Study Guide

Objective

Students know basic vocabulary, grammar and phrases of the Finnish language. They are able to tell and write about themselves using simple expressions and to communicate in simple everyday situations. Furthermore, the students are acquainted with Finland as a country and also have a better understanding of the Finnish way of life.

Content

This course provides students with an introduction to Finland and the Finnish language and culture:
- greetings and basic phrases
- numbers
- introducing and telling about oneself (name, address, age, country, nationality, language skills), family members and housing
- some expressions of time (weekdays, months, seasons, telling time)
- weather
- simple everyday situations, e.g. shopping and asking prices
- grammar, e.g. personal pronouns, possessive construction, verb conjugation, question and negative sentence, partitive case, genitive, local cases
- main features of the spoken language
- basic information about Finland and Finnish culture

Materials

Study and online material is announced at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

contact and online lessons, independent studies, written and spoken assignments and a presentation

Exam schedules

Exam and retake exam times are announced during the course. Participation in the course requires consent to an electronically supervised exam.

Student workload

81h, incl. lectures 24 - 27 h
53 - 55 h independent and online studies

Content scheduling

- During the course, students submit the assignments and tests and attend the lessons.
- Study journals can be submitted after the course

Further information

To gain the credits, the student must accomplish all the parts of the course:
- submit the tests and assignments
- submit a presentation
- submit a study journal
- take an exam
- take a spoken exam

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level A1

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student knows some of the vocabulary and the polite phrases learnt during the course. He can use simple constructions, but mistakes can impede comprehension. The student can communicate in some everyday situations when helped. Other languages strongly influence the pronunciation. The student can tell only a few main facts about the country and its culture. The student has shortly dealt with some topics of the culture presentations in the study journal.

Attention! The assessment criteria for presentations will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student knows the most of the vocabulary and the polite phrases learnt during the course. He can use simple constructions almost without mistakes. He manages independently in most everyday situations. The pronunciation is understandable. The student knows detailed facts widely - although some false information might appear. The student has dealt with all the presentation topics in the study journal.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student knows the vocabulary and the polite phrases learnt during the course. He can use simple constructions making hardly any mistakes. He manages independently and fluently in everyday situations. The pronunciation is close to that of a native speaker. The student knows precise and detailed facts aabout the country and its culture. The student has dealt with all the presentation topics thoroughly and extensively in the study journal.

Assessment methods and criteria

Language 60%:
-active participation (min. 50% to pass the course, min 80% to get the highest grade)
-written and spoken exercises (incl. all the Moodle forum assignments completed by given deadlines)
-exam (students have to score a minimum of 50% of the points to pass the exam)

Country and culture 40%:
-participation in lectures
-presentation of Finland and Finnish culture
-study journal (passed or failed)