English Language as a Language of Business Communication

Bachelor 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication)

Area of studies: Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Foreign Languages

When: 4 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Instructors: Kseniia Kindenova, Natalya Putilina, Elena Sorokina, Орехова Екатерина Андреевна

Language: English

ECTS credits: 8

Contact hours: 52

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Business English Course is based on the principles of the project-based approach, which is grounded in the creation of a student-developed product. This framework is aimed to foster creativity, curiosity and problem-solving skills while also upholding rigorous linguistic standards. Real-life application of the skills gained in the course will be of use both for those who are planning to embark on a career path in a company and entrepreneurs alike. Those who see their future in cross cultural communication, teaching, interpreting or translating will find the course useful and efficient. For cross cultural communication specialists, practical business skills might prove to be of great importance. For interpreters and translators, it is an opportunity to gain knowledge of a new sphere which could undoubtedly come in handy. Not only will this course provide insight into teaching Business English as an ESP course, it will also familiarize the future graduates with the financial and legal aspects of B2B interaction from the point of view of a service provider. Students will work on the projects that are relevant to their culture and their future. They will collaborate with other students face-to-face (or online) and receive guidance from their teacher(s). The course is designed to provide an intellectual challenge for the students. Thus, they will apply and develop their critical thinking skills further.

Learning Objectives

The main objectives of the course “Business English” are to master various language, social and business skills.Therefore, students are to obtain different competences, such as linguistic competence, sociolinguistic competence and pragmatic competence.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Use business vocabulary appropriately
Report on the project outcomes
Deal with difficult questions
Give an impromptu presentation
Discuss employer’/customer’s expectations
Draw up contract clauses covering force majeure circumstances
Check IP clauses in a contract
Reach agreement with your counterparty
Introduce yourself to a group in business environment
Describe cross-cultural experience
Interpret messages in business emails
Answer job-interview questions
Write a cover letter matching a job description
Talk about career paths and choices
Understand clauses in an employment contract
Draft clauses for an employment contract
Discuss conditions of employment
Discuss new working practices
Brainstorm ideas with colleagues
Speculate about future changes in a corporate image
Agree on the course of actions
Write a memo for internal/external use
Discuss advantages of a learning organisation
Conduct need analysis of an organisation
Choose type of learning matching your company’s needs
Identify the measures to tackle existing issues
Apply current economic and business information
Can assess client's needs
Negotiate mutually beneficial conditions
Check a draft of a contract for its integral elements
Draw up clauses in a service agreement
Write a proposal for an internal/external client
Use business skills for business communication (giving presentations, negotiating, telephoning, participating in teleconferences, etc.);
Learn basic legal vocabulary related to business topics
Discuss team relationships and team roles
Deal with business conflict
Add emphasis, using fronting, cleft sentences, adverbs, and phrases
Respond to feedback in a diplomatic way
Write clear, smoothly flowing texts in an appropriate style
Communicate efficiently with other people and understand social roles of other participants
Negotiate outcome in negotiations with business partners
Write/respond to a letter of complaints
Discuss the ways to deal with project setback
Settle the differences with your counterparty
Read and draw up contract clauses
Write a report on the progress of the project
Use particle clauses and inversions in writing

Course Contents

1. Job opportunities. 4th year. English for Business communication.
Practically speaking: Introducing yourself to a group Working with words: Working across-cultural Applying for a job in (post-) Covid environment Dealing with interview question Talking point: Misunderstanding in business correspondence Writing a cover letter matching a job description
2.Entrepreneurs and ‘gig’ economy. 4th year. English for Business communication.
Working with words: Comparing career paths and choices Talking Point: ‘gig’ careers and ‘gig’ economy Practical issues of employment Reading an employment contract
3.Progress. 4th year. English for Business communication.
Working with words: Gaining competitive advantage Corporate image vs personal branding Viewpoint: Dealing with change Business Communication Skills: Brainstorming ideas Writing a memo
4.Learning organization. 4th year. English for Business communication.
Working with words: Talking about training and learning Talking point: E-learning and learning interventions Business communication skills: Conducting needs analysis Growth mindset of an organisation
5.Persuasion. 4th year. English for Business communication
Working with words: How to identify customer’s needs Practical issues of project work: How to get paid on time Business communication skills: Selling an idea Language at work: Discourse markers Practical issues of business relations: Elements of a contract Train to write a proposal for internal/external clients
6.Teamwork. 4th year. English for Business communication
Working with words: Exploring team relation Business communication skills: Negotiating – dealing with conflict Language at work: Adding emphasis, using fronting, cleft sentences, adverbs, and phrases Practically speaking: Responding to feedback Practical issues of business relations: Going to court; Train to write/responding to a letter of complaint
7.Risks.4th year. English for Business communication
Working with words: Handling a corporate crisis Business communication skills: Settle the differences with the client: Practical issues of business relations Understanding contract 2: termination clauses; Train to write a business report to account for the progress of the project
8.Values. 4th year. English for Business communication
Business communication skills: Reaching agreement Language at work: Participle clauses and inversion Practical issues of business relations Understanding contract 3: Intellectual property clauses & force majeure clauses
9.Performance. 4th year. English for Business communication
Working with words: Assessing success of the project Business communication skills: Presenting – giving an impromptu presentation Practically speaking: Dealing with difficult questions Talking point: Rethinking annual performance reviews; Writing a report for your internal/external client

Assessment Elements

Continuous assessment
The total grade point are devided by the total number of the classes conducted over the course to calculate the cumulative grade point average.
MOOC test
A period of six week is allocated for the course completion. The course is designed for self-directed work with support and facilitation provided on request. The test is administered two weeks after the closing date of the course stipulated by the teacher
Exam
The exam held in winter consists of two speaking assignments. In the first part, students are given short texts (up to 200 words) to form the basis for a task in which they annotate the text with the reference to the topics studied over the course and provide critical evaluation of the main ideas. The task is carried out individually. The second part, involves an extended response to a question. Each student is given a card with a question on it and there are also some ideas on the card which candidates should make use of. Following student’s response, the teacher leads a discussion which further explores the topic highlighted on the card. This task type tests the Students’ ability to develop and sustain discourse, and to engage in discussion on the topics of the course. They also need to be able to organise their thoughts and ideas, and express themselves coherently in appropriate language in the given time. ОСОБЕННОСТИ ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ ЭКЗАМЕНА. Экзамен проводится в устном синхронном формате. Для участия в экзамене студент обязан: зайти на платформу zoom за 5 минут до назначенного времени, провести тест системы, включить камеру и микрофон на своем устройстве. Указанное оборудование должно работать в течение всего периода проведения экзамена. Во время экзамена студентам запрещено: общаться (по телефону, в социальных сетях, с людьми в комнате), списывать, передавать свой вариант экзамена другим людям для его выполнения, пользоваться словарями, переводчиками или другими источниками, пользоваться средствами мобильной связи в целях передачи и/или получения информации по формату и/или содержанию экзамена. Во время экзамена студентам разрешено: использовать чистый лист бумаги в качестве черновика. Во время экзамена запрещается пользоваться заранее подготовленными записями и учебными материалами. Студент обязан по требованию преподавателя показать обзор рабочего места и/или провести демонстрацию экрана для проверки рабочего стола студента на компьютере. Во время проведения экзамена все приложения (кроме платформы zoom) на рабочем устройстве студента должны быть закрыты. Кратковременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается прерывание связи до 5 минут. Долговременным нарушением связи во время экзамена считается прерывание связи 10 минут и более. При долговременном нарушении связи студент не может продолжить участие в экзамене. Процедура пересдачи аналогична процедуре сдачи.
Speaking
Assessment of the speaking proficiency is made up of two parts: a monologue and a pair/group discussion. Two formative assessment tests are summed up and divided by two. Speaking tests might be administered in formal and informal setting throughout the course. The first part of the assessment - monologue – analyses samples of the languages collected as an individual response to a question or evaluation of an idea in an article during a lesson or as a presentation in a more formal setting of a formative/summative test. The second part of the assessment involves evaluation of their part in the project they collaborate on. This part may be conducted in pairs or groups. The task gives candidates the opportunity to show their skills of interactive communication and their ability to manage a discussion.
Writing
Assessment of the writing performance is comprised of four main types of writing in the course, i.e. business e-mail, report, proposal and memo. Writing process for each type of the tasks might be divided into two stages: draft and final (makeover) work submission. The Final written work is to be submitted by the due date stipulated by the teacher.

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (2 module)
0.25 * Continuous assessment + 0.2 * Exam + 0.1 * MOOC test + 0.2 * Speaking + 0.25 * Writing

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

English for business : a functional approach, Chilver, J., 2001
Legal English: Quick Overview: Англ.язык в сфере юриспруд. Базовый курс : учебник для бакалавров / Е.Б. Попов, Е.М. Феоктистов, Г.Р. Халюшева ; под общ. ред. Е.Б. Попова. - 2-е изд.,перераб. и доп. - М. : ИНФРА-М, 2019. - 314 с. + Доп. материалы [Электронный ресурс; Режим доступа http://www.znanium.com]. — (Высшее образование: Бакалавриат). — www.dx.doi.org/10.12737/13328. - Режим доступа: http://znanium.com/catalog/product/1022283
Колесникова Н.Л. - Пишем и говорим на деловые темы по-английски. Tips for Business Writing and Speaking Skills - Издательство "ФЛИНТА" - 2018 - 136с. - ISBN: 978-5-9765-3442-1 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/103111

Recommended Additional Bibliography

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Танцура Т.А., под ред., Мельничук М.В., Ростовцева П.П. - Business English for Lawyers. (Бакалавриат). Учебное пособие. - КноРус - 2019 - 209с. - ISBN: 978-5-406-06918-9 - Текст электронный // ЭБС BOOKRU - URL: https://book.ru/book/931045

Course Syllabus