Course code Valo3024

Credit points 3

English for Economics Students III

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation14.09.2019

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developer

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Inese Ozola

Dr. philol.

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the foreign 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 English 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:
- retailing, franchising, banking, business cycle (Test No 1);
- sustainable development, phrases of describing graphs, supply chain management (Test No 2).
Knowledge of English academic language use:
-the prepared report on the results of a course project.
Skills to apply professional terminology and communicative skills: in writing essays, business letters; orally in discussions, dialogues, role plays, giving a presentation, making presentation of the research results, participating in the scientific discussion on the research results.
Competence of professional foreign language in order to apply English creatively in spoken and written communication for professional and research activities, student mobility and in academic environment.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. The course requirements. Terminology in Economics and Entrepreneurship. Online dictionaries. Creating a glossary. 2ha
2. The analysis of corporate websites, their layout. An essay.2ha
3. The seminar. Students’ presentations on the selected websites of companies. 2ha
4. Retailing. Description of a retailing company. The layout of shops. Discussion. 2ha
5. International trade. Franchising. Defining terms. 2ha
6. Banking. Money and loans. Personal banking. Banking services. 2h
7. Business cycle. Vocabulary of fiscal and monetary policy. Writing summaries. 2h
8. Test No 1. / Reading and interpretation of an international scientific publication. 2ha
9. Sustainable development of natural resources. UN concept of sustainable development. Discussion. 2h
10. International scientific data bases. The structure of a scientific article. 2ha
11. Structure of a presentation in an international conference. Features of academic English. 2ha
12. Description of graphs and diagrams. Phrases and style. Description of research findings. 2ha
13. Logistics. Supply chain management. New development in terminology. 2h
14. Test No 2. / Characteristics of language register. 2ha
15. Recent news on economics from international sources. Getting ready for the presentation on students’ research findings. 2ha
16. The seminar. Students’ presentations. 2ha

Requirements for awarding credit points

Assessment: Examination.
The examination consists of:
a terminology test,
a presentation.
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, presentation on a selected topic, the glossary of terms, an essay, a report). 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).
4. Students are able to prepare a summary of the chosen text, present the summary, compare facts, express ideas, make conclusions and answer the questions, have a scientific discussion on the research results.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

TThe evaluation includes the grade consists of the grade in the examination and the participation in the study process during classes. The examination grade is calculated as an arithmetic mean of grades obtained in two examination tasks (60%) and 40% of the cumulative evaluation during the classes. The grade in the terminology test is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct.

The cumulative assessment during classes is composed of the grades in the following:
- 2 terminology tests with positive evaluation: 20 points
- An essay and presentation describing a company’ s website (20 points)

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. Latvijas Nacionālais Terminoloģijas portāls. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2021.). Pieejams: https://termini.gov.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 14.09.2021.). Pieejams: www.economywatch.com
2. Interneta informācijas dienests (Online business information service about the EU). [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2021.). Pieejams: www.eubusiness.com
3. Wiley interneta bibliotēka (Wiley Online Library) [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 14.09.2021.).Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

Notes

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