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The course is focused on practical skills in business English with a focus on formal knowledge and language skills. The aim is to get acquainted with the functioning of the company and to gain knowledge of business communication. Emphasis is put on carefulness, correct form, language acceptance, and factual accuracy.

UPDATED SCHEDULE: units 1-6 are to be checked on 8 Dec, units 7-13 on 22 Dec. Please do the tasks in written so that we can discuss them properly. As for the presentations, as suggested before, they are going to take place in Jan.

Summary of the study text:

The study text provides a short overview of various topics connected to the business English area. It deals with the practical language and formal aspects of selected topics. Each chapter concentrates on the basic vocabulary of communication in companies, both oral and written. The focus is put on clear, understandable, and diplomatic ways of communication as well as correct formal and grammatical expressions.

The study text is divided into thirteen chapters that deal with particular topics to teach students how to behave during a job interview, company meetings, and negotiations. Each chapter provides a list of useful vocabulary of the particular topic to help students express themselves clearly and confidentially in various situations they can appear in. The study text leads students through the process of applying for a job, writing a CV, writing formal correspondence, and creating and presenting a presentation.

The grammatical parts cover the most common grammatical features that are necessary for fluent written and spoken communication. Each chapter includes links to grammar theory which can be practised in interactive exercises on Moodle. Students should thus obtain sufficient knowledge to improve their language skills in reading, writing, and speaking. Extra materials and external links provide further information and examples of particular topics.

The aim of this course is to help students with their spoken and written English, improve their communication skills as well as skills for their future occupation.

 Syllabus:

1. Introduction to Business 

2. Business Organizations and Company Structures 

3. Business Etiquette 

4. Recruitment

5. Writing CV and Letter of Application 

6. Job Interviews 

7. Money Matters 

8. Correspondence 

9. Telephoning 

10. Giving a Successful Presentation 

11. Meetings 

12. Negotiations 

13. Production and Advertising  

Literature:

ALLISON, John, Paul EMMERSON a Antoinette MEEHAN. The Business 2.0: B1+ Intermediate. Oxford: Macmillan, 2013. ISBN 9780230437883.

BADGER, Ian. Everyday Business English. Harlow: Longman, 2003. English for Work. ISBN 0582539579.

MASCULL, Bill. Business Vocabulary in Use: Intermediate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Cambridge Professional English. ISBN 0521775299.

ASHLEY, A. Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN 0194572137

PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT:

Invent your own imaginary company/e-shop and describe its organizational structure:

1.      What is your company called?

2.      What does it do?

3.      What kind of public image do you have?

4.      How many people do you employ?

5.      Where are your headquarters?

6.      Do you have offices in other countries? If so, where?

7.     What are your most promising products?

8.     Are there any foreseen problems and how can you deal with them?

9.    Who is your target group? What sort of potential customers do you aim at?

The presentation in pairs will take the form of a colloquium and will take place in the exam period (supposedly in January).