• Module coordinator: Mrs. Vanessa Geers
• Language: English
• ECTS credits: 3

Course objectives

The English course for EBS students seeks to:

• activate the students’ active and passive mastery of a wide range of (business) terms and collocations
• approach grammar in a holistic way and encourage students to discover and understand linguistic patterns at a textual level

• improve the students’ skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing in order to promote linguistic fluency and confidence
• practise specific business skills (chair a meeting, deal with complaints, etc.)

Needless to say that a good knowledge of English is essential for international business communication and for economic research. Students will therefore be stimulated to work on tasks and do some research independently. We will encounter a number of business-related skills (chairing meetings, presenting new ideas, writing an e-mail, teleconferencing) but also more general skills (visiting a colleague’s home, making conversation).

We will work through lexical exercises and simulations in order to consolidate new vocabulary and new skills.

Teaching method

The course will be taught in small groups, allowing students to participate actively. Sometimes students will have to work on a more project-based approach. Generally, students will have to work through lexical, grammatical and communicative exercises and tasks either individually or in teams. There will be a strong focus on the acquisition and application of problem-solving skills. Business lexis and themes will mostly come from the Profile 2 Course book and the cases. The students will be required to do some tasks out of class.

Assessment

• 40% on permanent evaluation
• 60% on the exam (written and oral)

Course material

Jon Naunton (2005) Profile 2 Student’s Book, Oxford University Press