ØASPR2200 Professional English: Course B Course description

The main purpose of the course is to improve the students' ability to communicate in English both in writing and orally in a professional context. The course is cross-curricular since a large part of the syllabus is related to subjects within business and economics. It will prepare the students to deal with real situations in the business world.

Exam in English from upper secondary school or equivalent knowledge of English. A large part of the syllabus is related to subjects within business and economics.

No prerequisites.

Knowledge

The student

• has a wide vocabulary in economic/administrative English
• knows the main oral and written genres of business communication
• knows the main points of grammar necessary for correct and idiomatic usage of the English language
• has knowledge of various cross-curricular business topics
• has knowledge of several issues in British society
• is familiar with some works of fiction in English

Skills

The student

• can write professional English
• can speak fluently about several business topics and various aspects of society and culture in English
• can deal with professional situations in the business world
• can understand spoken and written English used in a business context
• can use professional vocabulary in oral and written contexts
• is able to discuss, analyse and reflect on various issues in English
• has developed his/her practical problem-solving skills

Competence

The student

• has developed his/her communicative competence in English, which includes linguistic, intercultural and strategic competencies
• can function well in most professional situations internationally
• can apply his/her skills and knowledge of business English
• can understand English language curricula and lectures in other subjects better

The teaching consists of about 55 periods.

In addition to lectures there are case studies, group work, assignment review, discussions, student presentations, and written assignments. Regular attendance and active participation in classroom activities are expected. Independent study is required.

The following assignments are obligatory:

- One short (300-500 words) written assignment based on one of the cases (attendance is mandatory for the case the student writes about)

- An essay, approximately 500 words, on an assigned topic

- An individual 7-minute oral presentation

Feedback will be given on all assignments. The essay must adhere to the rules established in -Mal for oppgaveskriving ved SAM- (available on the SAM home pages). In order to take the final exam, all obligatory assignments must be approved by the instructor. Students will be given the opportunity to re-submit obligatory assignments that have not been approved. If assignments are not approved after re-submission(s), students will not be allowed to take the exam.

An individual written and oral exam will be held at the end of the spring semester. The student gets two separate grades, one for the written and one for the oral exam, and the exams can be taken again separately. The written exam counts 53% of the final grade and the oral exam counts 47%.

Written exam (5 hours) consisting of three parts:

• a Norwegian-English translation and vocabulary exercise
• a text for comprehension and analysis, and questions from the syllabus in English for Business Studies
• an essay on a topic from British society

Oral exam (20 minutes) consisting of:

• presentation of a topic from British society
• discussion/reflection on one of the cases, a work of fiction or selected texts called 'British Perspectives'.

Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

A list of reference aids allowed will be published on our website.

Letter grading A-F.

In addition to the course instructor, an external or internal examiner will be used for all the exams. The exam questions will be approved by an external examiner.