Aims and Content

The Scandinavian languages consist of Faroese, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish. In Finland the study of the Scandinavian languages is commonly focused on the Swedish language and this is the case at the University of Tampere, as well. The studies include additional basic courses on Norwegian and Danish. The Scandinavian languages are studied as foreign languages. Beside skills in language and communication, the students become familiar with culture, literature, history, and geography.

The study of Scandinavian languages aims at an excellent command of both oral and written Swedish, as well as a scientifically grounded perspective on the structure of spoken and written language, methods of description, and varying ways of use in the sociocultural context of the language. In addition, an overall view of the culture and society of the Nordic linguistic community is provided, and the students learn the basics of two related languages.

Working Life Relevance and Second Subject Recommendations

There is great demand for expertise on the Scandinavian languages and cultures in diverse walks of life such as education, administration, business and industry, culture, communication, and tourism. The need has been heightened by the ongoing European unification process and Nordic economic collaboration. Students who aim at becoming Swedish language teachers are encouraged to choose their second subject from the pool of other foreign languages. In addition to comprehensive schools and second degree lukios, there is demand for teachers in various commercial, technological, and nursing schools, adult learning, as well as in universities of applied sciences and other third degree vocational institutions, which means that subject combinations other than languages are also recommended. These include general linguistics, literature, and further subjects in the humanities, education, social sciences, and economics and administration. A degree in Scandinavian languages also provides an excellent basis for postgraduate studies with a researcher’s career in mind.

Course of Studies

Studies in the Scandinavian languages consist of three levels: Basic Studies, Intermediate Studies, and Advanced Studies. The full credit total is 150 study points. The studies go on progressively which means that with each new level reached the student’s previously adopted skills become more advanced. Instruction in university is based on scientific research, and so the studies emphasize information retrieval skills and the ability to work independently and critically. A good command of the language is essential to success. During the first phase of the studies the students focus on the development of their practical languages skills and vocabulary. In addition, they learn to analyze the basic structures of language and become familiar with the Swedish society and culture. In Intermediate and Advanced Studies, the emphasis shifts over to the theoretical study of language and research-oriented observation, and the amount of teaching language skills is diminished. However, also the theoretical courses still include an element of oral and written language learning.

The studies are composed of courses required of everyone and optional courses. The optional part may include, in addition to Scandinavian language studies, courses from Swedish translation, or the student may decide to incorporate other studies in the package, as well, dependent on an agreement with the responsible instructors.

Basic Studies (25 study points) consist of courses required of everyone.

Intermediate Studies (35 + 10 study points) consist of an optional course worth five (5) study points in addition to the courses required of everyone. BA Thesis studies (10 study points) are only directed at first subject students; second subjects are not supposed to complete them. Intermediate Studies include a compulsory practical language training during which the student spends some time in Sweden or Åland to improve his or her language skills and cultural and geographical knowledge. It is also possible to complete the training in the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, or Denmark but this has to be agreed on separately. Further alternatives include participating on the Nordkurs Nordic language and literature courses (application period in early spring), or applying for the NORDLIKS exchange scholarship for study at another Nordic university.

Advanced Studies consist, in addition to the courses required of everyone, of specialization studies worth 25 study points which aim at orienting the student toward a deepening of skills according to his or her interest. Beside language studies, the specialization options include courses on education and mass communication, among other things, which help guarantee professional maturity with a mastery of the subject. Specialization is, however, based on the theoretical and practical skills adopted during Basic and Intermediate Studies, which means that the students do receive the academic ability to be employed in posts other than the one they actually specialize in.

Advanced Studies are research-oriented. During the last phase of the studies the students prepare an independently prepared MA Thesis written in Swedish and worth 35 study points whose topic is directly related to the field of specialization chosen in Advanced Studies. The thesis is principally supervised and examined by subject professors.

Scandinavian Languages as Second Subject

Any student wishing to study Scandinavian Languages as their second subject must participate in the skills test arranged at the start of the autumn semester (see University teaching programme). The test is given only once each year.

Studies Advising

The staff and especially the subject assistant provide studies advising during office hours. For help on individual courses the student may turn to the responsible instructors who may be looked up in the teaching programme and the Nettiopsu E-service (examination courses). General studies advice is available from the head of academic and student services in the Faculty of the Humanities, student counselors, and the administrative staff of the School, including the departmental coordinator for studies and research. Also senior students often act as tutors who one may turn to for advice.

Progression of Studies

In order to receive the overall mark for completed Basic Studies, both the first and the second subject student must complete the courses Y01 Basic Course in General Phonetics and Y02 Introduction to General Linguistics from the pool of School General Studies. In order to receive the overall mark of completed Advanced Studies, both the first and the second subject student must complete, according to their choice, one of the following general methodological studies: Y05 Methodology in Linguistics, Y06 Research and Methods in Translation Studies, or Y07 Methodology in Literature. (These courses are taught in Finnish and may be looked up under the heading General Studies in Linguistics, Literature, and Translation Studies.)

Courses dealing with the same topic, such as oral communication, writing, and translation, must be completed in the order of the levels. Methods of completion and assessment may be looked up in the study guide. Courses can be completed in the form of lecture, practice, or supervised courses, or by independent work. Reading courses are finished with a written exam which includes the literature noted in connection with the course. According to the University rule, two separate examination opportunities are provided following the course, and in some cases oral hearings may be possible. Practice courses require regular attendance. Assessment is based either on total performance including class participation and exercise work or on a separate end-term examination. The examination may be attended once the practice course has been completed. Independent work entails the opportunity to complete courses as book examinations, analytical essay submissions, or in some other form agreed on with the instructor. The book examinations are taken on the general faculty examination days; enrolment is required seven days in advance via the Nettiopsu E-service. The books to be examined must always be agreed on with the responsible instructor. Also essay submissions require that the topic and length of the paper be agreed on separately.

Course Assessment

Courses are assessed either on scale 0-5 or pass/fail. A course registered as “pass” does not affect the overall mark. The overall grades of the different levels are assessed as a course average that is either 1/5 (sufficient), 2/5 (satisfactory), 3/5 (good), 4/5 (very good), or 5/5 (excellent). In Basic Studies, one needs to complete the course P1 Oral Communication with a grade of at least 3 to receive the “good” mark, 4 to receive the “very good” mark, and 5 to receive the “excellent” mark. In Intermediate Studies, one needs to complete the course A1 Oral Communication with a grade of at least 3 to receive the “good” mark, 4 to receive the “very good” mark, and 5 to receive the “excellent” mark. Similarly, in Advanced Studies, one needs to complete the course S5a Seminar with a grade of at least 3 to receive the “good” mark, 4 to receive the “very good” mark, and 5 to receive the “excellent” mark. The MA Thesis is assessed separately. The overall grade for Advanced Studies cannot be granted before the MA Thesis has been entered into the register.

Level Overall Grades

The overall grade for a certain level is granted on the basis of a study transcript as soon as all the courses on the level have been completed and entered into the register. To apply for the grade, the student fills in the level form which may be obtained from the subject assistant. The form is then handed in to the assistant in person who confirms the details against the study register and presents the grade to be approved by a subject professor.

Collaboration with Translation Studies (Swedish)

Through our collaboration with Swedish translation we strive to increase the pool of options for students to choose from. As a result, certain courses may be completed alternatively by attending classes provided by the fellow subject, while some of the courses available are arranged by them exclusively.

 

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• Degree Programmes taught in Finnish
• Scandinavian Languages