Syllabus

Title
1040 Fremdsprachliche Wirtschaftskommunikation III - Englisch
Instructors
Dr. Miya Komori-Glatz, MA
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/29/20 to 10/01/20
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Tuesday 10/13/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 10/20/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 10/27/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 11/03/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 11/10/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 11/17/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 11/24/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 12/01/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 12/15/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 12/22/20 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 01/12/21 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Tuesday 01/19/21 02:30 PM - 04:00 PM Online-Einheit
Thursday 01/28/21 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM Online-Einheit
Procedure for the course when limited activity on campus

Please note that, in light of recent developments, this class will be held entirely in "Distance mode". The syllabus has now been adapted and details can be found in the "Lehr- und Lerndesign" and "Leistung(en) für eine Beurteilung" sections above.

Contents

Please note that, in light of recent developments, this class will be held entirely in "Distance mode". The times above are recommended self-study sessions. There will be four online "live sessions" at the following times:

13 October, 13:00-15:00 Introduction & overview
3 November, 13:00-15:00 Orals
17 November, 13:00-15:00 Report writing
12 January, 13:00-15:00 Report feedback & Final Test

Attendance for these is voluntary, but strongly recommended! These "live sessions" will be held via MS Teams, with details to be communicated in good time. Further details can be found in the "Lehr- und Lerndesign" section below.

The curriculum of this class is comprised of general language skills, core business content (i.e. the understanding of business principles and activities, technical terminology and registers) and communicative competence.

Learning outcomes

THIS COURSE IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'ENGLISH BUSINESS COMMUNICATION3' (EBC3). Bachelor students are required to have passed EBC2 prior to attending EBC3.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (LOs)

After successfully completing this course, students will be able:

  • LO1: to demonstrate a level of general English competence equivalent to at least C1 on the Common European Framework;
  • LO2: to understand and apply concepts from certain business and economic fields (globalization, international trade, legal matters, international payment, risks, countertrade, tender procedures, financial management, financial markets) and to recall as required the essential terminology associated with them;
  • LO3: to recall at will, and use, the English equivalents of basic German terminology from these fields, as well as other typical features (structures, collocations, prepositional usage, etc) of the associated language, to discuss the above fields in an appropriate manner, to understand the principles of report writing, and to apply these in practice;
  • LO4: to combine the various abilities mentioned above in order to understand upper-level written texts about the above business and economic fields, and to write communicatively-effective texts, both descriptive and analytical (specifically reports), relating to them.

In addition, this course fosters the following soft skills:

  • Explanation and summary in German (or other native language) of English texts relating to the business fields mentioned
  • Improved aural/oral skills
  • Improved ability to analyse and understand texts in general
  • Effective university-level study
Attendance requirements

As the course is being held in "Distance mode" this semester, there is no formal attendance requirement. However, you are strongly recommended to join the "Live Sessions" and you must complete at least THREE of the interactive elements (see details below) to be eligible for a grade.

Teaching/learning method(s)

This EBC3 course will consist of a mix of self-study, interactive online activities, and "live sessions" relating to different aspects of the course.

Self-study materials
The self-study materials will be posted every week and are designed to be used alongside the EBC3 Coursebook. These comprise language, comprehension and content exercises to help you understand and be able to discuss business topics pertaining to globalised trade and sustainable business, international market entry, legal English, countertrade and tender, risk in international trade, financial management, and financial markets. They also give you information and instructions about the interactive online activities relevant for that week's unit.

Interactive online activities
During the course you will be invited to participate in a range of interactive online activities, such as creating mini-video presentations, contributing to forum discussions, commenting on each other's contributions, and working together in small groups (2-4 people) on quizzes, written reports and oral discussions. These activities are intended to help build an online community as well as help you go deeper into the material and prepare for the assessments.

Live sessions
There will be 4 live sessions held via MS Teams, where I will give you more information and feedback about the various activities, we engage in live discussions and learning, and you have the opportunity to ask questions in person. The live sessions will take place as follows:
13 October, 13:00-15:00 Introduction & overview
3 November, 13:00-15:00 Orals
17 November, 13:00-15:00 Report writing
12 January, 13:00-15:00 Report feedback & Final Test
These live sessions are voluntary but are strongly recommended to help you understand what you need to do for the main elements of assessment.

Assessment

As EBC3 is a PI course, you must satisfy various criteria in order to pass:

Oral performance (15%): This element includes an oral assessment in which you will need to demonstrate proficiency in spoken English at the level of (or very close to) C1 under the European Framework of Reference, which is defined as follows:

  • Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning.
  • Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
  • Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

In groups of 3-4 people, you will design and conduct a 30-minute discussion on current business topics.This will be held via MS Teams and the times will be arranged during the course to be mutually convenient for all participants.

Written homework (10%): This is practice for the written report in the Final Test. I will inform you about requirements and will set a deadline by which the homework must be submitted in the weekly self-study materials and the relevant live session. You will receive 5 points for timely delivery of an appropriate assignment, and up to 5 additional points for quality.

Online activities (10%): These activities comprise contributions and responses in our online learning environment (mini-video presentations, forums, quizzes). I will inform you about requirements, point allocation and timeframes in the weekly self-study materials. These activities are intended to help foster an interactive environment, keep you motivated and help you gain more knowledge of the content we study and its relevance to society and current affairs.

Written Final Test (65%): The EBC3 Final Test is divided into three sections, corresponding to LOs 2-4 listed above (content, comprehension, communication). The first two consist of short questions of various types (fill-ins; multiple choice; etc) and text-based exercises. In the third section, you will be asked to compose a short report-style text dealing with business concepts discussed in the course. 

In order to pass the course, you must fulfill the following requirements:

 

  • score at least 60% of the overall points total achievable
  • attend regularly, missing no more than a maximum of 3 sessions

NOTE: You can choose freely whether to take the First OR the Second Final Test, but you will not be allowed to retake the exam at the second date if you fail to achieve a total score of at least 60% following the First Final Test.Also, please note that if you choose to sit the Second Final Test and cannot take it then, you will have to repeat the entire PI.

---

Overall grade
Finally, if you satisfy the conditions specified for ALL the individual assessment elements above, you will be given an overall score (OS).

OS under 60%  ->   Grade 5; OS 60-67%     ->   Grade 4; OS 68-75%     ->   Grade 3; OS 76-84%     ->   Grade 2; OS 85-100%    ->   Grade 1

 

Readings
1
Title:

EBC III Coursebook


Year: 2019
Content relevant for class examination: Yes
2 Author: Obenaus, W. / Weidacher, J.:
Title: New Handbook of Business English + Dictionary & User's Guide

Publisher: Linde Verlag
Edition: latest edition
Year: 2006
Recommendation: Essential reading for all students
3 Author: Obenaus, W. / Weidacher, J.:
Title: This Is the Manager Speaking

Publisher: Linde
Edition: 3., aktualisierte Auflage
Year: 2008
Recommendation: Essential reading for all students
Type: Book
4 Author: Mautner, G.:
Title:

Englische Grammatik für die Wirtschaftskommunikation


Publisher: Linde
Edition: 3. Auflage, ANM: die 4. Auflage wird zu Mitte des WS 2020/21 verfügbar sein
Year: 2014
Type: Book
Prerequisites for participation and waiting lists

Bachelor students must have passed EBC2 prior to attending EBC3. Please note that registration via LPIS is required for 'EBC3'.

Registration is effected on a first-come, first-served basis. Any unfilled slots will be filled from waiting lists in accordance with study progress and in cooperation with the Vizerektorat für Lehre und Studierende.

Individual EBC3 instructors are NOT involved in registration and will NOT reply to mails on the subject.

Recommended previous knowledge and skills

In order to take this course you must have passed

  • the course EBC1
  • the course EBC2 (at the latest, at the Exceptional Test before the start of the semester in which you wish to take EBC3)
Availability of lecturer(s)

You can contact your instructor during his/her office hours, immediately before or after class or by mail.

Unit details
Unit Date Contents
1

Globalization

2

Regional Trade Agreements

3

Market Entry

4 Report Writing
5 Legal English
6

Countertrade & Tender Procedures

7 Risks in International Trade
8

Payments in International Trade

9 Financial Management
10

Financial Markets

11

Business This Week

12 Review
Last edited: 2020-09-14



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