Higher School of Economics

Faculty of Economics

English Language Department

Syllabus

English for Specific Academic Purposes (Market Leader)

Public Administration Faculty

Fall 2009 – Spring 2010, Modules 1-4
Natalia Ralyk, Ph.D. (Linguistics), Associate Professor / Classroom: Myasnitskaya, 20
Office Phone: (495) 621-76-66
Office Hours: M.-T. & by appointment
Email:

Required Materials:

David Cotton, D. Falvery, S. Kent. (2003). Market Leader: Upper Intermediate Course Book.Business English with the "Financial Times": Longman, Pearson Education Ltd.

Market Leader: Upper Intermediate (+ CD). Practice File.

Market Leader: Upper Intermediate Teacher's Book

Baranovskaya T., Alaeva N., Shaforostova V. (2007). Market Leader: Upper Intermediate English-Russian Dictionary: Moscow, HSE.

I. Instructional format and conduct

Students will be expected to participate in discussions, role plays, work with peers to solve problems, and respond to readings and listening materials. Students will also use theoretical and empirical articles that provide support for the course topics, and give presentations in class on their topic-based projects. In addition to the reading materials on reserve and the required textbook, students will study new specific vocabulary, do exercises and tests on the course topics.

II. Course description

The program is provided for the students whose language proficiency is at upper-intermediate level (B2 CEFR). English course is obligatory for the students in the second year and is offered in four modules. Exams are held at the end of the forth module as the program is covered.

The program is designed to meet the requirements of the Public Administration Faculty where English is taught as a foreign language for specific academic purposes. It means that students are supposed to acquire professional terminology as well as to master their study skills necessary to learn to:

  • - read efficiently authentic materials in Business/Management;
  • - listen to specific authentic information in English and take adequate notes;
  • - give oral presentations on topic subjects (predominantly Management & Administration) and participate in discussions;
  • - develop speaking skills for social/academic/professional contacts.

The course “Market Leader” is presented in the following topics:

  1. Success
  2. Job Satisfaction
  3. Risk
  4. Team Building
  5. Customer Service
  6. Management Styles
III. Course goals. Students will be able to:

Listening

- understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in workor topics of personal or professional interest;

- understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar.

Speaking

- interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible;

- take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views;

- present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to the field of interest;

- explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Reading

- understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language;

- read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints.

Writing

- write clear, detailed texts of presentations on a range of subjects related to the course topics;

- write a report, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view.

NB: Students are invited to formulate additional personal goals and objectives.

IV. Course Content

Topic 1Success(Unit 4)

Listening: Successful People and Companies

Discussion: Defining Success. Epic Failures.

Reading: Mobile Phones – Financial Times.

Vocabulary: Prefixes

Skills: Negotiating, Presentation

Self Study: What makes product innovations successful?

Topic 2 Job Satisfaction (Unit 5)

Listening: Motivating Factors

Discussion: What’s in a Title?

Reading: Fringe Benefits

Vocabulary: Synonyms and word building (voc. of motivation & job satisfaction)

Skills: Handling difficult situations, Presentation

Self Study: Job Sharing

Topic 3Risk(Unit 6)

Listening: Managing Risk

Discussion: A Risky Business

Reading: Risks from Globalisation

Vocabulary: Describing risk (verbs and adjectives used in the context of risk)

Skills: Reaching agreement, Presentation

Self Study:Computer Crime

Topic 4Team Building(Unit 8)

Listening: Building a Team

Discussion: Types of Team Players

Reading: Successful Teamworking

Vocabulary: Prefixes

Skills: Resolving conflict, Presentation

Self Study: Team-building Techniques

Topic 5Customer Service (Unit 10)

Listening: New Ideas in Customer Care

Discussion: Customer Complaints

Reading: Customer Delight

Vocabulary: Terms and Idioms

Skills: Active listening, Presentation

Self Study: Earning Customer Loyalty

Topic 6Management Styles (Unit 12)

Listening: Management Styles and Qualities

Discussion: Management vs. Leadership

Reading: Who would you rather work for?

Vocabulary: Management Qualities

Skills: Putting people at ease, Presentation

Self Study: Styles of Corporate Leadership

V. Course expectations and requirements

a. Undergraduate level work. Proper level performance is expected from all students, and students are responsible for their own learning. Students are expected to submit assignments of high quality by the announced deadlines.

b. Expectations for reading assignments. Students are expected not only to read the required materials thoroughly, but also to interpret and evaluate them. Students should come to class with questions, challenges, extensions, and ideas for alternative views.

c. Expectations for speaking assignments. Students are expected to systematically present and practice language and techniques to give effective oral presentations on academic and professional subjects and participate in discussions.

d. Expectations for written assignments. Students are expected to complete all written presentations in a professional manner, with carefully organized and edited text. All out-of-class assignments should be computer-generated unless otherwise stated, following standard academic conventions. Students are expected to do original and diligent work, citing sources completely and appropriately.

e. Policy on late work. Students are expected to turn in all course work on time. Late work will be accepted up to a week after the due date for 75% credit. Late work is considered to be any work that is given to the instructor after the deadline. No exceptions.

f. Attendance & participation and assignments. Students will receive a grade for their assignments, participation, and attendance. Attendance at all sessions, including presentations, is required. I expect students to inform me by e-mail if they have to miss a class because of illness.

g. Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally and courteously in all in- and out-of-class interactions. This includes proper and timely communication (including e-mail), punctuality and attentiveness, and the appropriate separation of students’ private and professional lives. I also encourage students to be cognizant and respectful of personal differences among their group-mates.

VI. Grades:

Grades will be determined as follows:

Activities / Dates / Points / Criteria
Test / End of term / 70 / 1 mistake - 1 point
Dictations / During the term / 60 (6х10) / 1 mistake - 1 point
Speaking (reports, discussions, role plays, presentations) / During the term / 40 / 1 mistake - 2points
Participation,
Self Study / End of term / 30

Credit test - 2nd module

Final test - 4th module

Exam - 4th module

Final grading assumes to add or subtract 0.3 score according to:

  • -how regularly the student attends class sessions;
  • -whether the student turns in home assignments when scheduled.

Totally: final grading assumes 200 points;the lowest adequate score is 120 points.

VII.List of basic materials in use:

  1. Study Skills. M.Wallace: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
  2. Developing Reading Skills. Grellet:Cambridge University Press, 1989.
  3. Giving Presentations. M.Ellis:Longman, 1992.
  4. Academic Writing. R. Jordan:Nelson, 1990.
  5. Learn to Listen,Listen to Learn. R.Lebauer:Prentice Hall,Inc., 1988.
  6. Presenting Facts and Figures.D.Kerridge:Longman, 1992.
  7. Effective Presentations. J.Comfort:Oxford University Press, 1995.

1