English C1/C2: Business English

This course is an ideal next step for students who have completed C1 level of English at VMU and will soon need to use English in their day-to-day work. The course consists of direct instruction and other organized activities and is designed around an ongoing, integrated business simulation, which presents everyday challenges for the motivated business person in the fields of intercultural communication and social activities, organizational behaviour, human resources management, financial management, marketing, etc. The course is based on the plurilingual approach. A blended learning format is applied (lectures, work in the Moodle virtual environment, independent work) along with various active study methods (group and pair work, discussions, text analysis, listening to audio recordings, role-plays etc.).

To develop business English general competences, communicative language competences (linguistic (grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, orthography), sociolinguistic and pragmatic and communicative language activities: production, interaction and mediation (oral and written) at the advanced level (C1/C2).

Good English language skills at B2 or C1 level.

Topics for developing linguistic communicative competence: 1. Careers 2. Change 3. Teamwork 4. Performance 5. Resources 6. Leadership Linguistic topics: 1.Formulation of questions; 2.Combination of clauses, conjunctions, correction of spelling and punctuation errors; 3.Use of present tenses in business context; 4.Passive voice; retelling of events / use of past tenses; 5.Use of prefixes / word formation; 6.Prediction of events / use of future tenses; 7.Indirect speech; 8.suffixes; 9.Word formation; Academic topics: 1.Differences between summarizing and paraphrasing, 2.Basics of research paper writing: theory and practice, differences between academic and general language.

1. A student properly applies the principles of business English communication. 2. A student recognizes the peculiarities of business communication in different cultures. 3. A student uses special business terminology in practice. 4. A student writes a business letter, a memorandum, prepares an invoice and other business documents. 5. A student correctly identifies features of constructive negotiations, objectively evaluates the effectiveness of negotiations, and selects appropriate methods of negotiations. 6. A student independently (or in collaboration with group members) prepares and gives a presentation. 7. A student properly applies the basic principles of leadership and management in practical activities.