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Professional English

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the of development of students’ foreign language (English) knowledge and skills necessary for comprehending, interpreting and evaluating professional information, explaining and comparing processes, participating in discussions, giving presentations in professional and academic environments as well as for communication with foreign students, specialists and academic staff. The focus is on the terminology related to business studies and entrepreneurship. The English language proficiency level corresponds at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge of terminology of the industry. Students know terms from the field of:
university education, types of business organisations, business activities of companies (Test No 1.), labour market, job advertisements, business activities, retailing, banking, marketing, advertising (Final Terminology Test ).
Skills: students are able to define terms, select professional information, think critically, explain processes, participate in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing essays, business letters, summaries; orally - in discussions, dialogues, role plays, giving a presentation.
Competence of professional English language in order to apply it creatively in spoken and written communication for student mobility, professional and academic activities in international environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. University education. Terminology in business studies. Creating a glossary of terms.2ha
2. Bioeconomics. Reading and interpretation of professional information. 2ha
3. Types of organizations in Latvia and the UK. Translation and definition of terms.2ha
4. Advantages and disadvantages of various business organizations. Setting up a business.2ha
5. Tips for presentations. Phrases used in presentations.2ha
6. Applying for a job. CV and the letter of application in the EU. 2ha
7. Skills for the labour market. Getting ready for a job interview.2ha
8. Organizations. Company structure. Business activities of a company.2ha
9. Corporate websites. Comparison of the websites.2ha
10. Retailing. Description of a retailing company. The layout of shops.2ha
11. Banking. Customers. Money and loans.2ha
12. Marketing. Marketing Mix.2ha
13. Target audience of a product.2ha
14. Advertising. Types of advertising.2ha
15. Terminology test.2ha
16. Agricultural industry.2ha

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Examination.
The examination consists of: a terminology test,
a presentation on the selected topic.
A student is admitted to the examination if there are: the glossary of terms for each topic, timely completed home works, completed individual work (reading of professional texts, the glossary of terms, the prepared PPoint presentation on the selected topic). 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: 6 000 characters);
2. Submitted glossary of terms (20 terms, 20 translations).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The examination grade is calculated as an arithmetic mean of grades obtained in two examination tasks. The grade in the terminology test is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.

Compulsory reading

1. MacKenzie I. English for Business Studies. A course for Business Studies and Economics Students. Cambridge University Press, 2016. 191 p. ISBN 9780521743419.
2. Mascull B. Business Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. Cambridge University Press, 3rd edition, 2018. 172 p. ISBN 13978-1316628232
3. Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2019.). Pieejams: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
4. Rosenberg M. Business Advantage. Advanced. Cambridge University Press, 2016. 158 p. ISBN9781107637832

Further reading

1. Akadēmiskā terminu datu bāze. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2019.). Pieejams: http://termini.lza.lv/
2. Evans V., Dooley J., Patel K.C. Career Paths. Finance. Express Publishing, 2016. 117 p. ISBN 978-1-78098-645-6
3. Emmerson P. Business Vocabulary Builder. MacMillan, 2009. 176 p. ISBN 978-0-230-71682-7

Periodicals and other sources

1. Economy, Economics, Investment Reports. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2019.). Pieejams: www.economywatch.com
2. Interneta informācijas dienests (Online business information service about the EU). [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2019.). Pieejams: www.eubusiness.com
3. Sabiedriskais medijs (Apvienotā karaliste) “British Broadcasting Corporation” [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2019.). Pieejams: https://www.bbc.com/news/business

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the 1st level professional higher education programme “Business Studies”