English   Danish

2016/2017  BA-BEOKV1008U  English Skills for Business Students

English Title
English Skills for Business Students

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 40
Study board
Study Board for BA in English and Organisational Communication
Course coordinator
  • Alex Klinge - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
  • Spencer Shaw - Department of Management, Society and Communication (MSC)
Secretary - Tine Silfvander- ts.ibc@cbs.dk
Main academic disciplines
  • Communication
  • Language
Last updated on 01-03-2016
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • To read and understand articles and reports on current problems in which the writers express specific attitudes and points of view
  • To understand in detail texts within student’s own field of interest or academic/professional speciality
  • To give clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects
  • To explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options
  • To have sufficient vocabulary to express oneself connected to academic field and general topics
  • To write clear and detailed texts (compositions, reports or texts of presentation) on various topics related to student’s field of interest
  • To write summaries from different sources and media
  • To develop an argument systematically in a composition or report, emphasizing decisive points and including supporting details
Course prerequisites
The course is open to intermediate level (minimum B1) non-native speakers of English..
Examination
English Skills for Business Students:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Case based assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Closed book: no aids
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Description of the exam procedure

There are no dictionaries or exam aids allowed. The exam is PC-based with no internet access. The exam comprises 4 questions. Three questions are based on a written text where the answer is formatted either as a business report, business letter, summary and critique, or case study presentation. The first question is a grammar question comprising multiple choice, punctuation and rewriting.
Course content and structure

Special attention is given to the cultivation of Interpersonal and intercultural skills. The aim is to improve fluency in English communication, socially and commercially, by formalising the mastery of both spoken and written argumentation.

 

The course will focus on developing skills in:
• Effective reading
• Academic and business writing
• English as an International Language
• Oral communication for business meetings and presentations
Teaching methods
The course comprises lectures in various aspects of communication, rhetoric and general business skills. Attention is especially paid to competency in language skills. These include formal and business language, idiomatic language, and business voabulary. Grammar is reviewed at an intermediate and advanced level, focusing on phrasal verbs, collocations, prepositions and rewriting. Written skills include summaries and critiques where students write essays which are evaluated and given feedback during class. Exercises in grammar are given as homework and reviewed a week later. There is also an opportunity to give class presentations on pre-given case studies both in groups and individually.
Student workload
Attending lectures 30 hours
Preparing for lectures 40 hours
Making exercises/course assignments 72 hours
Preparing for exam 60 hours
Exam 4 hours
Further Information

Changes in course schedule may occur.
10x3 sessions.
Expected literature

Sources for Course Literature:
Market Leader Course Book. D. Cotton, S. Falvey and S. Kent (Longman 2000)
Human Communication in Society. J. Alberts, T. Nakayama, J. Martin. (Allyn & Bacon 2010)
Business Grammar Builder. P. Emmerson (Macmillan 2002)
The Business Communication Handbook.  J. Dwyer. (Prentice Hall 2003)
Competitive Communication. B. Eckhouse. (Oxford University Press 1999)
Academic Writing. L. Bjørk & C. Raisanen  (Studentlitteratur Lund 1997)
Essentials of Contemporary Advertising. W. Arens, D. Schaefer, M. Weigold. (McGraw Hill 2009)
Communicating for Managerial Effectiveness. P. G. Clampitt (Sage 2010)
Leadership: Oxford Management Readers. Ed. K. Grint. art. J. Gastil ( Oxford University Press 1997)
 
Last updated on 01-03-2016