Business Communication 1 (EBA1001), 4 op

Basic information

Prerequisites

As this course is not a language course as such, exchange students will require a good knowledge of English.

Course contents (core content level)

The course introduces students to the importance of effective communication in a business context. Students will be given opportunities to develop their professional and interpersonal communication skills both orally and in writing. The main focus of the course and methodology is combining theory with practice in the classroom for both oral and written business communication. Students will spend some class time writing various business messages on the computer which they add to their communication portfolio. In oral skills, students plan, practice and deliver an audience centred presentation which is filmed for evaluation purposes.

Course contents (additional)

Business messages - emails, letters, memos, meeting documentation etc
Presentation skills
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Introduction to intercultural communication

Core content level learning outcomes (knowledge and understanding)

Upon completion of the course, the students will know the importance and main aspects of effective communication in business. Students will have identified and developed their own strengths as a professional communicator in a business context, both orally and in writing.

Core content level learning outcomes (skills)

By the end of the course, students will:
* understand the process and nature of communication, non-verbal and verbal communication, intercultural communication and differences between oral and written communication.
* be able to recognise the various communication patterns, channels and styles in companies and real-life situations.
* have learned the importance of planning, organising, drafting, writing and editing accurate, clear and well-presented contemporary written business messages
* have learned the importance of being able to communicate at suitable levels of sophistication, style and register in all aspects of business communication.
* know how to structure and give effective audience centred business presentations.

Recommended reading

Taylor Shirley 2005 Communication for Business A Practical Approach 4th Edition Pearson Longman

Taylor Shirley 2004 Model Business Letters, E-mails & Other Business Documents 6th edition FT Prentice Hall

Thill and Bovée 2005 Excellence in Business Communication Prentice Hall 6th edition

Emmerson Paul 2004 email English Great Britain Macmillan (especially recommended to exchange students needing phrases in English)

Lecturers own material, websites and hand-outs

Teaching and learning strategies

This course uses a variety of methodologies appropriate to the communication topic under discussion. Students will be given opportunities to combine theory of business communication with actual practice in the classroom. Students' oral and written communication skills will be evaluated in class simulations, seminars and discussions, individual and collaborative writing tasks and portfolio assignments. Students will design and create their own business communication portfolio which will give them the opportunity to work according to their own individual written communication needs. The lecturer will give ongoing feedback on all components of the course, enabling students to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and develop as the course progresses.

Teaching methods and student workload

Portfolio
Contact teaching
Presentation
Individual research, reading

Assessment weighting and grading

Students will be expected to attend and participate actively in all aspects of the course throughout the semester - in class simulations and discussions, individual and group tasks and assignments. Students' communication skills will be evaluated throughout the course!

Assessment weighting
Personal business communication portfolio and related tasks = 70%
= 30% Continuous assessment based on active participation and individual communication on all portfolio tasks throughout the course.
= 40% final portfolio grade on hand-in
Individual presentation and presentation skills 30%

Related competences of the degree programme

International and intercultural skills
Communication and social competence
Personal development
Communication and interpersonal skills