Course detail

Business English

FEKT-HBENAcad. year: 2017/2018

The course focuses on characteristic features of professional business communication. Students will be introduced to the LSP language in common economic and business contexts.

The course develops students´general and business vocabulary as well as grammatical structures typical for technical language. The stress is put not only on the development of communication skills, but also on the ability to use the acquired knowledge actively.





Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- orientate themselves in English economic terminology relating to the covered topics,
- read and understand authentic professional texts at the upper-intermediate level,
- discuss covered economic topics,
- apply gained specialized terminology in simulations of negotiations and business meetings,
- apply specialized terminology in business correspondence.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of English at B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Completion of the subject Practical English 2.

Students are able to:
- use the grammatical structures according to the requirements of the given level,
- apply the knowledge of both formal and informal style in written communication,
- use the language means for the description of places and people,
- list and describe a number of free time activities and sport disciplines and discuss them in different social contexts,
- characterize different jobs and professions,
- communicate in the situations connected with travelling,
- disccuss the problems of tourism,
- express their opinion on media, especially the Internet and other electronic media,
- describe essential features of the scientific and technological development and its influence on lifestyle,
- give an account of different environmental problems and explain them in different contexts.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Exercises promote the practical mastery of the subject presented in lectures or assigned for individual study with the active participation of students.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

1. A credit test - students have to pass a credit test from the taught topics. Maximum number of points for the test is 40, minimum 24.
2. An examination - the examination consists of two parts - listening and reading. Students may achieve 30 points for each part maximum. Final assessment reflects also the points achieved in the tests. Maximum number of points is 100.
The credit test and examination are based on the subject matter discussed during the semester and on the basic literature.
75% active participation in seminars and continuous work on given assignments are required.

Course curriculum

The following topics will be covered during the semester:

I Business practice:
1 Recruitment: recruitment stages, interviewing candidates, job applications
2 Management: functions of a management, characteristics of a good manager, managing skills
3 Alliances: acquisitions, mergers, building business relationships
4 Negotiating: asking questions, developing your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Argument), bidding, bargaining
5 Project management: phases, tasks within each phase, possible risks
6 Teamworking: team roles, organizing a team building event
7 Meetings: reasons for holding meetings, types of meetings, meeting techniques, chairing a meeting
8 Business informatics: introducing new technology, setting up a company website, choosing a new supplier
9 Advertising: definition of a target group, establishing a message, commissioning an ad agency, approving a design, choosing the media
10 Promoting a new product/service: potential customers, unique features, competition

II Cross-Cultural Business Behaviour:
1 Managing: linear-active vs. multi-active vs. reactive cultures
2 Team-working: individualist vs. collectivist cultures
3 Attitudes to time – presentations and meetings: monochronic vs. synchronic cultures
4 Bargaining and negotiating: deal-focused (confrontational) vs. relationship-focused (harmonising)
5 Business relationships and making small talk: specific vs. diffuse cultures
6 Attitudes to criticism: specific vs. diffuse cultures
7 Attitudes to risk: high certainty avoidance vs. low certainty avoidance
8 The function of a chairperson: consensus-oriented vs. results-oriented cultures
9 Giving presentations: substance-oriented vs. style-oriented cultures, low context vs. high context cultures
10 Questioning styles: direct vs. indirect cultures.



Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The course focuses on characteristic features of professional business communication. Students will be introduced to the LSP language in common economic and business contexts, which represents:
- activation of grammatical structures typical for technical language,
- enhancing their general and business vocabulary,
- application of principles of business correspondence.



Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

The course takes over 13 weeks in the form of language exercises. 75% active participation in seminars is required. Absence must be properly apologized. If the absence exceeds 75%, it must be compensated by students for missed hours.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Trappe, Tonya, and Graham Tullis. Intelligent Business Upper Intermediate. Coursebook. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2006.
Johnson, Christine, and Irene Barrall. Intelligent Business Upper Intermediate. Skills Book. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2006.
MacKenzie, Ian. English for Business Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEEI-H Bachelor's

    branch H-AEI , 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme EEKR-CZV lifelong learning

    branch EE-FLE , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Language exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer