PERSPECTIVES ON INTERNATIONALISATION AT NKUAS Language studies

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PERSPECTIVES ON INTERNATIONALISATION AT
NKUASLanguage studies

• Anneli Airola
• anneli.airola_at_pkamk.fi
• International week February 16, 2009

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Aim of the presentation

• 1) present some features of language studies at
  NKUAS
• 2) to present the tasks of Language Services

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Positive signs in language education in Finland

• Increased investments in language education over
  50 years
• - language education is compulsory at all school
  levels
• Children begin their language studies earlier
  than before
• 75 of adults know at least one foreign
  language, 60 know two languages, and 25 know
  three languages
• 72 of adults say that they would need more
  language education
• International programmes and student exchange
  have become more popular

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Language choices First foreign language on the
3rd grade ()
Finland two national languages Finnish and
Swedish Swedish-speaking population abt 6 Both
official languages are compulsory at the levels
of the Finnish education system.
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Language Services (Language Centre at NKUAS)

• Founded in 2002
• Independent unit, not part of any centre
• 35 foreign language and Finnish teachers most of
  them full-time teachers (two native teachers)
• Most teachers teach in one or two centres
• Annual budget abt 1,3 million euros

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About language studies at NKUAS

• Three starting points in language studies
• 1 Government Decree on Polytechnics 353/2003
• 2) Needs for globalising working life
• 3) The framework of LSP (Languages for Specific
  Purposes) and VOLL (Vocationally Oriented
  Language Learning)

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Decree on Polytechnics

• The decree states the official national aim for
  language education
• Students must obtain sufficient written and oral
  communication skills in the second domestic
  language (Swedish) and in one or two foreign
  languages for working and developing themselves.
• In accordance with the language policy of the
  Eurepean Union

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Requirements of working life

• Increasing globalisation underlines the role of
  language skills
• Interactive communication skills needed almost in
  all the fields
• Preferably knowledge in two or three languages
• Moreover, multicultural skills are highlighted in
  effective interaction greater insight into
  various cultural factors
• E.g. understanding ones own and others values
  and sensitivity to differences between cultures
• Intercultural communication skills are required
  in everyday situations in the workplace.

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Framework of LSP

• Languages for Specific Purposes language
  education refers to the teaching of foreign
  languages for some professional purpose
• Themes, content and terminology of language
  studies are connected to students professional
  field

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Needs analyses on language requirements of
working life

• Its an advantage if the teacher knows the field
  he/she teaches in
• Needs analyses on language requirements of
  working life
• To obtain information for educational purposes
  and information on possible changes in working
  life

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The most important languages

• The most important languages
• 1) English
• 2) Swedish
• 3) German
• 4) French
• 5) Russian
• 6) Spanish
• Employees strengths reading, listening and
  writing
• Employees weaknesses oral skills, skills in
  too few languages, cultural skills

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About language studies 1/2

• Compulsory language studies depend on the degree
  programme abt 14 credits
• Compulsory languages Swedish and English (
  third language German, French or Russian)
• Swedish and English studies levels B1-B2
• Optional languages German, French, Russian,
  Spanish, Chinese, Finnish as a foreign language
• Entry-level tests in English and Swedish
  Dialang-test on the Internet (C2-A1)
• Additional courses to prepare students for
  professional language studies

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About language studies 2/2

• Learning strategies, important particularly for
  adult students
• Integration with professional subjects (CLIL
  Content and Language Integrated Learning)

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Company training

• Companies and organizations in Eastern Finland
• Tailor-made courses mainly
• 15 companies / year
• English Business English, Negotiation Skills,
  Presentation Skills
• Also Russian, German and Swedish courses
• Translation and proof-reading services

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Staff courses at NKUAS

• Level tests
• Language courses (English)
• At Your Service office and library people
• English for CLIL Educators mainly teachers who
  teach in English degree programmes
• Also individual help for teachers, e.g.
  proof-reading
• Translations
• Proof-reading

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What does a language teacher do?

• A language teacher is not only a traditional
  language teacher teachers have other tasks, too
• E.g. international coordinators, tutors,
  translating, projects, company/staff training
• Co-operation with other UASs regular meetings
  common practices and transparency in language
  studies
• National projects, e.g. assessment
• Desire to have more cooperation with
  international colleagues