2023/2024
English for Business Purposes. Advanced Course - 3
Type:
Optional course
Delivered by:
School of Foreign Languages
When:
1-3 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
52
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The discipline refers to the variable educational tracks offered to students of the curricula for Bachelor's and Specialist's degrees of choice while mastering the optional course of English in accordance with the Concept of the Development of English-language Communicative Competence of HSE Students. The course is designed to help students communicate effectively in the workspace using the language of business, building effective business communication. The course offers practical training in functional business skills such as collaboration, challenging conversations, presentations, analysing risk and maintaining relationships, which allows for the personalization of the learning experience with a structured modular approach that gives the flexibility to focus on specific needs and learning outcomes. Completing the course enables students to advance their English to the C1-C2 level.
Learning Objectives
- The course focuses on introducing students to the complex vocabulary of work-place English and the advances language functions and is aimed at acquiring language mastery relevant to common business communication areas, such as innovation and disruptors, dealing with finance and investment, customer engagement, managing conflicts, and mindset. The course sets the following objectives: 1) to build the skills of argumentative communication in English and successful contribution to a group discussion using linguistically complex language to ensure the maximum range and authenticity of business content; 2) to acquire the advanced skills of business communication (structural elements, business register peculiarities, essential business vocabulary) within multiple touch points from which to explore the possibilities of use of any given language skill; 3) to master presentation agility and fluency with the various skills, practical training in functional business areas such as presentations, negotiations, meeting facilitation, and brainstorming; 4) to develop the skills of business correspondence, writing business e-mails and reports for various corporate purposes; 5) to apply BC skills to the specific subject area of International Affairs, from business conversations in the workplace, to negotiations and presentation skills.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Develop understanding of lectures and learning context
- Develop skills in delivering a monologue (informative/descriptive/reasoning)
- Develop skills in giving a presentation (can give reasons in support or against a particular point of view, give the advantages and disadvantages of various opinions)
- Develop skills in writing reports
- Develop skills of participating in debates (active listening, questioning, responding to questions, emphasizing, discussion strategies)
- Develop skills of using basic listening techniques (predicting, understanding main ideas and details)
- Develop skills of using basic reading techniques skimming and scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
- Develop understanding of specialised complex longer texts*/articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems (CEFR)
- Form skills of using basic reading techniques, skimming & scanning (predicting, understanding main ideas, understanding details)
- Improve understanding of dialogues and polylogues on both familiar and unfamiliar topics
- Develop skills in writing e-mails (business correspondence)
Course Contents
- English for Business Purposes. Advanced Course - 3
- Innovation and Disruptors
- Life cycles
- Finance and investments
- Customer engagement
- Managing conflict
- Mindset
Assessment Elements
- Oral AssessmentOral assessment includes a monologue on a given topic, a presentation and further discussion, and other oral activities. The elements of oral assessment cannot be retaken.
- Written AssessmentIncludes written tests: min 1 listening test, min 1 reading test, min 2 vocabulary and grammar tests, min 1 email, min 1 report
- Independent Work AssessmentIndependent work includes activities that students do at home, in the classroom and online work. The elements of independent work cannot be retaken.
- Final AssessmentPeriod of Final Assessment: the final exam is held in class within 10 days before the exam period online on MS Teams platform. The release of examination papers: during the session. The exam consists of 3 parts: Listening (30%), Reading (30%) and Writing (40%) respectively in the total mark for the exam. 0 points in case of cheating. Retaking exams: till the 15th of October 2022. Time limit: 80 minutes online/offline. Tasks complexity: В2. Exam structure: 1. Listening (L) Listen to the text and complete the tasks 1-10. max. 10 points 2. Reading (R) Read the text and complete the tasks 1-10. max. 10 points 3. Writing (W) Write a review/report. review assessment criteria/ report assessment criteria. Grading formula: L*0,3+R*0,3 +W*0,4 = 10
Interim Assessment
- 2023/2024 3rd module0.3 * Final Assessment + 0.25 * Independent Work Assessment + 0.2 * Oral Assessment + 0.25 * Written Assessment
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Business partner C1 : coursebook, , 2021
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Amir, I. (2013). A Practical Guide to Business English. Loughor, Swansea: Rowanvale Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=635562
- Cristina-Laura, A., & Ioana-Claudia, H. (2019). Teaching Business English Vocabulary through Context. Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 28(1), 35. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=138244694
- Effective presentations, Comfort, J., 2009
- English for Business Studies : A course for Business Studies and Economics studints, Student's Book, 2nd ed., 208 p., MacKenzie, I., 2006
- Giffin, J., & Willis, L. (2005). Business English News Sources: Advanced ESP Reading Skills. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.44906877