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ENG311 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AND CAREER SKILLS

Course Objectives

Course Aims & Objectives

English 311 is designed to enhance students’ competence to make successful career plans and explore their skills, values, personalities, interests and future expectations and express them in written and oral forms successfully in academic contexts. Furthermore, the course aims to equip students with on-the-job skills such as socializing, telephoning, meeting, making presentations and writing business e mails. Thus, the course aims to have students practice the skills and build an awareness and realize the importance of the concepts listed below

Speaking: 

Engaging in and maintaining conversation in various social situations

Performing well in an interview

Presenting information in an organized way

Asking and answering questions

Reflecting on an idea

Taking part in discussions on various topics

Holding and attending meetings 

Telephoning

Listening:

Listening/ viewing for specific information & note taking

Concepts:

Corporate / Organizational Culture

Cultural Differences & intercultural competence

Ethics at the workplace

Reading:

Reading for specific information 

Identifying different opinions

Evaluating different viewpoints 

Making connections between ideas

Language:

Expanding vocabulary & activating passive vocabulary

Using language concisely and precisely

Writing: Writing official documents for application: Emails, Cover Letter, CV, Statement of Purpose (SoP)/ Letter of Intent (LoI), Application form

 

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Course Content

This is a course designed to develop communication skills in a business context. The course is divided into two parts, namely job-seeking skills (CV and application letter writing, interview skills, etc.) and on-the-job skills. Emphasis is given to accuracy, fluency and effectiveness of students in certain business tasks such as socializing, telephoning, presenting information, holding meetings, etc.

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Course Learning Outcomes

English 311 is designed to equip students who are nearing their graduation with the essential skills they need during the process of application and while performing on the job. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Decide on a career path on which they can best benefit from their academic backgrounds, make use of their skills and experiences to achieve their goals

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• define “success” for themselves

• grasp the importance of making career plans through attainable goals

• identify their abilities, skills and experiences

• know their values

• know their personality

• comb through and find suitable job advertisements/graduate school

  announcements for themselves

   

Prepare and write official documents to be used for applications successfully

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• organize and write their CV

• write a Cover Letter for their CV

• write a comprehensive and impressive Statement of Purpose/Motivation Letter

 

 Perform effectively in a job interview

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• answer interview questions effectively by presenting information in an organized way according to the type of interview

• converse confidently during the interview

• behave appropriately to create a good impression

• use body language effectively

• arrive at the interview having dressed appropriately

• express themselves in spoken language fluently and openly appropriate to academic and professional contexts

• use topical language correctly and effectively during the interview

• use correct, appropriate language structures, vocabulary and discourse markers in interviews

• ask appropriate questions at the end of the interview

• conclude an interview effectively

 

 

 

Perform such business skills as socializing, telephoning, meeting, making presentations and writing e-mails successfully

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           Socializing:

 

• make introductions/new contacts

• make small talk

• make offers/invitations suitable in academic/business contexts

• accept/reject offers/invitations appropriately

   

  Telephoning:

   

• make a phone call: opening and ending calls

• use skills such as connecting a caller, leaving/taking messages

• use correct language for telephoning

   

  Meeting:

   

• plan a meeting

• use appropriate language to open and close a meeting

• use business meeting expressions effectively

• use discussion language during a meeting effectively

   Presentation:

• prepare and deliver a presentation effectively in formal academic/business  environments

• express themselves in spoken language with a reasonable degree of fluency and

  intelligibility appropriate to academic and professional contexts

• build confidence

• conduct research and make effective use ofsources to support their ideas in academic contexts

   

   

  Writing e-mails:

   

• write formal e-mails using appropriate register

• write e-mails observing the appropriate format for business correspondence

   

   

  Process and make use of some concepts related to workplace or work life

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• identify the concept: ethical vs. unethical

• resolve conflicts on ethical issues

• explore types of  workplace ethics violations

• gain insight into the definition of  business ethics

• identify factors that increase employee performance at the workplace

• appreciate cultural differences in a business environment

• use vocabulary on culture effectively

• explore the term corporate/organizational culture

• deal with conflict at the workplace

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