LFU:online

By the end of this course, students will have developed four key business communication skills in English: managing personal learning and working strategies, data collection and analysis, effective teamwork and information transfer

Managing personal learning and working strategies involves goal setting, progress review, language learning techniques and effective academic writing, while data analysis concerns the collection and interpretation of business and economic data. Teamwork includes joint information processing and analysis, while information transfer offers the opportunity to develop effective PowerPoint, Prezi and Prezi Video skills as well as writing for peers and a wider audience. All skills development work is done using subject matter from the worlds of business and academia.

At the beginning of the course, each student is required to evaluate their own skills in business English and to set personal goals and learning strategies for the semester. After approximately seven weeks, they will discuss their progress in a personal feedback session and adapt their strategies if necessary. They will record their reflections on their work in a progress report at the end of the course.

During the semester, teamwork will be concerned with current business and political issues. Specialist newspapers, academic journals and publications as well as other online material will be used. By working with these, students have the opportunity to formulate arguments and to express their own views, along with representing and defending team conclusions.

Teamwork will take place in two settings. In the classroom participants will develop their confidence by speaking to increasingly larger and varied groups, while at the same time constantly improving their precision. Online, we will use BigBlueButton for whole class activities, with group and pair work being done in breakout rooms. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to schedule their own Skype teamwork, which they will film and post in their private OLAT journal. Academic writing exercises will also be posted here and regular personal feedback will be given. Weekly writing will also take place in the course OLAT discussion board.

This is based on continuous assessment of participation and progress both in the classroom and online, along with several written assignments and presentations, as well as weekly participation in the OLAT discussion board. At the end of the semester, students give a final presentation in which they are expected to demonstrate the skills they have developed during the course.

Course materials and links to background reading will be made available over OLAT

Prerequisite: see general admission requirements for Level I

The course will be held both in the classroom and online. Precise dates will be announced on OLAT, so it is important for participants to check here as soon as they have been allocated a module.