Oral business communication techniques in English (Part 1)

Teacher(s)

De Cock Sylvie;

Language

English

Prerequisites

B2 level of listening and reading, B2 level of speaking (Common European Framework of Reference)

Main themes

This course introduces the general principles of oralcommunication, particularly the linguistic, sociolinguistic, pragmatic and cultural aspects of interaction. Special attention will be paid to specific characteristics of communication in the English-speaking world.
After an introduction to oral communication in general and oral communication within an organisation, the course discusses a number of techniques which should be implemented in oral communication activities specific to a company: networking/socialising, presentations to varied audiences and job interviews. The course also deals with communication in times of change and certain gender-related aspects of communication.
Exercises accompanying the course will allow students to simulate active participation in a variety of professional situations. The students are given individual and detailed feedback on these simulations.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the general principles of communication in an English-speaking business environment and in a globalised world and they should at least have reached a B2+ oral level (Common European Framework of Reference) in English.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

This course introduces the general principles of oral communication and particularly the linguistic, sociolinguistic, pragmatic and cultural aspects of interaction. Special attention will be paid to specific characteristics of oral communication in the English-speaking world.

Teaching methods

Lectures and exercise sessions in small groups (e.g. simulations, vocabulary exercises)

Evaluation methods

FIAL students : continuous assessment throughout the term (projects and active participation in the lectures), which accounts for 50% of the final mark for the course. 
Students who have to resit the exam (September session) need to redo two of the projects if they did not get 12/20 for that part of the course.
Non-FIAL students : continuous assessment throughout the term (projects and active participation in the lectures), which accounts for 30% of the final mark for the course, and an oral exam in January (during the exam session), which accounts for 20% of the final mark.
Students who have to resit the exam (September session) need to redo two of the projects and the oral exam (during the session) if they did not get 12/20 for that part of the course.
Exercise sessions : continuous assessment throughout the year (active participation in the sessions, personal projects, simulations in a variety of professional situations, etc.), which accounts for 50% of the final mark for the course. The marks for continuous evaluation are distributed as follows: "Presentation": 20%; "Job interview": 15%; vocabulary tests, active participation , homework: 15%. Not doing, or seriously failing one of these tasks may result in an overall fail in continuous assessment. Students who have to resit the exam (September session) need to redo two activities (namely 'presentation' and 'job interviews)' as well as the vocabulary tests.

Other information

Part 2 (15 hours) of the course is given by the Institut des Langues Vivantes (ILV).

Online resources

Moodle

Teaching materials

• Articles, course notes, documents, slides available on Moodle

Faculty or entity

MULT