Bachelor 2022/2023

Foreign Language (English)

Category 'Best Course for Career Development'

Type: Optional course (HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia)

Area of studies: Foreign Regional Studies

Delivered by: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Where: Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

When: 1 year, 1-4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Natalya Bagrintseva, Elena Anatolyevna Dolgushina, Inna Sergeevna Egorova, Anastasia Gavrilina, Olga Karamalak, Elena Vasilyevna Nagornaya, Elena Petrova, Andrei Tulum, Evgenia Vasilyeva, Ksenia Vertlib

Language: English

ECTS credits: 8

Contact hours: 216

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The main goal of the course is to enable students to use English in their further academic studies in the Economics and Politics in Asia BA HSE-Kyung Hee University Programme and develop their language and communication skills in English to the B2-B2+ level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in multiple contexts, such as reading and listening comprehension, written and oral expression, communicative interaction. Content-based language teaching implies development and upgrading of an ability to interact in English in the context of cross-cultural professional communication. This approach allows students to acquire knowledge on a range of issues related to politics, economics, and business. Contemporary topics and issues stimulate students’ minds, develop their critical thinking skills, and motivate learners to meaningfully engage with language. In the second year, the course is aimed at preparing students for the International Language English Testing System (IELTS) examination. The main objective of the course is to form general competences in knowledge and skills necessary for passing the international examination, namely linguistic competence, sociolinguistic competence and pragmatic competence. For achieving the objective students are supposed to be involved into the following language activities: reception (listening and reading), production (spoken and written), and interaction (spoken and written). The skills and knowledge gained upon finishing the course enable students to gain the IELTS (Band 6) certificate and higher.

Learning Objectives

• 1-Year. to build general and professional language and communication skills
• ● to extend academic and subject-specific vocabulary and the grammatical range for discussing a variety of topics, such as Business and Finance, Globalisation and De-globalisation, Cultural Diversity, Journalism and the Media, etc.
• ● to increase exposure to natural fluency and pronunciation using various resources
• ● to develop skills of target listening and extracting information from various types of texts (lectures, interviews, discussions, etc.)
• • to develop skills of reading comprehension; processing information from literary and informational texts in a wide variety of academic and general subjects; distinguishing between fact and opinion, and summarizing
• ● to develop intercultural competence while focusing on the national aspects of cultures, comparing them to their own culture
• 2-Year. • to train in all parts of the IELTS test, improving scores
• • to build language proficiency
• • to enrich academic and subject-specific vocabulary and further extend the grammatical range for discussing a variety of topics related to economics, business, and Oriental studies
• • to equip students with the reading and listening strategies needed for tackling information-rich texts
• • to improve students’ writing skills using a scaffolding approach to writing
• • to master speaking skills of using general, social and professional language in talks and discussions

Expected Learning Outcomes

• use language flexibly and effectively for academic and professional purposes
• take part in discussions and give logically structured talks on various issues, providing reasons for their opinions, and expressing themselves fluently and spontaneously without obvious searching for expressions; prepare and deliver presentations
• • demonstrate proficiency in English at the B2+ level (CEFR)
• • understand general and professional conversations, discussions, lectures and apply specific information from the input
• • read and process information from literary and informational texts in a wide variety of academic and general subjects
• • articulate their opinions about various issues in written form; state and develop arguments; discuss problems and offer solutions; present information logically, coherently and cohesively; use signaling devices; proof–read and edit
• • interpret and compare data; describe charts, tables, graphs, and processes
• • make a talk on a given topic and take part in a formal discussion
• • familiarize themselves with different online and offline resources for further acquisition of the language for in-class activities and independent learning.
• identify key information in a linguistically complex text; quickly scan long, complex texts for specific information
• use properly the major specialised terms associated with economics, politics and international relations
• be able to read and understand a wide range of texts, including technical discussions in the field of Politics and Business

Course Contents

• English for General and Academic Purposes. 1. What makes a good communicator? Are good communicators born or made? How to give an effective presentation. Gender differences in communication.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. Personal qualities important for teamwork. Group psychology and interpersonal relations.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. What is culture? Aspects of a national culture. National stereotypes. Culture shock: stages, causes and ways to overcome it.
• English for General and Academic Purposes.Cultural diversity. Cultural awareness. Ways to avoid cultural mistakes. Typical features of Korean / Chinese / Japanese cultures.
• Globalisation: causes and effects. Is globalisation a force for good or bad? The impact of globalisation on developed and developing countries. De-globalisation and new trends in global development. Global skills and global cooperation.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. Technological advances in communication. Social media and global role models.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. What is the purpose of art? Architecture, literature, and cinema.
• English for Economic Studies. 1. What is economics? Economics vs economy. Economic systems
• English for Economic Studies. 2. Role and challenges of entrepreneurs. What is small business?
• English for Economic Studies. 3. Sole Proprietorship. Limitations to the Size of Proprietorship
• English for Economic Studies. 4. Partnership
• English for Economic Studies. 5. Corporation. Organization of Corporation. Becoming a Shareholder
• English for Economic Studies. 6. Capital. Corporate Finance
• English for Economic Studies 7. Types of Securities. Stocks Basics: Introduction
• English for Economic Studies. 8. Investment Banks. Securities Regulation. Stock Market
• English for Economic Studies.9. Company organisation. Board of directors: role, structure, executive vs non-executive directors
• English for Economic Studies. 10. Annual shareholders’ meeting: role, structure, types of voting
• English for Economic Studies. Levels of management in a corporation. Areas of management: marketing, human resource, operations. Kinds of managers: administrative, public relations managers, research and development managers
• English for Political Studies. 1. What is Politics? Defining Policy
• English for Political Studies. 2. The State, Statehood and Sovereignty
• English for Political Studies.3. Political Regimes
• English for Political Studies. 4. Government
• English for Political Studies. 5. Types of Democracy. Liberal Democracy. Transition to Democracy
• English for Political Studies. 6. Parliamentary Systems
• English for Political Studies. 7. Presidential Systems
• English for Political Studies. 8. Bureaucracy
• English for Political Studies. 9. Conflict vs. Peace
• English for Political Studies. 10. Armed Conflict.
• 2-YEAR. English for General and Academic Purposes.1. Higher education. Studying at university
• English for General and Academic Purposes. 2. Aims of education. Lifelong learning.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. 2. Success and personal development. Ambition and assertiveness.
• English for General and Academic Purposes.3. Science and Technology. Information-oriented society and the modern lifestyle.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. 4. Growing concerns. Social Issues: their causes and solutions. Consumer society and waste pollution. Recycling and my ecological footprint. Global health.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. 6. Urban sprawl and traffic congestion. Causes of traffic accidents. Ways to improve road safety. Transport of the future.
• English for General and Academic Purposes. 7. Law and order. Security vs Privacy. Juvenile crime.
• English for Economic Studies. 1. Management
• English for Economic Studies. 2. Work and Motivation
• English for Economic Studies. 3. Managing Across Cultures
• English for Economic Studies. 4. Products
• English for Economic Studies. 5. Marketing
• English for Economic Studies. 6. Advertising
• English for Economic Studies. 7. Writing Exam Skills

Assessment Elements

• Oral Assessment 20% (1 YEAR)
  Oral Assessment 20% • Structured talks on a given topic • Presentations on a given topic
• Written Assessment 20% (1 YEAR)
  ● Reading Tests ● Listening Tests ● Vocabulary Tests ● Grammar Tests
• Revision Tasks 20% (1 Year)
  Revision Tasks are taken at the end of each Module and include reading, listening and vocabulary tests. The criteria and sample tasks are given above
• Mid-term 40% (1 Year)
  Students take a mid-term exam at the end of the first semester and a final exam at the end of the academic year. Both exams are in the written and oral form and consist of reading, listening, vocabulary and speaking tests on the topics studied during the semester. The exam grade is equal to the mean of the grades for writing and speaking. The criteria and sample tasks are given in the sections above
• Final Exam 40% (1 Year)
  Students take a mid-term exam at the end of the first semester and a final exam at the end of the academic year. Both exams are in the written and oral form and consist of reading, listening, vocabulary and speaking tests on the topics studied during the semester. The exam grade is equal to the mean of the grades for writing and speaking.
• Oral Assessment (25%) (2 Year)
  structured talks, presentations
• Revision tasks (25%) (2 YEAR)
  module tests (reading, listening, vocabulary tests)
• Written Assessment (25%) (2 YEAR)
  vocabulary quizzes, grammar tests, essays
• Attendance and Participation (25%) (2 YEAR)
  Class attendance is compulsory for everyone taking the course. As a measure of engagement with the course, it is very important for learning. Active participation in group discussions and in-class assignments is required at every class and will be evaluated according to the criteria (see below). Students are to prepare for every class and to be active in class discussions. Absence policy: An excused absence is an absence due to a number of accepted reasons, such as a medical or personal issue beyond the student’s control, participation in a significant extracurricular university event, conference etc. If the absence is excused, the grade for class attendance will not be reduced.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.2 * Written Assessment 20% (1 YEAR) + 0.4 * Mid-term 40% (1 Year) + 0.2 * Revision Tasks 20% (1 Year) + 0.2 * Oral Assessment 20% (1 YEAR)
• 2022/2023 4th module
  0.2 * Written Assessment 20% (1 YEAR) + 0.2 * Revision Tasks 20% (1 Year) + 0.4 * Final Exam 40% (1 Year) + 0.2 * Oral Assessment 20% (1 YEAR)
• 2023/2024 3rd module
  0.25 * Attendance and Participation (25%) (2 YEAR) + 0.25 * Written Assessment (25%) (2 YEAR) + 0.25 * Oral Assessment (25%) (2 Year) + 0.25 * Revision tasks (25%) (2 YEAR)

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Cambridge vocabulary for IELTS advanced with answers : self-study vocabulary practice, Cullen, P., 2012
• English for business studies : a course for business studies and economics students: student's book, MacKenzie, I., 2010
• The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Politics. Edited by Carles Boix and Susan C. Stokes. Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Якушева, И. В.  Английский язык (B1). Introduction Into Professional English : учебник и практикум для вузов / И. В. Якушева, О. А. Демченкова. — 3-е изд., испр. и доп. — Москва : Издательство Юрайт, 2021. — 148 с. — (Высшее образование). — ISBN 978-5-534-07026-2. — Текст : электронный // Образовательная платформа Юрайт [сайт]. — URL: https://urait.ru/bcode/470011 (дата обращения: 28.08.2023).

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Expert IELTS 7.5 coursebook : suitable for students starting at band 6, Aish, F., 2017
• Иванова, О. А. English Grammar in use : учебно-методическое пособие / О. А. Иванова. — 2-е изд. — Москва : ФЛИНТА, 2016. — 142 с. — ISBN 978-5-9765-2712-6. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/83785 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.