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.

The curricular content of this course will focus on the main topics and skills concerning presentation, advertising and economic-business terminology and concepts.

Other topics will include digital/multimedia language and contexts, and the globalization of language and communication; the aforesaid have made English necessary as a lingua franca international communication/business.

There is a mandatory written test in this course; students who pass the written test may register online (via a program entitled Esse3) to take the oral exam.  When students pass the oral exam they have completed the entire amount of work required to pass the PASS/FAIL course.

                                      The  textbook Units that students should study for the ORAL exam are divided according to the two groups present in the School of Economia: students who are following the course to earn 6 credits, or 8 credits:  

• Students attending to earn 8 credits (in Italian: 8 cfu)  should study the following chapters/Units of the textbook Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate:   3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20.

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 the chapters of the textbook contained in their study program, as well as 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

 Please contact the instructor for a list of the seminars and Business English certification opportunities available through Cambridge Examinations (the U. of Urbino offers free preparation for Cambridge BEC Exams but students must register and pay to take exams at authorized private Cambridge English centres located in nearby cities such as Pesaro).

The learning materials organized by the instructor to supplement the official course textbook (for example slides, topic-based exercises called Dispense in Italy, other exercises and a bibliography) and the instructor's Announcements - called Avvisi in Italian - are published on the Blended Learning Moodle platform > blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

In the academic year 2021/2022 lectures will be offered in the First Semester/ the Autumn-Fall semester

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 as well as additional listening and reading materials.

Update: given the health situation with covid-19 it will be possible for students to attend lessons on the UniUrb distance learning platform,

i.e. "the Moodle platform" › blended.uniurb.it;  look for the Business English II Course.

Attendance

Attendance at lessons is not obligatory in this course; however it it a good idea to follow lectures.

Course books

Procure this text:

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

 Optional text for business letters: John Taylor, Elisabetta Zazzeroni, "Mailing -an introduction to Internet business writing" - ARAS Edizioni - Fano - febbraio 2014

 Optional text available on the course website, to be used during lessons:   Catherine Farwell's presentation called 'Dispensa'

Assessment

Evaluation of Learning 

The exam will include all skills. There is a mandatory written paper for 8 credits consisting in exercises testing the following skills: •reading comprehension • a grammar-structure exercise - listening comprehension •business writing (an email, note, report or business letter). 

Note that the written paper for 8 credits has extra vocabulary and grammar questions not contained in the 6-credit written paper.

• Passing the written test is a prerequisite to taking the final  oral portion of the evaluation process.  Once students pass the written test, their pass mark is held for 1 year.  On any exam date thereafter students may take the oral exam.   Upon written request it is possible to take both the written and the oral portions on the same exam day ; however  students should request permission to do so by email - ahead of time please.  
• Oral exam - final portion of the course evaluation process: students will discuss  with the instructor the required Units of the couse textbook:  Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate Vantage - Student's book.  Students attending to earn 8 credits (in Italian: 8 cfu)  should study the following chapters/Units of the textbook Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate:   3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20.

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  (in the textbook list for attendees), 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 and  before they take the course  written text and oral examination: (email address of the instructor)  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.