The course aims to develop general and operational abilities in English, as well as specific abilities as concerns the topics and specialized terminology contained in the textbook and the other study materials utilized; particular emphasis is placed on students' understanding and communicative abilities. 

We will study objectives, functions, and ways of carrying out English in the specialized context of business-economics-commerce; the communicative environment and the roles of participants will be specified. 

The language level is B2 on the CEFR scale i.e., the upper intermediate level.  

In particular, the Course will address the language of presentation, publicity and marketing, and of economic-business terminology and concepts.  Furthermore present will be aspects of social media and the digital/multimedia world, as well as reflection on the topic of the 'globalization' of languages and communication which have obliged English to function as a lingua franca at the international level.

Note: The final exam of this course is preceded by a mandatory written test; after passing that students may attempt the last, oral, portion.          

                              The  textbook Units that students should study for the ORAL exam are divided according to the two groups present in the School of Economia; some students are taking the course to earn 6  credits, while others will complete more work and study more Units in the textbook to earn 8 credits.

  Amministrazione d'impresa e professione students should study and be ready to discuss the following Units/chapers of the textbook for their final oral examination:  

•    3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14        

No pre-requisite courses are requested before attending this course.

knowledge and understanding :

By the end of the course students will understand and possess vocabulary and skills necessary to present and promote products and speak about economic-business topics if the level concerned is B2 on the CEFR scale. They should be able to converse on topics related to globalization and the internationalization of communication in today's business world.  They should be able to understand spoken and written English if the topics concern economics, business and commercial subjects.

The language level in this course is B2 on the CEFR Council of Europe scale, i.e. an upper-intermediate language level.   

 applying knowledge and understanding

 students will be able to read and understand written and audio materials at the B2 level if the topic is business English, and should be able to answer appropriately.  

 making judgements 

 students will be able to read and understand  and analyze information necessary to understand both the general theme and specific important points in written and audio materials if they concern business topics and are at the B2 level.

 learning skills 

Students will be able to apply language skills and knowledge acquired in previous courses and use them to acquire specialized vocabulary and grammar structures concerning the topics discussed in this Business English course.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The textbook for this  Business English II course is:  Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate edition - Student's Book - BEC edition.  CUP 2013. 

Interested individuals should consider attending the instructor's free Seminars in classrooms at the School of Economics based in Palazzo Battiferri,  to develop their practical, communicative business English skills. Seminars and workshops are offered in both semesters of the academic year.  Master's program students transferring from Languages degree programs are strongly encouraged to take certification exams for Business English to supplement their C.V.s and signal their advanced linguistic skills to the job market. 

Furthermore, please contact the instructor, Catherine Farwell, for a list of the  Business English certification opportunities available through Cambridge Examinations (Cambridge BEC certification).  Students who pass BEC certification exams can obtain university credits that count towards graduation at the Scuola di Economia. Exam sites for the Cambridge BEC Exams are located not far from Urbino (ex: in Pesaro), for example.

Teaching

• Course lectures         In the 2021/2022 academic year classroom lectures will be offered during the First (Autumn/Fall) semester:  from October to December 2021.

• Language skills         Students will practice all language skills: •reading •writing •listening •speaking.  During class activities and additional practice is encouraged through links on Blended Learning.  Consult "the Moodle platform" › blended.uniurb.it;  look for the Business English II Course.  On that page you will find supplementary listening and reading materials as well.

Update: given the health situation with covid-19 it will be possible for students to attend lessons on the UniUrb distance learning platform as well as in person.  Regulations concerning whether lessons are online or available in person will depend on decisions set down by the Italian Ministry for University education; please consult the main university webpage for the most up-to-date information on attendance regulations : www.uniurb.it

Course books

Procure this text:

Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate Vantage - Guy Brook-Hart with David Clark /2nd Edition - BEC Edition) B2 -Cambridge- 2013.

 Free optional text available on the course website, to be used during lessons:   Catherine Farwell's pdf document called 'Dispensa'.

Assessment

Modalità di accertamento

The exam will include all skills. The written paper for 6 credits is composed of: •reading comprehension •listening comprehension •writing -business communication

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students are expected to purchase the textbooks that appear above and prepare for the Written and Oral portions of the course exam via self study. 

Attendance

Non-attending students must contact the lecturer directly, in good time before they take the course exam: catherine.farwell@uniurb.it

Course books

 Please see the 'Attending students' section; the information there pertains to non-attending students as well.

Assessment

Please see the 'Attending students' section; the information there pertains to non-attending students as well.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

As stated above: through seminars and workshops offered by Catherine Farwell, it will be possible to prepare for a Cambridge BEC exam free of charge; however - to actually take the BEC exam -students will have to register and pay to take a Cambridge BEC exam at one of the private exam centers in locations near Urbino (e.g. Pesaro).    UniUrb students  who prepare with Catherine Farwell will be able to benefit from the university student discount with Cambridge Exams (known as the CRUI fee).