Undergraduate Course: Business English for Visiting Students (LLLG07108)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course focuses on activating language skills through cooperative task-based work. Course participants read or listen to business texts in order to exchange information and compare their own knowledge and experience of the business world. Other language practice activities include meeting roleplays; problem solving discussions; listening to talks; formal letter and email writing practice. There are opportunities for more individual work, for example researching and giving a presentation on a business topic of their choice. |
| Course description |
The course aims to improve oral fluency and confidence in speaking English through a variety of activities including participating in meeting roleplays; preparing and giving short talks; exchanging information about business situations; negotiating and participating in a simulated job interview. Writing activities focus on business correspondence (both letter and email) and writing reports. There is a general emphasis on the development of written and spoken communication skills. A range of materials from business and business media sources will be used to present and discuss aspects of business in both the UK and internationally. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to talk about their own knowledge and experience.
The tasks are predominantly based on authentic business texts. Most tasks involve an integration of two or more language skills and are presented within a business topic-based syllabus framework that includes business numeracy, types of business organisation, marketing and finance in order to introduce vocabulary and conceptual knowledge so that students can talk meaningfully in English about aspects of business. Students will research a business-related topic with the aim of giving a presentation of that topic to their colleagues at a simulated business conference at the end of the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | L2 English speakers - CEFR Level B2 /IELTS 6.5 minimum.
Students should have a basic understanding/knowledge of business through having taken a first year business or business-related course or equivalent at their home universities.
The course is also open to students with a science or engineering background but are interested in a business-oriented career.
The course is also open to UG Year 2 students. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 14 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 60,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
136 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. 1,000 word written report of a given business situation. (60%)
2. 15-minute individual oral presentation on a business-related topic in the final course conference. (40%)
|
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on both oral and written English language skills development throughout the course. Written formative feedback on presentation skills development will feed forward to written summative feedback on the final assessed oral presentation. Individual tutorials will be held at the end of the first week and mid-course for two-way tutor/ student feedback (dialogue). |
| No Exam Information |
|
| Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 14 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 60,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
136 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. 1,000 word written report of a given business situation. (60%)
2. 15-minute individual oral presentation on a business-related topic in the final course conference. (40%)
|
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on both oral and written English language skills development throughout the course. Written formative feedback on presentation skills development will feed forward to written summative feedback on the final assessed oral presentation. Individual tutorials will be held at the end of the first week and mid-course for two-way tutor/ student feedback (dialogue). |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- speak confidently in English in a variety of business-related contexts.
- use business English vocabulary actively in the topic areas covered in the course.
- research and give a presentation on a business-related topic in English.
- engage critically through reading, writing and discussion with some frequently occurring business genres such as business documentation, reports, and business correspondence.
- work with others in different roles in a variety of simulated business contexts including preparing for and participating in meetings, negotiations and job interviews.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Students wishing to enrol on the course MUST contact the Visiting Student Office. Further, to avoid disappointment, students are recommended to do this the Monday or Tuesday before the start of the course as the courses fill up very quickly and places are very limited. Please note you must register for these courses considerably earlier than other courses in the University. |
| Keywords | Business English,English for Specific Purposes,professional skills,speaking skills,vocabulary |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr David Caulton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6200
Email: David.Caulton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Benjamin McNab
Tel: (0131 6)51 4832
Email: Benjamin.Mcnab@ed.ac.uk |
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