Study Guide

Learning outcomes

Students are able to communicate fluently in meetings, negotiations and discussions and they are familiar with meeting documents and proceedings.

Implementation and methods of teaching

Contact lessons

Timing and attendance

Regular attendance ( 75% ) is required.

Learning material and recommended literature

The material for the course is provided by the teacher.

Learning environment

Lessons are held in class and tasks will also be delivered through Moodle.

Student time use and work load

3 ECTS.

Contents

Meetings - 1) procedures; 2) roles in meetings; 3) the language of meetings; 4) mock meetings

Negotiations - 1) procedures; 2) basic tactics and strategies; 3) the language of negotiations; 4) mock negotiations

Discussions - 1) regular discussions on current world issues; 2) different types of discussions, oral and written; 3) panel discussions

Assessment criteria

Students are evaluated on a continuous basis for both participation and completion of activities.

Main assignments for the course:
- Participation in mock meetings
- Participation in mock negotiations
- Participation in live discussions
- Completion of written discussion pieces
- Range of smaller tasks through Moodle

Students will be advised which assignments will be graded 0-5 or pass/fail.

Assessment scale

1-5

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student’s speaking skills are adequate to deliver the message in an understandable manner. Interaction is occasional. Speech is difficult to follow. Speech lacks structuring, logic and cohesion almost totally.

Language (speech, pronunciation and intonation) is quite hesitant, pauses are rather long and pronunciation mistakes sometimes disturb the message. Delivery is too quiet/monotonous. The student uses only a few basic sentence structures and makes plentiful mistakes.

Written communication consists mostly of simple expressions and there are plentiful mistakes. The language is clumsy, but the message is delivered. Much of the text lacks logic and cohesive elements. The text is not in keeping with the genre- and/or style-specific conventions. The topic is handled briefly and one-sidedly. There are considerable flaws in meeting the task requirements.

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student can speak well and interacts with the speaking partner/audience. The student knows how to use ways of nonverbal communication. Speech is easy to follow but lacks cohesion in places.

Language (speech, pronunciation and intonation) is fluent and clear but short pauses, hesitations and pronunciation mistakes may occur.

Written communication is quite fluent, clear and mostly correct. The structures and professional vocabulary are adequate to deliver the message. The text has a reasonably logical structure. The text is cohesive but minor flaws occur. Minor mistakes occur concerning the genre and/or style. The topic is handled in the usual way, meeting the task requirements.

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student can speak extremely well and appropriately for the situation. Interaction is very skillful, nonverbal communication supports the speech effectively. Speech is target-oriented, very consistent, to the point and logical. Transitions are very smooth.

Language (speech, pronunciation and intonation) is fluent, clear and accurate, and speech tempo is normal.

Written communication is very fluent and versatile. The student uses varied structures and extensive professional vocabulary, but makes occasional mistakes in the most advanced structures. The text has a very clear and logical structure. The text is cohesive and transitions are smooth. The student can deliver the message effortlessly in the appropriate, genre-specific style. The handling of the topic is diverse and skillful, meeting all the task requirements.