Advanced Business English

Course Leader: Sabina Osmanovic

Home Institution: University of Montenegro

 

Course Overview

The goal of this course is to reinforce Business English vocabulary and prepare students to use it confidently in different business situations. The emphasis will be on improving written and oral communication skills, as well as applying them in a variety of business contexts aimed at specific audiences and professional situations. The course will include a number of short assignments designed to help students develop the skills required to write such business documents.

 Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • Expand business and economics vocabulary;
  • Improve writing style as appropriate for CVs, cover letters, business e-mails, professional letters, memos, reports etc.;
  • Chair meetings (write Minutes of a Meeting, Agenda);
  • Prepare and deliver effective presentations (in a team and individually);
  • Deepen the understanding of broad cultural issues related to work;
  • Improve networking skills and negotiating tactics as well as use diplomatic language within the business context.

Course Content

 

 

                                                     Course schedule

Day 1

 

Introduction:  Syllabus Review


Work and Motivation
Writing Business Correspondence: Writing business letters; Writing professional E-mails

Day 2

Chairing Business Meetings (and Online Meetings)

Keeping Meeting Records (Minutes, Agenda); Writing a memo summarising the action points

Day 3

Woman in Business;

Writing a Summary

Day 4

 

Recruitment; Planning a job search

Writing resumes and cover letters

Day 5

 

Preparing for a job interview

Writing Follow-up Letters or E-mails

Day 6

 

Preparing and delivering oral presentations; Delivering group presentations

Day 7

Saying ‘No’ politely

Speaking/writing practice

Day 8

 

Negotiation skills

Writing reports

Day 9

 

Networking; Connecting with the Public;

Work-Life Balance

 

Writing Newsletters, Brochures, Using Social Media for Business

Day 10

 

Final Exam

 

* This schedule is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class.

Instructional Method

 This course is structured as a workshop, requiring students to participate actively in debates and discussions as well as deliver oral presentations and in-class writing assignments.

Required Course Materials

 There will be one course packet for this course and it will be comprised of selected chapters from the following sources:

  • Camp, S. & Satterwhite, M. (2015). College English and business communication. (10th edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
  • Markel, M. (2012). Technical communication. (10thedition). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
  • Dubicka, I./O’Keeffe, M. (2011). Market Leader Advanced. (3rd edition). Pearson.
  • Emmerson, P. (2007). Business English handbook advanced. Oxford: Macmillan ELT.
  • Brook-Hart, G. (2007). Business Benchmark advanced. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Assessment:

Active participation: 10 points

Oral presentation: 20 points

Home (and in-class) assignments: 20 points

Final Exam: 50 points