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English for Students of Economics I

Course developer

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the 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 economics and entrepreneurship. The English language proficiency level corresponds at least to level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for foreign languages

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students have knowledge and understanding of the terminology of the field and its application.
Students know terms from the field of:
- business organizations, the legal status of companies, their comparison, supply / demand.
- business cycle, fiscal and monetary policy, banking services, SWOT analysis, sustainable development, retailing, logistics, supply chain management.
Skills:
students are able to define terms, select professional information, explain procedures, describe processes in relation economics and entrepreneurship, think critically, provide argumentation in discussions applying professional terminology and communication skills: in written form - writing descriptions of procedures, business letters; orally - in discussions, dialogues, giving a presentation.
Competence of professional and academic 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.The course requirements. University Education. Terminology in Economics and Entrepreneurship. Online dictionaries. Creating a glossary. 2h
2. Companies and organizations. Types of business organizations, their comparison. Discussion. 2h
3. The analysis of corporate websites, their layout. An essay. 2h
4. Supply and demand. Terms and definitions. 2h
5. Keynesian economics. Features and structure of various texts. 2h
6. Test No 1. (Terminology) / Tips for presentations. Phrases used in presentations. 2h
7. Business cycle. Vocabulary of fiscal and monetary policy. Writing summaries. 2h
8. Banking. Money and loans. Personal banking. Banking services. 2h
9. Start-ups. SWOT analysis. The role play "Taking a loan". 2h
10. Bioeconomics. Challenges of the 21st century. Group work. 2h
11. Sustainable development of natural resources. UN concept of sustainable development. Discussion. 2h
12. Retailing. Description of a retailing company. The layout of shops. 2h
13. Logistics. Supply chain management. Specific features of word building patterns. 2h
14. Test 2 (Terminology). /The structure of speech and requirements for PowerPoint slides and oral presentations. 2h
15. Recent news on economics from international sources. Language register in mass media. 2h
16. Seminar: presentation of individual work. 2h

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, their translations and definitions).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The cumulative assessment is composed of the grades in the following:
1) two terminology tests with a positive evaluation: 40 points
2) an oral presentation in front of the group: 30 points
3) active participation in the classes: 20 points
4) completed individual work (reading professional literature, a glossary of terms): 10 points

The grade in tests is successful if at least 70% of the answers are correct. It is allowed to repeat a test once. All home works should receive a successful grade.

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. Dubicka I., Rosenberg M., Dignen B., Hogan M., Wright L. Business Partner. Pearson Education Limited, 2018. 160 p. ISBN 9781292233567
4. Rosenberg M. Business Advantage. Advanced. Cambridge University Press, 2016. 158 p. ISBN9781107637832

Further reading

1. Latvijas Nacionālais terminoloģijas portāls. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 25.01.2021.). Pieejams: https://termini.gov.lv/
2. Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 25.01.2021.]. Pieejams: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
3. McCarthy M., O'Dell F. English Vocabulary in Use. Upper-Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2017. 309 p. ISBN 101316631753

Periodicals and other sources

1. Economy, Economics, Investment Reports. [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 10.02.2021.). Pieejams: www.economywatch.com
2. Interneta informācijas dienests (Online business information service about the EU). [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 10.02.2021.). Pieejams: www.eubusiness.com
3. Wiley interneta bibliotēka (Wiley Online Library) [tiešsaiste] (skatīts 10.02.2021.).Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

Notes

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