Communication skills for specific purposes 2 1.S3.EP.PP.23
Course objectives
The course Communication Skills for Specific Purposes 2 s providing students with an extended English communication practice for business at C1 level.
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Course content
1. Resources: vital assets – limited supplies, energy, minerals, capital, renewable resources, sustainable resources, non-renewable resources, geo-political pressures, scarcity, security concerns, global warming, carbon emissions.
2. Power: power brings responsibility - leadership, behaviour, power, leaders, business agenda, status, hierarchy, management, followers, subordinates, empowerment, abuse and exploitation.
3. E-marketing: the ultimate marketing machine - digital technologies, websites, e-mail, sms, pop-ups, banner ads, social media.
4. Risk: facing the odds - Risk exposure, probability of risk, impact, risk management, assessment, mitigation, strategic risk, operational risk, financial risk, hazard risk, contingency planning, insurance and hedging.
5. Misconduct: white collar fraudsters - fraud, money laundering, identity theft, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, white collar crimes, tax evasion, bribery, whistleblowing, internal controls, law suits.
6. Development: lifelong learning - learning organizations, knowledge management, personal and professional development, academic qualifications, training programmes, coaching and mentoring programmes, e-learning programmes.
7. Employment trends - skills, gig economy, conflict, absenteeism.
8. Finance - sustainable banking, managing questions, dragons and angels
9. Consultants -operations consulting, management consultants, negotiating, new market opportunities.
10. Strategy - strategy, goals and values, strategic planning, brainstorming and creativity, mission statements, strategic changes.
11. New business - start-ups, new products, chasing payment.
12. Project management - issues in project management, teleconferencing.
13. Progress test
14. Oral exam
15. Reflections and conclusions.
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Methods of instruction/ forms of classroom activity:
- case studies
- discussion
- pair-work & small group activities
- ICT tools
- presentations
- oral and listening activities
- progress testing
Field of study
Student workload
Study level
Education profile
Type of course
obligatory courses
foreign languages
The semester in which the subject is carried out
Mode
Requirements
Course coordinators
Term 2022/23-L: | Term 2024/25-L: | Term 2023/24-L: |
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes acc to PRK 2019
Knowledge:
Students know and understand
1. vocabulary, grammar, structures and stylistics in Business English at C1 level; technical, specialist and official (formal) English used for the specific purpose of communicating in the world of business (k_W02/P6S_WG)
2. techniques used in business communication (k_W03/P6S_WG)
3. specific terminology and techniques used in business communication in order to solve specific problems related to the world of business (k_W04/P6S_WG)
Skills
Students can
4. select, evaluate and analyse information in English for specific purposes when completing the progress assessment task (k_U02/P6S_UW)
5. communicate in English for specific purposes, and make presentations on topics related to business, using formal sources (k_U05/P6S_UK)
6. work individually and in teams on communication activities in English for specific purposes (k_U09/P6S_UO)
Social competences:
The students are ready to
7. critically appraise and solve problems arising from the implementation of tasks; act in stressful situations, like giving presentations (k_K02/P6S_KK)
Assessment criteria
Forms of evaluation of learning outcomes:
1. Active participation in activities and discussion in class - 50% of the final grade (outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7). (pluses for informed participation in discussions and exercises: 2-3 pluses 3,0; 4-5 pluses 3,5; 6-7 pluses 4,0; 8-9 pluses 4,5; 10 pluses and more 5,0.)
2. Delivering a presentation based on an inquiry into a business solution to a problem: 25% of the final grade (outcomes: 1,2,3,5,6,7)
3. Completing a speaking test involving problem solving and presenting solutions: 25% of the final grade (outcomes: 1,2,3,5,6,7)
All grades are discussed with students individually.
Final marks are granted according to the following framework:
grade 2,0 (fail): 0–49%
grade 3,0 (average): 50–60%
grade 3,5 (plus average): 61–70%
grade 4,0 (good): 71–80%
grade 4,5 (plus good): 81–90%
grade 5,0 (very good): 91–100%
Bibliography
Reading list
A. obligatory study material (to get a credit):
Trappe, T., & Tullis, G. (2011). Intelligent Business Coursebook. Advanced Business English. Pearson & The Economist.
Business English Magazine. Colorful Media.
Dubicka, I., & O'Keefe, M (2011). Market Leader: Business English Coursebook. Advanced - 3rd Edition. Pearson & The Financial Times.
B. supplementary study material
Dignen, B. & McMaster, I. (2013). Effective International Business Communication. Collins.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: