Linguistic Center
| Course Code and Title: Business English 1 (Pre-Intermediate) Course Credits: 3 Semester: Fall 2016 Time and Place of the Lecture: Tuesday at 10.00 – 10.50. Room 522 Thursday at 9.00 – 10.50. Room 521 Instructor: Mukumbek Marzhan Maratovna Office: 319 Office phone: E-mail: marzhan.mukumbek@narxoz.kz |
Course Prerequisites: Undergraduate Foundation English A2 (high)
This Course is a Prerequisite for: Business English 2 (Pre-Intermediate)
Course description
The Business English 1 (Pre-Intermediate) course is a 3-credit course designed for third-year students whose native language is other than English. The aim of the course is to help students improve their written and spoken business communication skills. The course focuses on level-appropriate grammar, introduces vocabulary specific to various business domains, and familiarizes students with the finer points of business etiquette and business correspondence. During the course students continue to develop their language skills preparing and delivering group presentations; participating in-group discussions on business topics; listening to authentic business materials; reading authentic business texts and articles; and writing business documents. It is a fifteen-week course with 45 contact hours and 75 hours for independent learning.
Learning objectives
In the course students will learn to
- grasp the main ideas and details of spoken and written business texts of various lengths on familiar and unfamiliar topics tolerably well
- select and apply grammar structures and business vocabulary appropriate to the level
- prepare and hold group presentations on various business topics covered within the course
- write different business documents (CV, cover letter, etc.).
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to
- comprehend authentic business texts and audio materials on various topics
- utilize appropriate grammar structures and business vocabulary learnt during the course
- deliver presentations on different business topics in small groups of 2-3 students
- compose business documents.
Assessment scheme
The students will be assessed on the following:
Assessment 1* Assessment 2*
| Continuous assessment 1 | |
| Coursework | 40% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Attendance | 10% |
| 60% | |
| Summative assessment 1 | |
| Listening | 20% |
| Reading | 20% |
| 40% | |
| Total | 100% |
| Continuous assessment 2 | |
| Coursework | 40% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Attendance | 10% |
| 60% | |
| Summative assessment 2 | |
| Writing | 20% |
| Speaking | 20% |
| 40% | |
| Total | 100% |
*- the total score for Assessment 1 is put in on week 8, the total score for Assessment 2 is put in on week 15.
Coursework includes:
- listening to authentic business news and audio materials appropriate to the level and relevant to the course topics, identifying core ideas/details and completing comprehension tasks
- reading authentic business texts and articles related to the course topics and fulfilling comprehension tasks
- writing business documents (CV, cover letter, etc.)
- preparing and delivering group presentations on various business topics discussed during the course
- participating in group discussions on different business topics
- writing short vocabulary tests/quizzes.
Summative assessment 1 includes:
Listening. Students listen to a business English audio and respond to comprehension questions (multiple choice, True/False, open-ended questions).
Reading. Students read1-2 authentic business texts and fulfill related tasks (multiple choice, True/False, open-ended questions).
Summative assessment 2 includes:
Writing. Students write a business document (a cover letter, a report, etc) on a given business topic.
Speaking. Students prepare a group power point presentation on one of the topics discussed within the course.
Final test includes:
Listening. Students listen to a business English audio and respond to comprehension questions (multiple choice, True/False, open-ended questions).
Reading. Students read1-2 authentic business texts and fulfill related tasks (multiple choice, True/False, open-ended questions).
Writing. Students choose from 2-3 course topics and write a business document (a cover letter, a report, etc) following a proper organization and using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
Grading scale
The Business English 1 course is 3-credit course. To pass the course, students must receive at least 50 out of 100 points for the assessments 1 and 2 and at least 50 out of 100 points for the final exam. If a student does not get at least 50 out of 100 points for the assessments 1 and 2, s/he will not be allowed to partake in the final exam. If a student receives 90 or more points out of 100 for the assessments 1 and 2, s/he is allowed not to participate in the final exam.
| Letter Grade | Grade Point Value | Percentage | Grade Definition |
| A | 4,0 | 95-100 | Excellent- passing |
| A- | 3,67 | 90-94 | |
| B+ | 3,33 | 85-89 | Good- passing |
| B | 3,0 | 80-84 | |
| B- | 2,67 | 75-79 | |
| C+ | 2,33 | 70-74 | Satisfactory- passing |
| C | 2,0 | 65-69 | |
| C- | 1,67 | 60-64 | |
| D+ | 1,33 | 55-59 | Barely passing- passing |
| D | 1,0 | 50-54 | |
| F | 0-49 | Unsatisfactory- failing |
Course policies
Group change
- Students are allowed to change a group with the approval of the ESP coordinator. In two weeks after the beginning of the course no group changes are permitted.
Attendance policy
- Students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all assignments. Otherwise, they lose an opportunity to gain the full benefit of the course. Instructors are expected to provide notice of the dates on which major exams will be given and assignments will be due on the course syllabus, which must be made available within the first week of classes.
Students are required to be on time for all classes. If students arrive later than 15 minutes after the start of the class, instructors have the right to refuse entry. This includes attendance at final exams and summative assessments 1 and 2.
Excused Absences
The student is responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to the instructor to substantiate the reason for absence. Among the reasons absences are considered excused by the instructor are the following:
- Participation in university-related activities.
- Death or serious illness in a student’s immediate family.
- Injury or Illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class.
- Unavoidable circumstance.
If the absence is excused, the instructor must either provide the student an opportunity to make up any quiz, exam or other work that contributes to the final grade or provide a satisfactory alternative by a date agreed upon by the student and instructor.
The instructor is under no obligation to provide an opportunity for the student to make up work missed because of an unexcused absence.
Participation
Participation is an essential part of course work. It does not merely mean coming to class; it involves preparing beforehand and playing an active role in class discussion.
Participation Evaluation Rubric
| 10 % | The student always contributes actively and positively in class and works well with classmates. Class and home assignments (100%) are always completed on time. Overall, the student displays an excellent attitude, i.e. the student shows an interest, enthusiasm, and a willingness to participate. |
| 8 % | The student is nearly always active and positive in class contributing well most of the time. 90-85 % of class and home assignments are completed on time. |
| 6 % | The student shows a reasonable attitude in class, i.e. the student shows some interest and willingness to participate. Sometimes class and home assignments (70-80%) are not completed or submitted on time. |
| 4 % | The student participates passively and does not cooperate in group activities. Class and home assignments (50-60%) are seldom done or submitted on time. |
| 2 % | The student’s contribution is rarely adequate. The student lacks an interest or a willingness to participate. Class and home assignments are seldom (30-40%) done on time. |
| 0 % | The student’s participation cannot be judged properly due to total or almost total lack of involvement or attendance. Class and home assignments are never done on time. |
Within the first week of classes the instructor is responsible for informing students of the attendance policy and participation as well as their effect on learners’ performance.
