Syllabus

Title
0424 Fremdsprachliche Wirtschaftskommunikation III - Englisch
Instructors
Mag. Barbara Filzmoser
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/28/21 to 10/01/21
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Monday 10/11/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM D2.0.326
Monday 10/18/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM D2.0.326
Monday 10/25/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM D2.0.326
Monday 11/08/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM D2.0.326
Monday 11/15/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM D2.0.326
Monday 11/22/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 11/29/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/06/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/13/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 12/20/21 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 01/10/22 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 01/17/22 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM Online-Einheit
Monday 01/24/22 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM Ort nach Ankündigung
Contents
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 with all PI courses, attendance is a requirement to pass EBC3. As a special concession, you may miss up to three meetings of your LV. However, if you miss a fourth, you will no longer be able to pass the course. This condition applies whatever the reasons for your absences may have been.

Please note that this attendance requirement will also apply if it is necessary to return to online teaching.

If possible under WU regulations at the time, classes will generally be held in person & on campus. Individual sessions may be held online (to be announced ahead of time), but no session will be offered simultaneously in person and online.

Teaching/learning method(s)

This EBC3 course will consist of a mix of self-study, interactive online activities, live/on-campus classes relating to different aspects of the course.

In the first 7 sessions, we will focus on the keywords and content topics and discuss the orals and report writing.

The final 6 sessions will comprise 4 presentation sessions and 2 content review sessions focusing on preparation for the Final Test. The orals will be held during the presentation sessions and students not presenting will be required to listen actively, ask questions and give feedback. Additionally, there will be some self-study materials covering the content units from the Coursebook. In the review sessions, we will revise and discuss more complex and/or key topics from the self-study units as well as the structure and details of the Final Test.

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 activities
During the course you will be invited to participate in a range of synchronous and asynchronous interactive activities, such as creating mini-video presentations, commenting on each other's contributions, and working together in small groups (2-4 people) on writing tasks. 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/on-campus sessions
The live/on-campus sessions will be held during the scheduled class time and will have a content and/or language focus, depending on the relevant unit. EBC3 is currently scheduled to take place on campus but this may change depending on developments with Covid-19 and the government regulations. Please keep checking your WU email, MS Teams and the notices (Ankündigungen) on LEARN for up-to-date information.

Please note that the attendance requirement refers to these sessions, and will be upheld regardless of whether we have class online or on campus.

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 conduct a discussion on current business topics.

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. You will receive 5 points for timely delivery of an appropriate assignment, and up to 5 additional points for quality.

Participation in on-campus classes and online tasks (10%): You are invited to take an active part in the live online sessions or in on-campus classes, i.e. to contribute actively to the various activities and online tasks. I will inform you about requirements, point allocation and timeframes in our first class.

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 (e.g. gap fills, short answer tasks, multiple choice etc.) and text-based exercises. In the third section, you will be asked to compose a 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
  • not miss more than 3 sessions in live online sessions or in on-campus classes and complete the Final Test

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.

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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

 

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.

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, Gerlinde / Ross, Christopher
Title:

Englische Grammatik für Studium und Beruf. Verstehen - Üben - Anwenden.


Publisher: Linde
Year: 2021
Type: Book
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: 2021-07-15



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