Discourse in Working Life

A workplace can be described as a communications arena, where different tasks and projects are resolved through or by means of communication. Working life is characterized by an increasing awareness of the importance of language as a tool, and thus also of the increasing demands on how employees communicate.


The aim of this course is for students to gain insight into communication patterns, processes and challenges in education and in working life. In addition to theoretical knowledge, students will gain training in describing and analyzing texts and talk from various empirical fields such as health care, educational institutions, businesses and organizations.

KNOWLEDGE
Candidates:
- Have knowledge about workplaces as communication arenas where tasks and projects are solved mainly or partly through communication
- Understand interrelations between different kinds of professional activities and their characteristic communicative patterns

SKILLS
Candidates are able to:
- Describe, analyse and assess discourse data from various workplace contexts
- Communicate their disciplinary knowledge, orally and in writing, in accessible, logical and coherent ways
- Apply their competence to provide qualified advice on communicative processes

Lectures, seminars and group work. Students must attend a minimum of 3 seminars, and 1 compulsory assignment must be passed in order to sit the exam. The examination is a written exam. Each student may choose between two broad topics of discussion, and addresses one of these.