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Professional German

Course developers

Course abstract

The study course is aimed at the of development of students’ foreign language (German) 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 German 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, business organisations, companies (Test No 1);
- labour market, job advertisements, business activities, retailing, banking, marketing, advertising (Test No 2).
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 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. 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. 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. Basseler U., Heinrich J., Utecht B. Grundlagen und Probleme der Volkswirtschaft. 18. Aufl. Schäffer-Poeschel Verlag. 2006. 981 Seiten. ISBN-10:3-7910-2547-3.
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”