Course aims:

To develop the capacity of identifying and analyzing a large variety of economic texts (business administration, tourism, commerce, marketing).
To develop oral and written communication abilities with the adequate use of Business English standards.
To develop the ability to sustain an idea / opinion both in oral and in written business communication.

Course Entry Requirements:

N/A

Course contents:

S1. External influences on businesses. External influences: national, political, international, economic 1.1. Vocabulary focus- words/phrases used to link ideas 1.2. Vocabulary focus – stress patterns in noun phrases and compounds 1.3. Vocabulary focus-fixed phrases in academic English S2. Environmental issues 2.1. Vocabulary focus-words and phrases related to environmental issues 2.2. Listening-recognizing the speaker’s stance 2.3. Speaking-building an argument in a seminar S3. Company performance – SWOT analysis 3.1. Vocabulary focus-verbs used to introduce ideas from other sources 3.2. Vocabulary focus-linking words/ phrases conveying contrast, result, reasons S4. Case study: responding to external factors Management of change 4.1. Vocabulary focus-words for quantities 4.2. Reading-understanding how ideas in a text are linked 4.3. Writing-summarizing a text S5. Commercial correspondence. Writing letters of enquiry 5.1. Asking for catalogues, price-lists, prospectuses 5.2. Asking for details 5.3. Asking for goods on approval or on sale or return S6. Commercial correspondence .Replies and quotations 6.1. 'Selling' your product 6.2. Suggesting alternatives 6.3. Catalogues, price-lists, prospectuses, samples S7. Commercial correspondence. Orders 7.1. Payment, Discounts, Methods of delivery 7.2. Specimen letters and forms: covering letter, order form, acknowledgement of order, advice of despatch 7.3. Specimen letters:delay in delivery, refusing an order

Teaching methods:

LECTURE, DEBATE, PRESENTATION, PROJECT

Learning outcomes:

Students use English correctly, fluently and adequately in oral and written business communication. Students can identify and analyze a large variety of economic texts (business, accounting, finance, banking). Students can use their language competences in order to provide their own business discourses in all the economic environment.

Learning outcomes verification and assessment criteria:

Oral presentation Written examination form

Recommended reading:

Pearson Longman, Business English Dictionary, New Edition, 2007,
Cotton, D., Falvey, D., Kent, S, Market Leader Upper Intermediate, New Edition,Pearson Longman, 2006,
Dubicka I., O’Keeffe, M, Market Leader. Advanced., Pearson Longman, 2007,