Guidance and supervision on the Language Centre’s language and communication studies

Belongs to themes:

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content.

The job market requires professionals with good language skills. At the Language Centre, students can flexibly develop excellent and diverse language and communication skills that support their studies, employment and internationalisation.

Students should plan their language studies at the beginning of their degree to ensure they have sufficient time to complete them. Teachers who provide guidance and supervision should take language and communication studies into account and remind students of the need to complete them. Students should not be left alone with any study-related worries. The Language Centre offers various forms of study and advice services to meet all student needs.

This page contains information on the key themes of language and communication studies at the Language Centre for teachers to consider in student guidance and supervision.

Language and communication studies included in a bachelor’s degree
Language skills demonstrated in a master’s degree
Taking language anxiety and diverse learners into account in guidance and supervision
Transfer of credits for language and communication studies
Optional language studies and programmes
Where can students find help if they have questions about language and communication studies?

Language and communication studies included in a bachelor’s degree

All bachelor’s programmes include at least 10 credits of compulsory language and communication studies consisting of the following:

  • Native language (Finnish/Swedish), 3 cr
  • Second national language (Swedish/Finnish), 3 cr
  • Foreign language, 4 cr (starting skill level in English CEFR B2; CEFR B1 in other languages)

Students must complete both an oral and a written section in all the above languages. Language studies can be completed with a course or an equivalent examination at the Language Centre. The courses offer many different forms of study. Students can find further information on the content and completion of studies in the degree structure of their degree programme in Sisu.

NB! The language of the student’s secondary education affects the completion of studies.

For detailed instructions on language and communication studies included in bachelor’s degrees and on completing them in various situations, please see the Instructions for Students website at Language and communication studies included in a bachelor’s degree.

Language skills demonstrated in a master’s degree

As required by the Government Decree on Degrees, students must demonstrate their language skills as part of their master’s degree if they are pursuing only a master’s degree, the language of their secondary education was Finnish or Swedish, and they completed their bachelor’s degree in a country outside Finland.

Students can demonstrate their language skills as follows:

  • Native language: Maturity test completed in the language of secondary education, 0 cr
  • Studies in the second national language (Swedish/Finnish CEFR B1), 3 cr
  • Foreign language, 4 cr (starting skill level in English CEFR B2; CEFR B1 in other languages)

Detailed instructions are available on the Instructions for Students website at Language proficiency demonstrated in the master’s degree.

Taking language anxiety and diverse learners into account in guidance and supervision

Learning difficulties, language anxiety and negative previous experiences may all interfere with language learning, causing students to postpone their language studies. Teachers who provide guidance and supervision must take such situations into account and refer the affected students to the Language Centre’s teacher tutors. The tutors aim to find solutions that enable students to complete the language and communication studies required for their degree. Further information on the Language Centre’s teacher tutors and their office hours can be found on the Instructions for Students website at Language Centre’s teacher tutors help with language studies.

The Language Centre offers courses in English and Swedish as well as oral-communication courses in Finnish (native language) that pay particular attention to language anxiety and communication apprehension. The Swedish course KK-RUERI and the English course KK-ENERI are suited to students of all faculties, and can be taken to complete the required studies in the second national language (Swedish) and a foreign language (English). The oral-communication (native language Finnish) courses KK-AIAKVUERI focusing on anxiety in communication situations are intended for students whose studies include the course KK-AIAKVU1OP or KK-AIAKVU2OP as compulsory studies in the native language. Further information is available on the Instructions for Students website at Language anxieties and diverse learning.

Transfer of credits for language and communication studies

Many students have previously completed academic or other studies that can substitute for the language and communication studies required for degrees. For instructions on how previous studies can substitute for compulsory language and communication studies (foreign language, second national language, native language), please see the Instructions for Students website at Transfer of credits for communication and language studies.

Students must apply for credit transfer in Sisu. NB! Applications are processed by the Kaisa House Student Advice, not by the teachers responsible for individual courses.

Optional language studies and programmes

The Language Centre offers a range of optional courses and programmes. Students can continue to study a language they have previously studied elsewhere or learn a new language. They should begin studies in a new language early on in their degree to have time to complete as many courses as possible.

Teaching is offered in more than 10 languages. A list of the languages and courses available can be found on the Instructions for Students website at Language education at the Language Centre.

In many cases, a programme completed at the Language Centre can be included in the optional studies of the degree. However, students must confirm this with the staff of their degree programme. Further information on the Language Centre’s programmes can be found on the Instructions for Students website at Language Centre programmes in languages as optional studies.

Courses suited to international students who do not speak Finnish can be found on the Instructions for Students website at Language Centre courses suitable for non-Finnish speakers.

NB! The Language Centre does not offer courses in Finnish as a foreign language. Such courses are offered by the Bachelor’s Programme in the Languages and Literatures of Finland (Faculty of Arts); for further information, please see the Instructions for Students website at Finnish for international students.

Where can students find help if they have questions about language and communication studies?

The ‘Welcome to the Language Centre, new students!’ Moodle area

New students in particular should be asked to explore the Language Centre’s Moodle area for the orientation of new students. It contains information on the Language Centre, language courses required for degrees, and the wide range of optional language studies available.

Kaisa House Student Advice

Language Centre Student Advice has merged with the Kaisa House Student Advice. Kaisa House Student Advice answers students’ questions about registration for courses, the transfer of credits for language studies, the language of a student’s secondary education, and compulsory language studies.

The Language Centre’s teacher tutors

Students can discuss a wide range of language-related issues with the Language Centre’s teacher tutors. The tutors are Language Centre teachers available for consultation during terms. Students can ask them about language courses, study techniques, the assessment of language skill levels, independent study, the selection of a suitable language course, and many other topics.