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Course Syllabus

Bachelor 2023/2024

English Language as a Language of Business Communication

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: offline
Open to: students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors: Михеева Наталья Дмитриевна, Daniil Osipov, Aida Rodomanchenko, Elena Sorokina
Language: English
ECTS credits: 5
Contact hours: 52

Course Syllabus

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

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

Expected Learning Outcomes

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

Course Contents

  • 22/23-1. Job opportunities. 4th year. English for Business Communication.
  • 22/23-2.Entrepreneurs and ‘gig’ economy. Employment contract 4th year. English for Business communication.
  • 22/23-3. Progress and Change. 4th year. English for Business communication.
  • 22/23-4. Advertising and Promotion. 4th year. English for Business communication
  • 22/23-5. Negotiating a Contract. 4th year. English for Business communication.
  • 22/23 - 6. Managing Conflict. 4th year. English for Business communication
  • 22/23-7. Performance. 4th year. English for Business communication
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Continuous assessment
    in-class assignments and activities, homework, quizzes, and tests
  • non-blocking Speaking
    oral interview, presentations, monologues
  • non-blocking Writing assignments
    cover letter, memo, letter of complaint, proposal
  • non-blocking Exam
    The exam held in winter consists of a speaking assignment. Students are given spoken instructions and texts to form the basis for a task that they carry out individually. The task gives candidates the opportunity to show their range of language (speculating, evaluating, comparing, giving opinions, eliciting, negotiating, etc.) and their ability to manage a discussion. 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 the appropriate language in the given time. All students are to take the exam without any exceptions. There are no blocking elements of control during the course.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2023/2024 2nd module
    0.15 * Continuous assessment + 0.15 * Continuous assessment + 0.2 * Exam + 0.125 * Speaking + 0.125 * Speaking + 0.125 * Writing assignments + 0.125 * Writing assignments
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Business result: advanced : student's book, Baade, K., 2009
  • Business result: advanced [Электронный ресурс] : class CDs, Baade, K., 2009
  • 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 : учебное пособие / Н. Л. Колесникова. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2018. — 136 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-3442-1. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/103111 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Abdul-Halim, H., Ahmad, N. H., Geare, A., & Thurasamy, R. (2019). Innovation Culture in SMEs: The Importance of Organizational Culture, Organizational Learning and Market Orientation. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 9(3), N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2017-0014
  • Argote, L. (2012). Organizational Learning : Creating, Retaining and Transferring Knowledge. Heidelberg: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=528244
  • Arrigo, G., & Casale, G. (2017). International Labour Law Handbook : From A to Z. Torino: G. Giappichelli Editore. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1537694
  • Boon, A. (2018). The Job Interview. [Japan]: HALICO. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1847466
  • Cordell, A. (2018). The Negotiation Handbook. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1853827
  • Dean A. Shepherd, & Holger Patzelt. (2018). Entrepreneurial Cognition: Exploring the Mindset of Entrepreneurs. Netherlands, Europe: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.90F8D4C8
  • E. Tyagay. (2016). Russian Business Law. BRICS Law Journal, (2), 176. https://doi.org/10.21684/2412-2343-2016-3-2-176-179
  • Ebisui, M., International Labour Office, Rōdō Seisaku Kenkyū Kenshū Kikō, Cooney, S., & Fenwick, C. F. (2016). Resolving Individual Labour Disputes : A Comparative Overview. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Organization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1484327
  • Erlend Nier, & Ouarda Merrouche. (2012). Payment Systems, Inside Money and Financial Intermediation. Post-Print. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.p.hal.journl.hal.01638082
  • Feld, B., & Wise, S. (2017). Startup Opportunities : Know When to Quit Your Day Job. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1521235
  • Fruehwald, E. S. (2014). Legal Writing Exercises : A Practical Guide to Clear and Persuasive Writing for Lawyers. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1357277
  • Goh, B. C. (2016). Law Without Lawyers, Justice Without Courts : On Traditional Chinese Mediation. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1431920
  • Greenburger, F., & Paley, R. (2016). Risk Game : Self Portrait of an Entrepreneur. Dallas, TX: BenBella Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1346063
  • Heny Wahyu Tamara Dwi Lestari, Dindin Dimyati, & Mohammad Shihab. (2017). Strategic Communications and Corporate Branding: a Study of Jebsen & Jessen Indonesia Group. MediaTor, (1), 37. https://doi.org/10.29313/mediator.v10i1.2609
  • HORVÁTH, V. (2019). Project Management Competence - Definitions, Models, Standards and Practical Implications. Vezetéstudomány / Budapest Management Review, 50(11), 2–17. https://doi.org/10.14267/ VEZ TUD.2019.11.01
  • ISAC, N., & BADSHAH, W. (2018). Evaluation of Personnel Performance within a Company’s Hr Department. Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences / Buletin Stiintific - Seria Stiinte Economice, 17(1), 52–59. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=133814762
  • Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management : A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (Vol. Twelfth edition). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1472845
  • Kessler, R. (2006). Competency-based Interviews : Master the Tough New Interview Style and Give Them the Answers That Will Win You the Job. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=231056
  • KUPOR, S. (2019). THE ART of the PITCH. Entrepreneur, 47(4), 50–53. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=136458911
  • L. Gorshkova A., V. Poplavskaya A., Людмила Горшкова Алексеевна, & Вера Поплавская Алексеевна. (2016). АНАЛИТИЧЕСКИЙ ИНСТРУМЕНТАРИЙ ДИАГНОСТИКИ И ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ УПРАВЛЕНЧЕСКОЙ КОМАНДЫ КАК ЭЛЕМЕНТА МЕТОДИКИ ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННОГО РАЗВИТИЯ // Analytical Tools for the Diagnostics and the Formation of a Management Team as an Element of the Organization Development Technique. Учет. Анализ. Аудит // Accounting. Analysis. Auditing, (6), 83. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.scn.accntn.y2016i6p83.92
  • Lee, C., Felps, W., & Steel, P. (2017). Who gets the job interview? Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.29CEA76F
  • Lyons, C. (2009). I Win, You Win: The Essential Guide to Principled Negotiation. A&C Black Business Information and Development.
  • Marcus Hagedorn, & Iourii Manovskii. (2013). Job Selection and Wages over the Business Cycle. American Economic Review, (2), 771. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.103.2.771
  • Mare Koit. (2018). Reasoning and communicative strategies in a model of argument-based negotiation. Journal of Information and Telecommunication, (3), 291. https://doi.org/10.1080/24751839.2018.1448504
  • Mateusz Grzesiak. (2018). Personal Brand Creation in the Digital Age. Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.spr.sprbok.978.3.319.69697.3
  • Matsue, T. (2018). Fixed-term contracts as a source of labour demand fluctuations. Applied Economics Letters, 25(9), 611–614. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2017.1352070
  • Mautner-Markhof, F. (2019). Processes Of International Negotiations. New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2199070
  • McCarthy, A., & Hay, S. (2015). Advanced Negotiation Techniques. [California]: Apress. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=958148
  • Moscoso, S., & Iglesias, M. (2009). Job Experience and Big Five Personality Dimensions. International Journal of Selection & Assessment, 17(2), 239–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2389.2009.00466.x
  • Radu Belloiu. (2019). Tridimensional Model “Lean-Six Sigma-Theory of Constraints” Used by an Entrepreneurial Firm in Service Industry. Conference Proceedings Chapters, 188. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.h.mdv.cpchap.y201810
  • Roulin, N. (2017). The Psychology of Job Interviews. New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1492011
  • Sahlman, W. A., Hoffman, R., Andreessen, M., & Blank, S. G. (2018). HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Entrepreneurship and Startups (featuring Bonus Article “Why the Lean Startup Changes Everything” by Steve Blank). Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business Review Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1798805
  • Senge, P. M. (2014). The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook : Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization. [S.I.]: Crown Business. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=782259
  • Veronica Ioana ILIEȘ. (2018). Strategic Personal Branding for Students and Young Professionals. Cross-Cultural Management Journal, (1), 43. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.799678f4672446e7961ece10c16980a5
  • Wang, H. K. H. (2018). Business Negotiations in China : Strategy, Planning and Management. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1662142
  • Танцура, Т. А., Business English for Lawyers. : учебное пособие / Т. А. Танцура, М. В. Мельничук, П. П. Ростовцева, ; под ред. Т. А. Танцуры. — Москва : КноРус, 2019. — 209 с. — ISBN 978-5-406-06918-9. — URL: https://book.ru/book/931045 (дата обращения: 26.08.2024). — Текст : электронный.

Authors

  • SOROKINA ELENA VLADIMIROVNA
  • RODOMANCHENKO AIDA SERGEEVNA