Business Communications Skills
5 ECTS credits
The aim of this module is to enable international students to communicate in the English language with clarity and authority, applying written, electronic, verbal and non-verbal communication skills in a range of business settings and situations.
On successful completion of this module learners should be able to:
Display the principles of effective communication (written & oral) through theoretical and practical applications of the English language in a business communications environment.
Communicate their appraisal of primary non-academic business-oriented texts and independently generate a measured and articulated response.
Create and deliver an audience-focused business presentation, using appropriate vocabulary, effective non-verbal techniques and adhering to the protocol of such presentations.
Use the correct and appropriate language, layout, conventions, and styles of modern written business communication methods
Communicate appropriately and persuasively in oral English in a variety of formal and informal business settings
Recognise the difference between varying language registers in a business context (formal, informal, impromptu) for planned and unpredicted life-like business scenarios such as business negotiations and product pitching.
Course Content
Session 1
Syllabus and assessment overview, vocabulary for business, distribute module specific glossaries
Session 2
Principles of effective communication: through discussion and examples of various modes of communication in the business context
Introduction to Presentations: business idiom and terminology in the English language; structuring, scripting and illustrating a presentation, using infographics and presenting data.
Session 3
Graphs Analysis and Description: interpreting and visualising data in charts and graphs; creating descriptive captions
Presentation Delivery: voice projection, pace, intonation; diction, pronunciation; body language; use of electronic and other visual aids.
Session 4
Presentations: Dublin Business Presentation
Session 5
Academic Writing: structure, vocabulary, grammar, in-text citations, bibliography
Promotional Literature: scripting, layout, and design of a promotional leaflet
Session 6
Reading Comprehensions skills: including skimming and scanning, text analysis, extracting key information and writing original concise responses to texts
Session 7
Letters of Application written and email job applications; CV’s and cover letters.
Marketing Vocabulary: the language of advertising and promotion; the advertising brief.
Session 8
Writing for Online Content: language, style, structure, blogs.
Promotional Leaflet Design: marketing language, “strong” vocabulary.
Session 9
Language of Negotiations: language and conventions of meetings; negotiation role play.
Investment Presentation: structure; audience focus; argument; persuasion; style and delivery; teamwork and interpersonal skills.
Session 10
Interview Skills: interview preparation; verbal and non-verbal communication; listening skills.
Assessment plan
Student project - 30%
Final oral - 35%
Final exam - 35%
Reading Lists and Other Resources
Textbook / Journal based Resources:
Dubicka, Iwona et al. Market Leader (Advanced Business English) 3rd Edition. Pearson, 2011.
McClave, Henry. Communications for Business. Gill and MacMillan, 2008.
Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing for International Students. Routledge, 2006.
Bannock, David et al. The New Penguin Dictionary of Business. Penguin, 2004.
Klein, Naomi. No Logo. Picador, 2002.
Levitt, Steven D. and Dubner, Stephen J. Freakonomics [Revised and Expanded]. Penguin, 2006.
McAndrew, Richard and Martinez, Ron. Taboos and Issues. Heinle, 2002.
Sweeney, Simon. Communicating in Business. Cambridge, 2000.
Robinson, Nick. Cambridge English for Marketing. Cambridge, 2010.
Evans, David. Decision Maker. Cambridge, 1998.
Brieger, Nick and Pohl, Alison. Technical English Vocaulary and Grammar. Summertown, 2002.
Downes, Colm. Cambridge English for Job-Hunting. Cambridge, 2008.