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Business Communication II

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Valo1025, Business Communication I

Course abstract

This course will build upon students’ previous English language knowledge according to Level B2 by utilizing and expanding it in a professional and “business” context. The course is organized to acquire communication skills in order to improve the communication process in the English language by using appropriate means of the language.

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 English creatively in spoken and written communication for professional activities, student mobility and in academic environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1.Building careers, career term revision, more job related terms 2h
2.Daily business interactions, proper communication in meetings 2h
3.Customer service, how to address concerns, applying diplomatic language 2h
4.Finance II, accounting and finance departments, financial aspects of businesses (Test #1)2h
5.Globalism, outsourcing of labours, international organiations (UN, EU), fair trade 2h
6.IT, diagnosis of IT problems, communication with IT department, BYOD 2h
7.Management, styles of leadership, pros and cons 2h
8.Performance review and motivation, process of a review, strategies of constructive criticism 2h
9.Mergers and acquisitions, implications of companies joining together (Test #2) 2h
10.Marketing campaigns, elements of a campaign, client's needs and analysis, client relations 2h
11.NGOs, government, and business, guest presentation, sectors, creating marketing campaign for NGO 2h
12.Marketing II, rich and lean forms of marketing 2h
13.Examples of advertisements and other marketing techniques. (Test #2) 2h
14.Public relations, how a PR department works and how it responds to crises 2h
15.Students' presentations to NGO, feedback and criticism given 2h
16.Cumulative review for a final exam, all concepts revised 2h

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Examination.
The assessment of the study course examination is cumulative. It is made up of the grades of the examination, tests during the semester and home assignments, individual work (marketing plan, presentation on the chosen topic. Tests and home works are with a positive evaluation. The number of missed classes shall not exceed 20%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. Written marketing plan – 10,000 printed marks with more than 30 terms from texts read during the course.
2. Pair or group presentation (8 -10 minutes) about the marketing plan.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in the examination, tests, home assignments, assessment during classes and a presentation of the individual work. The grade in the examination and tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.
The examination consists of two tasks: a written test and a written essay (200-250 words).
The assessment requirements of home assignments and the independent work is included in the instructions of the home assignments or independent work.
The examination grade is calculated as an arithmetic mean of grades obtained in two examination assignments and the mean of grades obtained during the semester (a mean arithmetic grade of tests, independent work and home assignments).

Compulsory reading

1.1. Allison J., Townsend J., Emmerson P., Canham N. The Business: Upper-Intermediate Student's Book. Oxford: Macmillan, 2008. 160 lpp. ISBN-10 1405083719
2.Allison J., Townsend J., Emmerson P., Canham N. The Business: Intermediate Student's Book. Oxford: Macmillan, 2007. 160 lpp. ISBN-10 1405083697
3.Mascull B. Business Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. 172 lpp. ISBN 9780521775298
4.Corbett, J. (2010) Intercultural Language Activities. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521741880 262 lpp.

Further reading

1.Hughes J., Naunton J. Business Result: Intermediate Student's Book. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. 159 lpp. ISBN-10 0194768007
2.Emmerson P., Hamilton, N. Five-minute Activities for Business English. New York: Cambridge UP, 2005. 126 lpp. ISBN:9780521547413
3.Oxenden, Cl., Latham-Koenig, C. New English File: Upper-Intermediate. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. 160 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1.American weekly business magazine "Forbes" [tiešsaiste]. ISSN 0015-6914 [skatīts 09.02.2015.]. Pieejams:http://www.forbes.com/"
2.Business English Resources [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 1.10.2016.), pieejams http://www.businessenglishresources.com
3.One Stop English [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 1.10.2016.), pieejams: http://www.onestopenglish.com/business/

Notes

The course of study shall be threatened in the mandatory part of the ESAF IUAU study programme for the 2 nd semester of course 1. The course is handed out in English.