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German for Economics Students II

Course developers

Replaced course

ValoP065 [GVALP065] Professional German III

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. Labour market. The language of job advertisements. Terms: recruitment, remuneration.
2. Skills necessary for labour market. CV and the letter of application in the EU.
3. Applying for a job. Getting ready for a job interview. Creating a glossary of terms for each topic.
4. Companies and organizations. Types of business organizations, their comparison.
5. Company Structure. Startups.
6. Test No. 1. Tips for presentations. Phrases used in presentations.
7. Management styles in different countries. Corporate culture.
8. Analysis of corporate websites. Essay.
9. Banking. Money and loans. Bank services.
10. Setting up a business. Developing a business plan.
11. SWOT analysis. The role play "Taking a loan".
12. Retailing. Description of a retailing company. The layout of shops.
13. Agricultural industry. Entrepreneurship in agriculture. Domestic producers.
14. Test No. 2. Agriculture in Latvia and EU agricultural policy.
15. Revisions. Getting ready for presentations.
16. Students’ presentations.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Formal test with a grade.
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, presentation on a selected topic, 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: 20 000 characters);
2. Prepared PPoint presentation and oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
3. Submitted glossary of terms (30 terms, 30 translations, 20 definitions).

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 is calculated as an arithmetic mean of the grades obtained in two tests during the term and a presentation of an 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””