BUSINESS ENGLISH

This is a course for intermediate levels. Students will study the language used in the realms of economics, current business trends and ethics, related political issues, and intercultural negotiation techniques with in-class simulations.

Students will perfect their oral and comprehension skills through textual analyses, with free comment and spontaneous debates in class, with training in listening and study of intercultural negotiation techniques, role-play exercises and particular attention paid to the development of “cultural intelligence” in international business..

Level B1 or B2 as defined by the CEFR.

Up-to-date articles on current trends in marketing, trade, business ethand related social questions along with matching video material.

Material on Moodle to be prepared before each class.

The written exam consists in an essay answer on the course material, which will consist not only of restitution of the facts studied, but also of personal analysis or commentary. Students having participated in a cross-cultural negotiation role-play are exempt from the oral part of the exam, which will consist in a question on the course material. All others will take the oral.
The responses will be evaluated according to the following criteria : coherence, grammatical fluency and logical structure.
Non-attending students: The syllabus is identical, but non-attending students are strongly encouraged to meet with me for an office hour session, either online or in-person, to allow for appropriate follow-up of their work.

Study of texts for spontaneous discussion and of documentaries for listening comprehension, analysis of socio-economic lexicology, and study of the techniques of intercultural negotiation.
The texts will be drawn from various sources according to events and the desired journalistic quality. Documentaries by renowned specialists and journalists will be projected, with prior lexical study, for comprehension, free comment and spontaneous debate. The videos can also be cited as reference in the elaboration of written work. Some lessons will be devoted to professional writing, describing trends and graphs, and writing thesis abstracts in Economics.
Others will be devoted to the study of current events, intercultural relations and the development of "cultural intelligence".
A study of intercultural commercial negotiation techniques will be included and the organization of group role plays is strongly recommended. Role plays will take place during the final classes for those who choose to do them.

It is strongly advised to attend classes,since language courses require practice and steady attendance, including the “lettorato”. This practice session, held in parallel, is an essential part of course for language work in view of the final exam.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development