UCL - Oral business communication techniques in French

[ROM2660]

[22.5h + 22.5h] 6 credits

This two-yearly course is taught in 2008-2009, 2010-2011,...

Teacher(s):

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

At the end of the course, the students should be able to
- analyse and apply the general principles of oral communication in an English-speaking business environment;
-understand the effect of oral communication on business life (including in a multilingual business environment): business identity management, business contacts, image management, etc.
- understand and establish a framework for developing oral business communication activities (self-training and training of French-speaking and non-French speaking colleagues ).

Main themes

This course introduces different aspects of oral business communication : job interviews, evaluation meetings, meeting clients and suppliers, reception, telephone conversations, presentations to varied audiences, internal and external meetings, commercial negotiations.
For each situation, three points will be tackled:
- linguistic characteristics (discourse and conversation analysis)
- sociolinguistic effects (study of individual and group identity)
- techniques to improve communication skills in specific situations (for oneself and for colleagues).
Exercises accompanying the course enable students to develop his/her ability to analyse oral business communication in French , to improve specific oral business communication skills (reach a minimum of B2+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference) and to establish a framework to increase this knowledge.

Content and teaching methods

The following themes will be discussed: linguistic, sociolinguistic and didactic approach of oral business communication. Different communication activities will be tackled: job interviews, evaluation meetings, meetings with clients and suppliers, reception, telephone conversations, presentations to varied audiences, internal meetings, external meetings, negotiations.
The method used combines theoretical presentations and case studies.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisite: B1+ level in reading and listening comprehension in French (Common European Framework of Reference)
Evaluation: Oral examination on a given professional situation.

French-speaking students: Part 2 (15 hours) will be given by the Department of French studies.
Non French-speaking students: Part 2 (30 hours) of the course will be given by the Institut des Langues Vivantes (ILV).