Course code Valo1048

Credit points 1.50

German for Economics Students I

Total Hours in Course40

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours24

Date of course confirmation05.03.2013

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developers

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Inese Ozola

Dr. philol.

author lect.

Oksana Mališeva

Mg. philol.

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the German language studies with the purpose of extending students’ professional qualification and improving communication skills with foreign students, specialists and in the academic environment. The course envisages the mastering of the German language skills in various forms and levels focusing on the terminology of Economics and Entrepreneurship.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge of terminology of the industry. Students know terms from the field of: - university education, business organisations, companies (Test No 1); - labour market, job advertisements, business activities, retailing, banking, marketing, advertising (Test No 2). Skills to apply professional terminology and communicative skills: in writing essays, business letters; orally in discussions, dialogues, role plays, giving a presentation. Competence of professional foreign language in order to apply German creatively in spoken and written communication for professional activities, student mobility and in academic environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. University Education.
2. Comparison of universities in Europe. Erasmus+ Mobility.
3. Mobility in Europe. Terminology in Economics. Creating a glossary of terms for each topic.
4. Entrepreneurship. Types of organizations in Latvia and Germany.
5. Sectors of economy. Industries.
6. Test No. 1
7. Current business news. Definitions of terms.
8. Supply and demand.
9. Business cycle. Keynesian economics.
10. Taxation.
11. Production.
12. Business activities of a company. Organizations.
13. Sustainable development.
14. Test No. 2.
15. Presentation of individual work.
16. Presentation of individual work.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal Test (pass / fail).
It is made up of cumulative assessment.
Successfully written 2 tests, the glossary of terms for each topic, timely completed home works, completed individual work (reading of professional texts, the glossary of terms). Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of the missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work:
1. Reading of the independently chosen professional texts (the amount: 10 000 characters);
2. Submitted glossary of terms (30 terms supplied with translations and commentaries).
3. Students are able to translate orally extracts of the chosen texts and answer the questions.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in tests, home assignments, assessment during classes and a presentation of the individual work. The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.

Compulsory reading

1. Basseler U., Heinrich J., Utecht B. Grundlagen und Probleme der Volkswirtschaft. 18. Aufl. Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag, 2006. 981 S. ISBN-10:3-7910-2547-3
2. Beschorner D. Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre. NWB-Studienbücher. Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Grundlagen und Konzepte. Nwb Verlag, 2006. 569 S. ISBN-10:3-482-46642-4
3. Eckstein P.P. Statistik für Wirtschaftswissenschaftler. Gabler Lehrbuch. Gabler Verlag, 2008. 404 S. ISBN-10:3-8349-0920-3
4. Ring G., Siebeck J., Woitz St. Privatrecht für Wirtschaftswissenschaftler. Lehrbuch. Medium: PDF, 2010. ISBN-10:3-486-58661-0

Further reading

1. Dahmen A. Kompaktstudium Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Band 6. Finanzierung. 3. Aufl. Verlag Franz Vahlen, 2007. ISBN-10:3-8006-3421-X.
2. Henning W. Studienführer Wirtschaftswissenschaften. F.A.Z. Beruf und Chance. 7. Aufl. Lexika Verlag, 2009. 246 S. ISBN-10:3-89694-453-3
3. Sprich Ch. Das Denken in theoretischen Modellen als Leitidee der Wirtschaftswissenschaften. GRIN Verlag, 2007. 28 S. ISBN-10:3-638-84182-0

Periodicals and other sources

1. Spektrum der Wissenschaft. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 14.11.2011.]. Pieejams: http://www.spektrum.de/
2. Manager Magazin. [tiešsaiste]. Publisher: Hamburg : Management und Marketing Verlagsgesellschaft. [skatīts 14.11.2011.]. Pieejams: http://www.manager-magazin.de
3. Zeitschrift fuer Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik.[tiešsaiste]. Print ISSN 1439-880X. Online ISSN 1862-0043. [skatīts 02.04.2013.]. Pieejams: http://www.zfwu.de/

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the academic Bachelor’s degree programme “Economics”