SEEF0021 Finnish B Off-track Language Module

UCL Credits: 15

Total Learning Hours: 188

ECTS: 7.5

Level: Intermediate

Course Unit: 0.5

Terms 1 and 2

Module Coordinator: Riitta-Liisa Valijärvi

Taught By: Riitta-Liisa Valijärvi

To find out more about this module, please contact the Module Coordinator.

Weekly Contact Hours:  2 hours per week

Prerequisites:

Either successful completion of SEEF1009 Finnish A off-track language module or equivalent (lower intermediate) knowledge of Finnish. An assessment test will be arranged with the tutor to assess students’ level before they join the course.

Compulsory Module for: N/A

Summative Assessment

2 hour written examination (70%), including grammar and lexical exercises (20%), reading (25%), and writing (25%); oral examination (30%), consisting of presentation (15%) and social conversation (15%).

Formative Coursework

Progress is carefully monitored, in particular in the early stages of the course, through a number of formative assessment tasks (short presentations and conversation exercises in class, informal and semi-formal vocabulary tests, reading comprehension tasks, grammar practice, Q&A sessions) and homework exercises.

Module Outline

This course aims to enable students to function in a range of everyday situations and get by in various social settings in Finnish. This includes sound knowledge of vocabulary (approximately 1200-1500 words), grammar, morphology (e.g. verbs in the present and past tense and various moods, verbal aspect, where relevant, noun cases, singular and plural forms, possessive constructions, etc.), syntax (consolidating and expanding knowledge of word order), and phonetics (continuing to improve pronunciation and intonation). The course prepares students to continue their studies of Finnish on the Finnish C off-track language module and for a study year abroad, or other extended stay or holiday visit to places where Finnish is used as a first language, particularly Finland.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

By the end of the course students should have reached level B1+ (a solid upper intermediate level) in all four skills according to the grading provided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Students will improve their intercultural communication skills, independent study skills, and general language learning ability.

Indicative Texts

Course materials produced by the teacher will be provided.

Core learning materials:

Gehring, Sonja & Sanni Heinzmann (2012) Suomen mestari 1. Helsinki: Finn Lectura.

Gehring, Sonja & Heinzmann, Sanni (2014) Suomen mestari 2. Helsinki: Finn Lectura.

Material from the following will also be provided in class or may be used independently:

Karlsson, Fred (2015) Finnish: An Essential Grammar. London: Routledge.

Please note: This outline is accurate at the time of publication. Minor amendments may be made prior to the start of the academic year.