NA_CS_1 Communication Skills 1

University of Finance and Administration
Winter 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Kopáček
Subdepartment of Social Sciences – Department of Social Sciences – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Dita Egertová
Prerequisites
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course focuses on developing essential business communication skills that prepare students to compete at the job market. the focus is on developing student's communication and self-presentation skills while understanding the underlying language pragmatics in an intercultural business context. The course provides students with a deeper understanding of communication processes to be applied straight away in both local and intercultural business situations. Course objectives: 1. Systematic improvement of business English. 2. Development of the core business skills: presenting, interviewing, attending and leading meetings, resolving problematic situations, arguing and discussing, negotiating, socialising and conversing offline and online. 3. Semantic and functional focus: monitoring authentic language of business life, using the most frequently used speech acts across cultures properly and mastering the relevant key phrases fluently and spontaneously. 4. Development of intercultural competencies: understanding the principles of language pragmatics and intercultural communication. 5. Develop one's writing skills of authentic business correspondence and documentation: formal and informal e-mails, formal correspondence, CV, social media presentation, press release. 6. Company culture: monitoring the company profiles, management structure and culture, with a special focus on intercultural variation. The course objectives apply for blended study program students as well.
Learning outcomes
The students will learn how to prepare a job application package. They will develop the core communication skills: presentations, job interviews, attending and leading meetings, resolving problematic situations, arguing and discussing, negotiating, socialising and telephoning. They will develop their intercultural competencies: understanding the principles of language pragmatics and intercultural communication. They will learn how to write business e-mails, resumes, social media posts, and press releases. The focus of all course activities and content is on developing critical thinking.
Syllabus
  • 1-2 Theory: Communication model, language proficiency assessment; Personal profile, SWOT analysis. Speaking: Self-introductions, positive affirmations, cold calls. Writing: Business letters, motivation letter. 3-4 Theory: Job application process. Social media networks. Speaking: Small talk; Self-presentations, Elevator Pitch Writing: Emails, CV, cover letter, Ppt self-presentation. 5-6 Theory: Speech act theory; Greetings, parting, introductions; Job interview questions; Body language. Speaking: Job interviews, reading body language (head, body, hands and eyes), building rapport. Writing: bio, business cards. DUE: ELEVATOR PITCH PRESENTATIONS, PPT SELF-PRESENTATIONS 7-8 Theory: Politeness theory; Refusals, apologies. Speaking: saying ‘no’, refusals, dealing with problematic situations and inappropriate questions. Writing: Refusal, complaint, apology and promotion letter. 9-10 Theory: Invitations, press release, expression of gratitude. Speaking: Expression of gratitude, apology, presenting techniques. Writing: Invitation, refusal, thank you letter; Press release. 11-12 Review and summary. Speaking: Presentations; Giving feedback. FINAL PRESENTATIONS due (W11), JOB APPLICATION PACKAGE due (W12); SELF-PRESENTATION PACKAGE due (W12), FINAL TEST (W12).
Literature
    required literature
  • Boroditsky, L. (2011). How language shapes thought. Scientific American, 304(2), 62-65. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0211-62
  • Boroditsky, L. (2011). How languages construct time. Space, Time and Number in the Brain, 333-341. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-385948-8.00020-7
  • Fausey, C. M., & Boroditsky, L. (2010). Who dunnit? cross-linguistic differences in eye-witness memory. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 18(1), 150-157. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-010-0021-5
  • Fuhrman, O., McCormick, K., Chen, E., Jiang, H., Shu, D., Mao, S., & Boroditsky, L. (2011). How linguistic and cultural forces shape conceptions of time: English and Mandarin time in 3D. Cognitive Science, 35(7), 1305-1328. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551
  • Sieglova, D. (2015). Communication Skills I: Culture and Language Pragmatics at work. (NA_CS1_ZS 2015 Handbook)
  • NWT Literacy Council (2012). Soft-skills for Work. ISBN: 978-1-896472-39-3. E-book.
  • NWT Literacy Council (2012). Getting the Job: Workbook. ISBN: 978-1-896472-42-3. E-book.
  • Wilson, K., & Wauson, J. (2011). AMA Handbook of Business Documents : Guidelines and sample documents that make business writing easy. New York: Amer. E-book.
    recommended literature
  • Downes, C. (2009). Cambridge English for Job-hunting. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0521722152
  • Walley, G. (2012). The Smart Guide to Business Writing. Gay Walley & Ventus Publishing ApS. E-book, www.bookboon.com
  • MTD Training (2012). Advanced Communication Skills. ISBN 978-87-7681-661-2, www.bookboon.com
  • NWT Literacy Council (2012). Dealing with Conflicts and Complaints. MTD Training & bookboon.com. ISBN 978-87-7681-687-2
  • NWT Literacy Council (2012). Influencing and Persuasion Skills. MTD Training & bookboon.com. ISBN 978-87-7681-688-9
  • Morrison, T., Conaway, W., and Borden, G. (1994). How to do Business in Sixty Countries: Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. Holbrook, Massachusetts: Bob Adams, Inc.
  • Mascull, B. Business Vocabulary in Use Intermediate. Cambridge (Chapters 47-62).
  • CARNEGIE, Dale. The Art of Public Speaking: The Original Tool for Improving. Clydesdale Press, 2018, ISBN 978-1945186486
  • CARNEGIE, Dale. Stand and Deliver: How to become a masterful communicator. Simon & Schuster UK, 2011, ISBN 978-0857206763
Teaching methods
Interactive seminars in both types of study (full-time students and blended study program students). The explanation of theoretical concepts and monitoring the authentic business English will be immediately followed by practical exercises - individual work, cooperative learning (pairs, groups), student presentations, role plays and analyses of recorded situations. Multimedia resources (audio and video sequences), transcripts and other authentic material will be used for practice. Related writing exercises and seminar assignments will complement the in-class speaking exercises.
Assessment methods
Requirements and assessment: 1. JOB APPLICATION PACKAGE (due W12) - Bio, CV, motivation letter, email cover letter, thank you letter, LinkedIn page (optional), business card (optional) 2. SELF-PRESENTATION PACKAGE (due W12) – Ppt self-presentation, 90-sec elevator pitch 3. FINAL PRESENTATIONS - Ppt self-presentation, elevator pitch, job application material presentation (W7-11) 4. FINAL TEST (W12) Minimum class participation: 75%
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin KS/semestr.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2012, Winter 2013, Winter 2014, Winter 2015, Winter 2016, Winter 2017, Winter 2018, Winter 2019, Winter 2020, Winter 2021, Winter 2022, Winter 2023.
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