Course code Valo2062

Credit points 3

Valo1063

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation17.02.2021

Responsible UnitLanguage Centre

Course developer

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Inese Ozola

Dr. philol.

Prior knowledge

Valo1063, English for Students of Economics I

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 scientific 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:
- Marketing Mix, target audience, market research, describing graphs, franchising,
- globalization, outsourcing, labour market and the skills necessary for the labour market, corporate responsibility.
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, making a presentation of the research results, participating in the scientific discussion on the research results.
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. Industries of a national economy. GDP. Creating a glossary of terms for each topic.2h
2. Marketing Mix. International databases for scientific publications.2h
3. Market research. Analysis of consumer survey. A report. 2h
4. Territorial marketing. Image of place. Features of academic English.2h
5. Description of graphs and diagrams. Phrases and style. Description of research findings.2h
6. International trade. Franchising. Defining notions. 2h
7. Human resources. Motivation. Discussion in groups. 2h
8. Test No 1 (Terminology) / Cross-cultural Communication. 2h
9. Globalism, outsourcing, international organizations (UN, EU), fair trade. 2h
10. Labour market. The language of job advertisements. Terms: recruitment, remuneration. 2h
11. Skills necessary for labour market. CV, cover letters, using action words. 2h
12. Career opportunities. Applying for a job. The role play: a job interview, common interview questions. 2ha
13. Corporate responsibility, credos and mission statements, analysis of business priorities. 2h
14. Test No 2 (terminology). / New business, funding a start-up, formatting of business plans. 2h
15. Business presentations, effective preparation, register and vocabulary.2h
16. The seminar: "Shark Tank" elevator speeches, business plans presented. 2h

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, a report, a summary). 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. Submitted a written summary on the chosen text;
3. And delivered an oral presentation (5-10 minutes) in front of the class;
4. Submitted glossary of terms (30 terms, their translations and definitions).
5. Students are able to prepare a summary of the chosen text, present the information, compare facts, express ideas, make conclusions and answer the questions, participate in the scientific discussion on the research results.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The 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 (70%) and 30% 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
- active participation in the classes (10 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.Dellar H., Walkley A., Lansford L., Barber D., Jeffries A. Perspectives. TED Talks. Upper Intermediate. National Geographic Learning. 2020. 159 p. ISBN 9781337277181
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”