Studying Language and Interaction in the WorkplaceLaajuus (5 cr)

Objective

Learning outcomes: On completion of the course the successful student will be able to -describe aspects of language in the workplace from diverse perspectives -identify and discuss concepts related to studying language in the workplace in terms of interaction, identity, multilinguality, sociolinguistics, and applied research - analyze and evaluate research in a specific field of study within the scope of the course, developing focused expertise -describe research methods used in studying language in the workplace. This course develops the following work life skills: Language skills, presentation skills, creativity, working in a group, networking and self-direction, content production, social intelligence, intercultural competence. Generic competences: ethics, leadership and development, internationality, critical thinking, identification and development of expertise, interaction and communication

Content

The course offers a research-based overview of language in the workplace, with a focus on spoken interaction and multilinguality. The course opens up interesting perspectives on diverse types of everyday interaction and work communities, and it is recommended especially for students who are interested in conducting research in workplace settings. In addition to the lectures and associated tasks, students will write a literature review based on their own interest which can, but need not, involve small-scale empirical work. The course will include talks from visiting experts in work life or different fields of science. The themes covered in the course are workplace talk, language and identity, the language of leadership, multilingual and translatorial practices, English as a lingua franca, interculturality, communities of practice, language policies, language ideologies and attitudes, globalization and inequality, and methods of studying and analyzing language in the workplace (e.g. ethnography, conversation analysis, language needs analysis).

Qualifications

Prerequisites: Basic studies in English or linguistics

Materials

Lectures and sections of, e.g. the following publications: Horn, Sierk, Lecomte, Philippe & Tietze, Susanne (eds) (2020). Managing multilingual workplaces: Methodological, empirical and pedagogic perspectives. Routledge. Sherman, Tamah & Nekvapil, Jiri (eds) (2018). English in business and commerce: Interactions and policies. English in Europe Volume 5. De Gruyter Mouton. Vine, Bernadette (2020). Introducing language in the workplace. Cambridge University Press. Vine, Bernadette (ed.) (2018). The Routledge handbook of language in the workplace. Routledge.

Further information

Prerequisites: Basic studies in English or linguistics Time: 3rd to 5th years of study Offering data: English language and culture, English language and translation, MDP in Linguistic Data Sciences Campus: Joensuu Further information: Language of tuition: English.

Accomplishment methods

Lectures (16 h) and independent work (119 h) Evaluation criteria: Course exam (50%), essay (50%)