Module QXS-2004:
English for Work and Business 2

Module Facts

Run by School of Arts, Culture and Language

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Miss Debbie Garlick

Overall aims and purpose

The overall aim of this module is to increase a students' English language writing and speaking skills to a level sufficient for confident participation in a business/work environment, so that s/he can use English effectively in writing and presentation in both domains and can also transfer these skills to her/his academic work. The module will also raise awareness of cross-cultural issues within a business/work environment.

Course content

This course is only available to students whose native language is not English.

(QXS2003 can be taken as a pre-course but is not a co-requisite).

Ths course is recommended for all non-native speakers of English who would like to improve their skills in Business English.

The single module course provides practive in the skills required to work or do business effectively in an English-speaking environment. This course focuses on cross-cultural issues, advertising, sales, marketing, interview skills and finding a job as well as job selection procedures. Report writing is also dealt with during this module.

Writing, speaking and listening skills for business are an integral part of the course and the course also covers teamwork, travel and hospitality in addition to meeting and negotiation skills.

The module uses a communicative approach and by the end of the course, students would be expected to be at the level of ALTE Level 4 (Cambridge Advanced English), corresponding to 'Competent User' in the Council of Europe Framework.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

40% A student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of English language competence in business-related fields in coursework and project work relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 6.0). A student is able to conduct adequate research to produce a written project with satisfactory structure, grammar and style. S/he has basic team-building and team-work skills. S/he has a basic awareness of cross-cultural issues in international business and grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing skills are somewhat improved.

good

55% A student has achieved a good standard of English language competence in business-related fields in coursework and project work relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS 6.5). A student is able to conduct good research to produce a well-written project with good structure, grammar and style. S/he has good team-building and team-work skills. S/he has good awareness of cross-cultural issues in international business and grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing skills are noticeably improved.

excellent

70% A student has achieved an exceptional standard of English language competence in business-related fields in coursework and presentation relating to the learning outcomes above (equivalent to IELTS7.0 or above) A student is able to conduct excellent research to produce a very well-written project with very good structure, grammar and style. S/he has very good team-building and team-work skills. S/he has excellent awareness of cross-cultural issues in international business and grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing skills are exceptionally well-developed.

Learning outcomes

  1. On successful completion of the module, a student will:

    1. Have increased competence in the research skills for presentation and project work.

    2. Be able to write effectively with appropriate grammar, style and structure.

    3. Be able to work effectively as part of a team.

    4. Have greater awareness of cross-cultural issues in the business and work environments.

    5. Have developed her/his abilities in speaking, listening, writing, reading, grammar and vocabulary in a business/work context.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Presentation 40.00
Project 50.00
Letter 10.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Seminar

Teaching consists of a two-hour interactive class each week for 12 weeks. Students will be encouraged wo work communicatively and engage in pair, group and team activities. Students are expected to do a substantial amount of work in preparation for and 1 addition to the assessed assignments. The Language Centre in the Main Arts Building and the ELCOS language laboratory/library in Neuadd Reichel will be available to students taking the course.

 100

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
  • Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
  • Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: