2022/2023
English for Specific Purposes. English for International Studies - 2
Type:
Optional course
Delivered by:
School of Foreign Languages
When:
3, 4 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
5
Contact hours:
80
Course Syllabus
Abstract
English for International Studies-2 is a course designed for first-year undergraduate students majoring in World Economy and International Relations. The course takes a balanced approach to building students’ confidence and skills required to excel in academic study, as well as to use English in the modern globalised world. It combines (1) upgrading student English language and communication skills to the B2+ level according to CEFR (including reading and listening comprehension, written and oral expression, and communicative interaction) and (2) building a strong foundation in the field of International Studies. Content-based language teaching increases student motivation develops more comprehensive knowledge of the world and supports their general educational needs. The multifaceted holistic approach provides students with the tools to better comprehend, explore, and interpret the current trends in global economic, political, and social development. Contemporary topics and issues stimulate students’ minds, develop their critical thinking skills, and motivate learners to meaningfully engage with language.
Learning Objectives
- The course aims at ● introducing students to topical business and international relations issues and building professional language and communication skills ● enriching the academic and subject-specific vocabulary and extending the grammatical range for discussing a variety of topics, such as Corporate Finance and Corporate Securities, Leverage and the World Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, Investment Banks and Securities Regulation, Cross-Cultural Management, etc. ● equipping students with the reading strategies needed for tackling information-rich texts ● improving students’ writing skills using a scaffolding approach to writing ● increasing exposure to natural fluency and pronunciation using various video resources, such as TED Talks ● developing skills of target listening and extracting information from various types of texts (lectures, interviews, discussions, etc.) ● developing intercultural competence while focusing on the national aspects of cultures, comparing them to their own culture.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- to analyse advantages and disadvantages of a situation; produce a well-structured essay on a wide range of subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices; develop an argument with relevant supporting detail
- to take part in discussions and give logically structured talks on various professionally oriented issues, providing reasons for their opinions, and expressing themselves fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for expressions B2+
- to understand a wide range of texts, including technical discussions in the field of International Relations and Business; identify key information in a linguistically complex text; quickly scan long, complex texts for specific information B2+; understand differences and similarities between points of view B2+
- to understand the major specialised terms associated with economics, politics and international relations
- to use language flexibly and effectively for academic and professional purposes
- to develop skills in writing essays
- to develop skills of note-taking
- to develop understanding of specialised complex longer texts*/articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems (CEFR)
- to give a structured talk (monologue): descriptive/informative/reasoning
- to participate in discussions on various topics (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing)
- to understand lectures, dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
- to understand text structure
- to use basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
- to use basic reading techniques, skimming & scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
Course Contents
- What is a small business?
- Sole proprietorship. Limitations to the size of proprietorship. Partnership
- Organization of corporations. Becoming a shareholder
- Capital. Corporate finance. Leverage and the world financial crisis of 2007-2008
- Corporate securities. Government bonds. Eurobonds
- Investment banks. How an IPO happens? Securities regulation.
- Stock market. A stock exchange vs the OTC market
- Company organisation. Board of directors: role, structure, executive vs non-executive directors. Annual general meeting.
- What is management? Management styles. Levels and areas of management
- Cross-cultural management
Assessment Elements
- Final assessmentThe interim exam lasts 70 minutes. The exam is written paper-and-pen test and is aimed at checking whether the student can demonstrate the acquisition of the learning objectives set. The exam consists of two parts, i.e. Reading and Writing that weigh 40% and 60% respectively in the total mark for the exam. The actual scores for Reading are turned into percentages which are tuned into a final mark out of 10 points. Grading scale: 10 =100 - 96%, 9=95 - 91%, 8=90 - 86%, 7 = 85 - 78%, 6 =77 - 71%, 5= 70 - 61%, 4 = 60 - 51%, 3 = 50 - 36%, 2 = 35 - 21%, 1 = 20 - 1 %, 0 = 0%. Writing is assessed against criteria. Period of FA: 10 days prior to the fourth module’s session. The release of examination papers: during the session. Retaking exams: till the 15th of October 2023. Time limit: 70 minutes online/offline. 1. Reading (R) Max. 10 points Students have no more than 20 minutes to complete the Reading part. Read the text. Possible reading tasks: • Correct option for each task (multiple choice). • Fill in the gaps (gap-filling). • Decide whether the statement is True, False or Not Given. 2. Writing (W) Write an essay on one of the topics given. Max. 10 points. Students should write a 250-word essay. Students have 50 minutes to complete the Writing part. Grading formula: R* 0.4 + W*0.6 = 10.
- Independent work assessmentIndependent work consists of activities (summary, vocabulary practice) that students do at home using the SMART LMS system, their class participation and projects.
- Oral assessment
- Written assessmentWritten assessment includes Reading Tests, Listening Tests, Vocabulary Tests, Advantages and Disadvantages Essays.
Interim Assessment
- 2022/2023 4th module0.25 * Independent work assessment + 0.25 * Written assessment + 0.2 * Oral assessment + 0.3 * Final assessment
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Newton, K., & Deth, J. W. van. (2010). Foundations of Comparative Politics : Democracies of the Modern World: Vol. 2nd ed. Cambridge eText.
- Якушева И. В., Демченкова О. А. - ДЕЛОВОЙ АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК. INTRODUCTION INTO PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH 3-е изд., испр. и доп. Учебник и практикум для академического бакалавриата - М.:Издательство Юрайт - 2018 - 148с. - ISBN: 978-5-534-07026-2 - Текст электронный // ЭБС ЮРАЙТ - URL: https://urait.ru/book/delovoy-angliyskiy-yazyk-introduction-into-professional-english-426472
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- English for business studies : a course for business studies and economics students: student's book, MacKenzie, I., 2010
- English for business studies : a course for business studies and economics students: student's book, MacKenzie, I., 2012