BUSINESS ENGLISH I

Course code HUM 102

Course title Business English I
Type of the course Compulsory
Year of study 1st
Semester Autumn
ECTS 6; 48 hours of practice, 112 hours of self-study, 2 hours of
consultations
Coordinating lecturer Lilija Vilkanciene, senior lecturer
Study form Daytime/Fulltime
Course prerequisites None
Language of instruction English

Annotation
Speaking a language that is understood by decision makers is critical for success in business and business studies. The
primary goal of the Business English I course is to provide instruction and practice in oral and written English using
business-related topics as its content base. The course also aims at developing students’ speaking, listening, reading
and writing skills for academic purposes. The course is designed to develop students’ self-study skills and learner
independence.

Aims
The course aims to:
 build business vocabulary;
 practice speaking while successfully using sophisticated professional terminology;
 develop reading of authentic material skills for general understanding as well as for detail;
 improve students’ listening, reading, writing and critical thinking skills for academic and professional
success;
 expand interpersonal, academic and language abilities necessary to succeed in a university environment;
 develop effective presentation skills;
 develop creative problem solving and successful participation in meetings skills;
 enhance writing for business purposes skills.

Learning outcomes Teaching and learning methods Evaluation methods

LO 1. Students will be able to read/listen to and
understand authentic texts related to their
studies for general idea and for detail.
LO 2. Students will be able to derive
vocabulary meaning from context; develop
vocabulary building skills and acquire sufficient
vocabulary in the topic areas defined in the
course outline.
LO 3. Students will develop business
communication skills in key performance areas
such as exchanging information, discussing
and presenting business issues.
LO 4. Students will be able to write summaries
and take notes.
Class assignments, individual work
(articles from business journals and
newspapers, and texts written for
second language learners).
Class assignments, homework
exercises (articles from business
journals and newspapers, and texts
and exercises for second language
learners).
Class assignments, role-plays and
simulations of meetings.
Class assignments and individual
homework.
Performance, involvement and
participation in class, progress
test, examination;
Performance, involvement and
participation in class, progress
test, examination;
Case studies, role-plays, class
and homework group
assignments.
Class and homework written
assignments, examination.

LO 5. The learners will be able to give Individual and group presentations. Assessed individual and group
successful presentations, participate in presentations, role-plays .
meetings, and discussions, enhance team
working skills.

Quality management
The quality of the course is assured by the variety of teaching and learning methods, interim knowledge assessment
through mini tests, continuous discussions of individual and group work, other assignment results, as well as by supply of
learning materials to students.

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Cheating prevention
Individual oral and written assignments and presentations; individual tasks. Tests administered with the assistance of
doctoral students and /or administrative staff.
Required Readings
1. Emmerson, P. (2007). Business English Handbook. Advanced. Macmillan
2. McKeonwn A. (2011). Professional English in Use. Management. CUP.
3. MacKenzie I. (2012). Financial English. Second Edition. Heinle, Cengage Learning
4. Mascull B.(2017). Business Vocabulary in Use. 3rd edition. Advanced. CUP
5. Powell, M. (2010). Dynamic Presentations. CUP
Course syllabus:
CLASS HOURS
WEEK TOPIC READINGS
Lecture Practice
WEEK 1 Course Introduction.
Discussing course goals, objectives and requirements; M.Powell Dynamic
principles of assessment. General business vocabulary. Presentations.
4 M.Powell Presenting in
Developing presentation skills (1) English.
Effective opening and closing. Rapport building and
impact techniques. Body language.
WEEK 2 Presentation skills (2) M.Powell Dynamic
Informative and persuasive speech. Presentations.
Good presentations: content, structure (opening and 4 M.Powell Presenting in
closing, smooth structure), preparation, and language. English.
TED talks
WEEK 3 Presentation skills (3) M.Powell Dynamic
Presentations.
Practicing persuasive presentations. M.Powell Presenting in
4
English.
Visual aids; preparing slides for presentations; Q and A TED talks

WEEK 4 Sectors of the Economy. Industries and Companies

Industry groups, types of business, legal status, P.Emmerson, Unit 1,
responsibilities. Mac Kenzie 2.11, 2.12
4
Types of businesses McKeonwn A. Units 34
Informative presentations. Giving and receiving
feedback.
WEEK 5 Corporate strategy and structure. Strategy and P.Emmerson, Unit 3,
planning, company structure, centralisation vs
decentralisation.
Facts and figures: building the vocabulary of trends MacKenzie I., p.7
4
Describing graphs and charts; discussing trends and
tendencies; writing thousands and decimals.

WEEK 6 Course review.

4
Progress test. Topics weeks 1-5.

WEEK 7 Presenting group projects (Presentations) Internet/Library

research
4
Topics and groups to be confirmed

WEEK 8 Marketing and advertising. Mascull B., Units 23,

Key marketing concepts. The 4Ps and the four Cs. 4 24, 28, 29.
Global brands, products and brands Times 100 cases

WEEK 9 Entrepreneurship. Business plan and executive

summary.
Venture capital McKeonwn A. Units 32
Ways of financing a new business. Introduction to basic 4
financial vocabulary. Start-ups; Angel investors; VC,
IPO.
Debating marketing issues
WEEK 10 Accounting and financial statements Mascull B.,Units 39,
The anatomy of an annual report. Three main financial 4 40, 41, 42, 43.
statements. Discussing a company’s financial results.

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 WEEK 11 Financial markets P.Emmerson. Unit 10
Securities (stocks, bonds, money markets)
4
Financial institutions (banks and funds) McKeonwn A. Units
Ethical investment. 31,35
WEEK 12 Individual/ pair presentations, assessed. Internet/Library
Based on individual reading and research 4 research
(HBR, research articles)
Consultations 2
Total: 48 + 2

As an instructor, I reserve the right to adjust the schedule according to the class progress. If any changes
should occur, students will be notified in class.
Self-study and assessment
Final mark composition Number of self-study hours Percentage of the total grade (%)
Presentation 1 (group) 20 10
Presentation 2 (individual) 20 20
Debates 10 10
Progress test 20 20
Examination 30 30
Pop-out tests (2) 5+5
Total 100 100

Course Assignments
1. Progress test. Progress test weighs 20% of the final mark. It includes topics covered during the weeks before the test
and might contain listening, vocabulary, language use, reading and/or short writing items.
2. Pop-out tests. They are short tests given to check students’ progress and are given without prior warning.
3. Presentations. One individual (20%) and one group (20%) presentation are assessed during the term. Assessment
criteria include: structure, use of active vocabulary, signposting language, and grammar accuracy.
4. Debates. Academic debates focusing on one of the topics covered during the course will be assessed during the
course.
5. Examination is given at the end of the semester and weighs 30 % of the final mark. The examination consists of a
written test including listening, reading, writing, and vocabulary and language use sections, and covers the topics
covered after the progress test.
6. Re-take examination is taken by the students who do not get a “pass” mark at the end of the course. It is a test on the
topics of the whole course and “weighs” 50% of the mark, plus presentations, case studies and other assignment marks.
Note: students are not allowed to make up for any course assignments after the deadline.

Attendance
It is a student’s responsibility to find out what they have missed if they were absent from lectures. Being absent does not
excuse students from tests or task on the day they return. Attendance (100%) may contribute as bonus points to the
exam mark.

Supplementary readings:
1. MacKenzie, I. (2010). English for Business Studies. CUP
2. Powell,M. (2011) Presenting in English. Heinle, Cengage Learning.
3. O.Newman O. (2013, 2009). Communicating in Business. South-western, Cengage Learning.
4. Oxford Business English Dictionary (2006). OUP
5. Harvard Business Review (2015-2019)
6. The Economist (2015-2019)
7. TED talks. www.ted.com.

AUTUMN SEMESTER, 2019