Language in Practice

The course is given as a freestanding course.

For admission to the course, general entry requirements apply along with a further requirement of at least 60 credits in English, German, French, Spanish, Latin or Ancient Greek, or 90 credits in Arabic, Russian or African Languages, or 120 credits in Japanese or Chinese, or the equivalent thereof.

At the beginning of the course, the student needs to have a placement and an approved placement agreement that meets the intended learning outcomes of the course. The student herself/himself is responsible for finding a placement.

The course contains practical training at a workplace where the student carries out a well-defined and concrete assignment linked to language. The aim of the internship is to give the student the opportunity to apply his/her language skills in a work situation as well as to identify possible future career paths in Sweden or abroad. The student herself/himself is responsible for finding an appropriate placement, which may be, for example, a translation agency, embassy, tourist agency, cultural institution, international company, government or municipal agency, etc. It is important that the work tasks are relevant with regard to the application of knowledge of and about language.

The course is divided into two modules:
Module 1. Seminars on campus, written assignments (3 credits)
Module 2. Internship (12 credits)

The internship is carried out full-time at one and the same placement. After completed internship, a placement certificate and a structured portfolio from the placement should be submitted.

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
•critically reflect on the internship experience in relation to language courses done previously;
•understand and reflect on the importance of linguistic skills in working life;

Competence and skills
•demonstrate the ability to carry out a well-defined and concrete assignment at a workplace;
•integrate linguistic knowledge and skills with a specific professional field;
•analyse and discuss the place and role of language in working life;
•reflect on the general demands of working life;
•in dialogue with other groups describe and discuss information, problems and solutions related to the internship;

Judgement and approach
•identify and formulate possible future career paths and need for further training;
•demonstrate the ability to retrieve new knowledge from work-related internships.

The teaching consists of an introductory seminar either on campus or online as well as written assignments on the University of Gothenburg learning platform.

Language of instruction: English and Swedish

The course is assessed on the basis of a structured portfolio containing, among other things, documentation from the workplace and a final practical internship report where the student describes and analyses his/her internship based on the course literature and in relation to the learning objectives. The report is presented and discussed at a mandatory seminar on campus but should also be presented in another forum.

A student who has failed a course item is eligible for a retake exam/assignment. In connection with written assignments, supplementary assignments may be offered in order for the student to achieve a Pass grade. Such a supplementary assignment should be done within the stipulated time (normally five working days after the result has been posted). Otherwise a Fail grade will be reported.

A student who has completed an exam/assignment with a passing grade is not eligible for a retake for the purpose of receiving a higher grade. Nor may a student withdraw a test/assignment once it has been submitted for the purpose of avoiding receiving a grade for the work.

A student who has taken two examinations in a course or a part of a course without obtaining a passing grade is entitled to the nomination of another examiner unless there are special reasons to the contrary (HF 6 chap. 22§). Such a request should be made in writing to the department responsible for the course.

If the University of Gothenburg has decided that a student is eligible for special study support, the examiner may, provided it is compatible with the aim of the course and it can be done within the scope of available resources, decide to offer the student an adjusted examination or a different examination format.

If the course has been discontinued or substantially revised, a student should be guaranteed to sit the examination on at least three occasions (including the ordinary examination occasion) during a period of at least one year, but not later than two years after the course was discontinued or revised. As regards internships/placement the same as above applies, with the exception that examination is offered on only one occasion.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). To obtain the grade of Pass with distinction on the whole course, the grade of Pass with distinction is required on module 1.

The students are given the opportunity to make a written evaluation of the course. The results of the evaluation are published digitally.

The course may be included in a Degree of Bachelor as general credits outside the main field of study for the Degree of Bachelor.

For internships outside Sweden, only the languages that are offered at the Departement of Languages and Literatures apply.

The internship should first be approved by the department whereupon an internship agreement is established together with representatives for the workplace and approved by the department before the internship starts.

If the placement does not fulfil the internship agreement, the student has the right to a change of placement. The student himself/herself is then responsible to find a new placement.
Any costs in connection with placement and/or a stay abroad is paid by the student.

The course SPL150 cannot be combined with the courses SPL151, SPL250 or SPL251 within the scope of the same internship.

Equality aspects should be taken into consideration in content, literature, teaching and evaluation.