Language for Professional Communication

Bachelor 2020/2021

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Elective course (Fundamental and Applied Linguistics)

Area of studies: Fundamental and Applied Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Social Sciences

Where: Faculty of Humanities (Nizhny Novgorod)

When: 4 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Natalia Morozova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 44

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course is meant to enhance the students’ soft skills that are key to their success in any professional environment. In particular, the course focuses on developing such important soft skills as a) communication, including group presentation skills; b) teamwork; c) critical thinking, including critical reception and processing of information; d) effective presentation of oneself and one's ideas; e) accomplising communicative tasks in English orally and in writing. The students are introduced to the difference between hard and soft skills. The first part of the course is devoted to obtaining self-presentation skills (writing a CV, a motivation letter etc.). The second part of the course centres on effective professional communication in writing. Then the third part of the course is devoted to mastering the skills of oral professional communication (discussion, problem-solving etc.). The final part of the course is devoted to mastering critical reading skills. It culminates in the exam in the form of a group presentation on the topic “Detecting Media Bias”.

Learning Objectives

to provide students with conceptual knowledge and practical skills for effectively accomplishing socially and professionally relevant communicative tasks in a professional environment
to provide students with the practical skills of generating texts of different genres as part of professional communication

Expected Learning Outcomes

can effectively accomplish socially and professionally relevant tasks in a professional environment
effectively presents him/herself and his/her ideas in a professional setting
effectively conducts written professional communication in English, successfully accomplishes professional communicative tasks in writing
effectively conducts oral professional communication in English, successfully accomplishes professional communicative tasks orally

Course Contents

Professional Orientation: Skills Required to Succeed in a Professional Environment.
Hard skills vs. soft skills. Communicative skills. Time-management skills. Teamwork. Leadership skills. Problem-solving. Critical self-reflection. Communication as a soft skill: empathy, open-mindedness, emotional intelligence, confidence, self-presentation.
Professional Communication Skills: Writing
Getting one's message across in a clear, concise and polite way. How to write a formal letter? Structure and communicative purpose. Letter of request. Letter of complaint. How to write a press-release? Lexical and syntactic features of formal style.
The Basics of Self-Presentation: How to Present Yourself and Your Ideas Effectively in a Professional Setting
How to write a professional CV? Functional and chronological CVs. How to write an academic CV? Motivation letter and statement of purpose: What is the difference? How to write a statement of purpose? How to behave at a job interview?
Professional Communication Skills: Speaking
Effective communication in a group (1): group-based discussion. Pros and cons of group work. Asking for and giving clarification in group work. Working with colleagues: problem-solving. Effective communication in a group (2): individual and group presentations. Presenting professionally: introducing presentations. Presenting and explaining results in charts. Dealing with questions in presentations.

Assessment Elements

writing a formal letter in English
writing a press release in English
attendance and participation
doing a group presentation on the topic "Detecting Media Bias"

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (3 module)
0.15 * attendance and participation + 0.35 * doing a group presentation on the topic "Detecting Media Bias" + 0.25 * writing a formal letter in English + 0.25 * writing a press release in English

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Cambridge Academic English : An integrated skills course for EAP : Upper Intermediate, Student's Book, Course consultant M. McCarthy, 5th ed., 176 p., Hewings, M., 2015
Гумовская Г.Н. - Английский язык профессионального общения. LSP: English for professional communication - Издательство "ФЛИНТА" - 2018 - 320с. - ISBN: 978-5-9765-2846-8 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/89880
Данчевская О.Е., Малёв А.В. - English for Cross-Cultural and Professional Communication. Английский язык для межкультурного и профессионального общения: учеб. пособие - Издательство "ФЛИНТА" - 2017 - 192с. - ISBN: 978-5-9765-1284-9 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/116015

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Cambridge Academic English : An integrated skills course for EAP : Advanced, Student's Book, Course consultant M. McCarthy, 176 p., Hewings, M., Thaine, C., 2013
Cambridge Academic English : An integrated skills course for EAP : Upper Intermediate, Student's Book, 178 p., Hewings, M., 2012
Хутыз И.П. - Формирование коммуникативных навыков в профессиональной среде. Facilitating Professional Communication: a Practical Approach: практикум - Издательство "ФЛИНТА" - 2018 - 104с. - ISBN: 978-5-9765-3571-8 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЛАНЬ - URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/119099

Course Syllabus