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Objective

By the end of the course, the students will be able to
• understand the business terminology common in printed or electronic brochures and independently produce such material,
• use the vocabulary, structures and style required, and communicate effectively through various media suited to the needs of the target group in question,
• discuss current business events both at home and abroad, including issues related to entrepreneurship, regional development, and SMEs,
• plan and implement engaging team-based oral presentations,
• write summaries of current business texts in English,
• retrieve written and online information, and present the information in a professional way, and
• take ownership of and responsibility for topical/thematic team discussions related to business.

Content

The contents of the course include
• versatile texts dealing with business and economy including topics like entrepreneurship, regional development, and SMEs,
• summaries of current texts in English,
• development and reinforcement of the specific English language skills needed in discussing topics such as personal finances and project management, and
• vocabulary, structures, and style in business writing.

Qualifications

This course is suitable for both degree and exchange students. In either case, a proven ability to study and work with others in English is required.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

5 (Excellent), 4 (Very Good), 3 (Good), 2 (Satisfactory), 1 (Sufficient).

5. The student consistently demonstrates the ability to present engaging, well-prepared project materials and ideas in clear and business-like English through a diverse range of communication channels. He/she is reported to be a top performer by other students in the class (both at JUA and at one of JUA’s partner universities, if applicable) through peer evaluations, and meets or exceeds his/her own expected learning goals for the course (as reported in the student’s self-evaluation).

4. The student’s project work is generally of high quality in terms of both written and spoken English, but doesn't necessarily reflect an academically appropriate level of content investigation and/or research. Other students’ evaluations of the student are favorable, and he/she meets his/her own learning goals for the course.

3. The student completes all assigned work and receives mixed, although mostly favorable, evaluations from other students. His/her written and spoken English is understandable, but doesn’t clearly show signs of having studied, practiced, and rehearsed the key business English terminology appropriate to the subjects in question. The student meets his/her own learning goals for all or most of the course.

2. The student completes all of the assigned coursework, but has considerable difficulty understanding and following the lecturer’s instructions (as demonstrated in the form of incorrectly completed work, late assignment submissions, and the like). He/she often demonstrates a lack of preparedness for project presentations, and receives marginal evaluations from other students. The student does not meet his/her own learning goals for most of the course.

1. The student submits assigned coursework late on more than one occasion and clearly and consistently demonstrates significant difficulty understanding and following the lecturer’s instructions. His/her participation in the scheduled course activities is sporadic and/or minimal, and results in the student contacting the lecturer on more than one occasion for information already provided or readily accessible through the course website. The student’s involvement in pair and group work is such that he/she is seen as a liability (as reported in peer evaluations), and he/she does not meet his/her own learning goals for most of the course.

If the student does not meet the minimum criteria set for the course, the grade is 0 (fail).