LV EN RU DE FR

Business German

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and skills in professional foreign language studies with the purpose of extending students’ professional qualification and improving communication skills with foreign students and specialists. The course envisages the mastering of communication skills in German 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. Introductory class. The course requirements. University education.2ha
2. Entrepreneurship. Terminology in business studies. Creating a glossary of terms.2ha
3. Types of organizations in Latvia and Germany. Translation and definition of terms.2ha
4. Advantages and disadvantages of business organizations. Setting up a business.2ha
5. Test No 1. / 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 a company.2ha
9. Corporate websites. An essay.2ha
10. Retailing. Description of a retailing company. The layout of shops.2ha
11. Banking. Customers. Money and loans.2ha
12. Business plan. A role play "Giving a loan".2ha
13. Marketing. Marketing Mix. Target audience of a product.2ha
14. Advertising. Types of advertising. 2ha
15. Test No. 2. / Agricultural industry.2ha
16. Recent news on economics from international sources. Discussion.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: 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, the prepared PPoint presentation on the selected topic). 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, 30 translations, 20 definitions).

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. Basseler U., Heinrich J., Utecht B. (2006) Grundlagen und Probleme der Volkswirtschaft. 18. Aufl. Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag. 2006. 981 Seiten. ISBN-10:3-7910-2547-3. Nav LLU FB. LUB ir 1992.g.
2. Beschorner D. Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre. NWB-Studienbücher. Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Grundlagen und Konzepte. Nwb Verlag. 2006. 569 Seiten. ISBN-10:3-482-46642-4.
3. Eckstein P.P. Statistik für Wirtschaftswissenschaftler. Gabler Lehrbuch. Gabler Verlag. 2008. 404 Seiten. 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 Seiten. ISBN-10:3-89694-453-3.
3. Sprich Ch. Das Denken in theoretischen Modellen als Leitidee der Wirtschaftswissenschaften. GRIN Verlag. 2007. 28 Seiten. 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] [skatīts 14.11.2011.]. Pieejams: http:// www.manager-magazin.de
3. Zeitschrift fuer Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik.[tiešsaiste] [skatīts 14.11.2011.]. Pieejams: http: kwww.zfwu.de

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of the professional Bachelor’s degree programme “Entrepreneurship and Business Management”