance well-being, to make them accessible to all regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability. Digital technology is becoming an increasing part of our everyday life in work, education, health, and leisure. From this perspective, the course will introduce the candidates to the discourse of sustainable technology innovation, including understanding the diversity of individuals and their experiences with technology, engaging individuals in technology design, development and evaluation, contributing to sustainable changes in lifestyle. The syllabus may be abbreviated and adapted to fit the interest of the participants of the course in cooperation with the supervisors.

The course will address the following, non-exclusive themes:

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• The interplay between health and well-being in a salutogenic context
• Diversity and equality
• The impact of universal design
• Material engagement supported by various technologies
• Aesthetic awareness, perceptions, and sense of coherence
• Transformation of traditions, technologies, and artefacts

Letter grading A-F.

No prerequisites.

Knowledge

The student

• has a wide vocabulary in economic/administrative English
• knows the main oral and written genres of business communication
• knows the main points of grammar necessary for correct and idiomatic usage of the English language
• has knowledge of various cross-curricular business topics
• has knowledge of several issues in British society
• is familiar with some works of fiction in English

Skills

The student

• can write professional English
• can speak fluently about several business topics and various aspects of society and culture in English
• can deal with professional situations in the business world
• can understand spoken and written English used in a business context
• can use professional vocabulary in oral and written contexts
• is able to discuss, analyse and reflect on various issues in English
• has developed his/her practical problem-solving skills

Competence

The student

• has developed his/her communicative competence in English, which includes linguistic, intercultural and strategic competencies
• can function well in most professional situations internationally
• can apply his/her skills and knowledge of business English
• can understand English language curricula and lectures in other subjects better

The teaching consists of about 55 periods.

In addition to lectures there are case studies, group work, assignment review, discussions, student presentations, and written assignments. Regular attendance and active participation in classroom activities are expected. Independent study is required.

The following assignments are obligatory:

- One short (300-500 words) written assignment based on one of the cases (attendance is mandatory for the case the student writes about)

- An essay, approximately 500 words, on an assigned topic

- An individual 7-minute oral presentation

Feedback will be given on all assignments. The essay must adhere to the rules established in -Mal for oppgaveskriving ved SAM- (available on the SAM home pages). In order to take the final exam, all obligatory assignments must be approved by the instructor. Students will be given the opportunity to re-submit obligatory assignments that have not been approved. If assignments are not approved after re-submission(s), students will not be allowed to take the exam.

An individual written and oral exam will be held at the end of the spring semester. The student gets two separate grades, one for the written and one for the oral exam, and the exams can be taken again separately. The written exam counts 53% of the final grade and the oral exam counts 47%.

Written exam (5 hours) consisting of three parts:

• a Norwegian-English translation and vocabulary exercise
• a text for comprehension and analysis, and questions from the syllabus in English for Business Studies
• an essay on a topic from British society

Oral exam (20 minutes) consisting of:

• presentation of a topic from British society
• discussion/reflection on one of the cases, a work of fiction or selected texts called 'British Perspectives'.

Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

Confirmed participation in the course and accepted portfolio exam.

Portfolio exam:

• Documentation of the development and execution of a practical workshop arranged by the candidate, alone or in collaboration with other candidates.
• An individual reflection note (3000-4000 words) discussing experiences and reflections drawn from the workshop and the syllabus, relevant to the candidate’s PhD project. Cover page, illustrations, and list of references come in addition.

A list of reference aids allowed will be published on our website.

All examination support material is allowed as long as source reference and quotation technique requirements are applied.