Course Assistant Programme (1 - 4cr)

Objective

The aim of the programme is to integrate international students into the community of the University of Lapland and into the Language Centre by giving them opportunities to meet Finnish students in language learning contexts. Finnish students in turn get to know international students and learn more about their languages and cultures. This can be done in the classroom by assisting the teacher and out of the classroom by helping the students in their autonomous or group work.

After completing the programme, the participant will have gained awareness of the Finnish higher education system, as well as experience in introducing their language and culture and dealing with cross-cultural situations. They will also have practised their presenting, group work and cooperation skills in various situations with Language Centre teachers and students.

Content

Course assistants can be involved in various classroom and out-of-classroom activities such as:

1. pronunciation practice and oral interaction
2. group work situations
3. playing various roles as a native speaker during oral exams
4. being available for conversations with students who are enrolled in Language Centre courses
5. acting as an on-line tutor on Moodle by participating in online group discussions, etc.
6. giving presentations about their home country, culture and other suitable topics
7. out-of-classroom teaching support.

The same assistant can be involved in several courses within the same language.

Qualifications

Participating in the Course Assistant Programme requires no previous linguistic or pedagogical studies. Candidates are expected to be interested in language learning in general, willing to take part in various social activities connected with Language Centre courses, and interested in meeting international students. Candidates should also be interested in teaching their own language and in presenting their own culture to international students. We appreciate an active and positive approach to participating in our teaching.

Further information

Students must apply for this programme. The application period is at the beginning of each term.
For application instructions and more information concerning the Course Assistant Programme, please contact the programme coordinator: Laura Senni (laura.senni@ulapland.fi, 040 4844069).

Execution methods

The assistant is expected to engage actively in the tasks and other work agreed upon at the beginning of the programme. Evaluation of the assistant’s work is based on how well the goals set at the beginning are achieved. There is no examination, but evidence of the work completed, such as a learning diary or reports of various types, may be required. The assistants are also expected to give feedback on their work and experiences regarding the programme. The specific requirements will be agreed upon at the beginning of the programme.

Accomplishment methods

The teacher of the course and the assistant agree on each course assistant’s course(s) and activities. The time frame and beginning of the programme vary between languages and courses; some courses require that the assistant participates from the beginning of the course, whereas in others the assistant can start working after the course has begun.

Assistants can receive 1–4 ECTS credit(s) (1 credit is equivalent to about 27 hours of work) and a certificate of completion for their work in the programme. The number of credits received depends on the amount of time and work the course assistant is able to invest in this activity. Please note that the number of credits available varies greatly between languages. In some languages, there are several courses and more assistant work is needed, while in others only a few courses are offered each semester, and therefore less assistant work is needed within the same language.