SFB51014 Professional Communication I (Autumn 2014)
Facts about the course
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible faculty:
- Avdeling for økonomi, språk og samfunnsfag
- Course Leader:
- Bjørg Hellum
- Teaching language:
- English
- Duration:
- ½ year
Table of contents
The course is affiliated to the following study programme
Mandatory course in Bachelor's Programme in International Communication
Specialisation course in Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration, specialisation: International Communication
Optional course in Bachelor's Programme in Information Science: information systems
Teaching semester
- Bachelor's Programme in International Communication: 1st semester (autumn)
- Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration, specialisation: International communication: 5th semester (autumn)
- Bachelor's Programme in Information Science: information systems: 5th semester (autumn)
Content
The oral part of the course introduces various forms of professional communication, such as informative and persuasive presentations. Professional communication is placed in a cultural context, thus the course also includes examples of modern English-language fiction. Proficiency training is in focus and all the students give presentations in seminars. There are also discussions of fiction, and case studies are performed focusing on argumentation and problem solving.
The written part of the course teaches various forms of written English and relevant terminology. The students are introduced to general text production and linguistic structures, including basic syntactic analysis. Keywords are: text structure, coherence, style and level, and loyalty to the reader. Reference technique and critical use of sources are important elements of the course.
The student's learning outcomes on passing the course
KNOWLEDGE
The candidates are familiar with communication strategies and conventions regarding form and style and have gained knowledge of the structure of the English language and the relationship between grammatical structure and communicative function.
SKILLS
The candidates have developed their written and oral English. They have acquired skills in situations relevant to working life, such as polite conversation, telephone conversations and oral presentations. They have also developed their capability for clear and effective writing.
GENERAL COMPETENCE
The candidates have sound general communicative competence in English and have developed their social and cultural competence.
Teaching and learning methods
Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam
The coursework must be approved before registering for the final exam.
Exam
Portfolio assessment and oral examination
The exam is made up of a portfolio (of about 7 pages) containing a number of individually written, shorter texts, and an individual oral examination lasting approx. 25 minutes. No aids are permitted during the oral examination. Both parts have to be approved for a final pass result. The oral exam may adjust the final result by one step on the A-F grading scale.
In the case of a fail in the portfolio part the student may submit an improved portfolio at the next resit. Both the written and the oral part must be retaken.
If a complaint is filed about the final result, the written part will be reassessed. In the case of a changed result a new oral exam will be arranged in accordance with the exam regulations of Østfold University College (section 18-4).
Course evaluation
Reading list
- Al-Maskari, Khaled (2012). Practical Guide to Business Writing: Writing in English for Non-Native Speakers. Somerset, NJ: Wiley. 170 pages.
- Theobald, Theo (2013). Develop Your Presentation Skills. London: Kogan Page. 170 pages.
- Barker, Alan (2013). Improve Your Communication Skills. London: Kogan Page. 185 pages.
- Further reading will be announced at the beginning of the semester.
- All course material published on the learning platform.