Course detail

English for Europe

FIT-AEUAcad. year: 2022/2023

The course is focused on the development of the students' verbal and written communication skills and their further professional application within the wider framework of both Czech and European job markets. The central elements of the course consist in practising communication in the European cultural, business and legal environment and activities designed to describe and question European cultures in comparison with the Czech Republic (considering the Euro-American cultural context into account). The course provides the overview of the European Union institutions and their functions and presents the English language as the universal tool providing access to education and jobs to the Czech and Moravian university graduates. The coursework is based on the interpretation of written and audio-visual sources, discussion and personal opinion presentation.

Language of instruction

Czech, English

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

PhDr. Milan Smutný, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Foreign Languages (UJAZ)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The ability to find one's way in the European (and world) cultural and professional environment. The ability to use English in a wide range of everyday situations. The knowledge of various writing techniques. Improved ability to understand spoken English. 

The student is able to

  • describe EU institutions and knows the basic facts about their functioning
  • understands the relationships of the Euro-American cultural context
  • explains and describes the structure of a firm and its functioning, introduces its products and services to potential business partners
  • prepares documents connected with the job application procedures
  • is prepared for different situations connected with the job interview
  • responds adequately in problem solving (professional communication)
  • makes basic formal documents
  • discusses the problems of the legal system and environment
  • compares cultural environment of different countries and understands cultural differences

Prerequisites

The course knowledge required corresponds with the standards of the intermediate level course.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Not applicable.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Active participation in seminars (75%), semester test (min. 24, max. 40, semester test may be repeated only once), exam (min. 30, max. 60).

Course curriculum

Not applicable.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Vocabulary development and practising the general ability to work with language Encouraging the students to communicate actively. Further broadening of European horizons. Teaching the techniques of writing.

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.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Ashley, A. (2003) Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
English for business and economics. Prague: Oeconomica, nakladatelství VŠE, 2017. ISBN 978-80-245-2210-4.
Kocmanová, M. and Pokorná, Z. (2004) Euro English. Praha: Ostrov.
SWAN, Michael. Practical English usage. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, [2017]. ISBN 978-0-19-420243-5.
SWAN, Michael. Practical English usage. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, [2017]. ISBN 978-0-19-420243-5.
Wellman, G.: The Heinemann English Wordbuilder. Praha, Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1991.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme IT-BC-3 Bachelor's

    branch BIT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme MITAI Master's

    specialization NADE , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NBIO , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NCPS , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NGRI , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NHPC , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NIDE , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NISD , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NISY up to 2020/21 , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NMAL , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NMAT , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NNET , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NSEC , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NSEN , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NSPE , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NVER , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NVIZ , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme IT-MSC-2 Master's

    branch MBI , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MBS , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MGM , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MIN , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MIS , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MMM , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MPV , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MSK , 0 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MITAI Master's

    specialization NISY , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective
    specialization NEMB up to 2021/22 , 0 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Fundamentals seminar

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

PhDr. Milan Smutný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. EU - information about the history of EU and functioning of its institutions
  2. How to prepare a successful presentation
  3. Professional communication, introducing a company, the structure of a company
  4. Science and technology 
  5. Jobs, job application procedures, CV, job interview
  6. Formal (business) communication
  7. Law, crime, justice, legal proceedings
  8. Cultural differences, intercultural communication
  9. Schools and education
  10. Health problems, health care
  11. Euro-American culture