HCMC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION Program: E-Commerce

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS Level: Undergraduate

Course Syllabus
1. Course Title: English for Business
2. Course Code: BENG230708
3. Credit Units: 3 units (3/0/6) (3 lecture periods, 0 laboratory period, 6 self-study period per
week)
Duration: 15 weeks (3 hours of theory+0 hours of practice, and 6 hours of self-study
per week)
4. Course Instructors:
1/ MBA. Le Truong Diem Trang
2/ MSc. Ha Nguyen Minh Quan
5. Course Requirements:
Previous courses(s): General English
Prerequisite course(s): General English
Parallel courses: None
6. Course description:
 Reinforcing and developing knowledge in grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary
concentrating on building sentences and paragraphs used in communication and business
letter.
 Providing knowledge, vocabulary and terminology used in business environment.
 Practising skills of expressing ideas, brainstorming, generating ideas and making
presentation in business environment.
 Developing skills of assessing work, forecasting results and selecting decisions.
 Training to be creative for business effectiveness.
7. Course Goals:
Goals Goal Description Programme
ELOs
G1 Professional knowledge and ability of applying basic knowledge
in business administration in the areas of industrial management
1.1
and business management such as job performance, result
forecast, decision selection, business idea generation, etc.
G2 The ability of researching, analysing and solving problems in 2.1
plans in business and customer relation.
G3 Skills of teamwork, English communication both in writing and 3.1, 3.3

1
 speaking.
G4 The ability of realizing differences in cross-cultural environment 4.2
and building ideas, setting and managing business projects.

8. Course Learning Outcomes:

CLOs CLO Description Programme

ELOs
G1. Apply basic knowledge in business administration in identifying 1.2
1 problems and choosing appropriate decisions
G1
G1. Understand the way to make business plan and forecasting results 1.3
2 of business operations
G2. Be able to analyze and solve problems in business 2.1
1
G2
G2. Work in research and give recommendations for problems in 2.1
2 business
G3. Work in teams effectively 3.1, 3.1
1
G3. Communicate effectively in oral and verbal forms 3.2
G3
2
G3. Communicate, explaining ideas and making presentation in front of 3.3
3 the crowd in English
G4. Identify differences in cultures of businesses and their impacts to 4.2
1 business
G4. Generate and develop new ideas in product or service meeting 4.3
G4
2 market’s demand
G4. Examine the strategies and structures of international business; 1.2
3

9. Learning Resources:
- Textbook:
Commerce 1, Martyn Hobbs and Julia Starr Keddle, Oxford University Press 2006
- References
- Intelligent Business, Tonya Trappe, Graham Tullis, Pearson Education Limited 2005
- Business Matters, Mark Powell, NXB Commercial Colour Press Plc
- Communicative Grammar Practice, Leo Jones, NXB Cambridge University Press
- Let’s talk, Leo Jones, NXB Cambridge University Press
- Managing Cultural Differences, Lisa Hoecklin, NXB Addison-Wesley
- Saigon times weekly
- Financial times online
10. Student Assessment:
- Grading scale: 10

2
 - Examination plan:

Assessment CLOs Rate(%)

Type Content Timeline
method
Assignments 50%
Building business ideas 2nd week Team G3.1, 5
Ass#1
G1.1
Practising communication in 4th week Team and G3.3 5
Ass#2
business environment individual
Practising written communication 5th week Individual G3.3 5
Ass#3
in business environment
Making presentation in English 7th week Individual G3.1, 5
Ass#4
G3.3
Presenting business ideas in 9th week Team G3.3, 10
Ass#5
English 1.1
Analyzing and solving dilemma 10th week Team G3.1, 10
Ass#6
in enterprises G2.1
Ass#7 Selecting effective solutions 11th week Team G1.1 5
Ass#8 Playing roles in business 13th week Team G4.2 5
Final exam 50%
- Content of final exam covers all Written G1.1,
important course goals. exam G2.1,
- Duration for final exam is 60 G3.3,
minutes. G4.2

Total 100 %

11. Course Content

Week Content CLOs
Chapter 1: The business environment (3h/0/6h)

3
 A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (3h) G1.1, G4.2
- Reading: The business environment, Don’t disturb me – I am not
working!, Company profile, do the questionnaire
- Vocabulary: name of jobs, numbers
- Speaking: introducing yourself, role playing of staff in the
company and visitor, business know how: getting on in business
- Brainstorming: Life in 2030
- Exercises: wordcheck, crossword
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion
1

B/ Self-study content: (6h)

- Writing: writing about your job, write questions about a well- G3.3
known company
- Listening chapter 1
- Translating the reading text
Chapter 2: The company (6h/0/12h) CLOs
A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (6h) G2.1, G3.3,
- Speaking: set up a company, business know how: how to manage your G3.1, G4.2
time, company’s departmental structure
- Vocabulary: departments in company
- Exercise: puzzle, departments
- Dilemma and decision: the virtue of necessity
- Reading: the company, e-commerce
- Skills: basic management skills, management skills for the twenty-first
2-3 century
- Writing: write an email for making contact
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion
B/ Self-study content: (12h)
- Learning new vocabulary G1.1, G3.3
- Reviewing Present and Present perfect tenses
- Writing: solution for dilemma

4
4-5 Chapter 3: Sales (6/0/12)
G1.1, G2.1,
G3.1, G3.3

A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (6h)

- Brainstorming: trying to keep the customers satisfied
- Exercises: wordcheck, identifying customers’ needs, wants and
preferences
- Practice: Are you a good manager?
- Speaking: greeting visitors, business know how: travelling tips
- Dilemma and decision: mission: impossible?
- Speaking: apologizing, work in pairs to talk about facilities in hotels G2.1, G3.3
- Writing: write a booking form, a thanking letter
- Reading: Sales techniques
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion

B/ Self-study content: (12h)

- Learning new vocabulary

5
 - Translating the text
- Writing: solution for dilemma

- Listening chapter 3
- Reviewing Past tense
Chapter 4: Cultural awareness (3h/0/6h) CLOs
A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (3h)
- Speaking: how cross - cultural are you?, business know how: how to make
a good impression
- Reading: cultural awareness, the smart traveler guide to America
- Writing: dealing with unclear situations
G1.2, G4.2
- Dilemma and decision: Harley’s Angels
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
6 + Discussion
B/ Self-study content: (6h)
- Translating the text
- Learning new vocabulary
G3.3, G4.2
- Reviewing future tenses
- Listening chapter 4
- Writing: solution for dilemma

Chapter 5: Trade fairs (6h/0/12h)

A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (12h)
- Reading: trade fairs, trade fairs and exhibitions G1.1, G2.1,
- Speaking: discuss about freebies, eating out
G3.1, G3.3,
- Dilemma and decision: a scent of risk
G4.2
- Speaking: business know how: attending a careers fair, role play
- Writing: following up letter, CV, answering complaining
- Exercise: crossword
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
7-8
+ Discussion
B/ Self-study content: (12h)
- Translating the text
- Learning new vocabulary
G2.1, G3.3

- Writing: solution for dilemma

- Reviewing If clauses
- Listening chapter 5

6
 Chapter 6: Advertising (3h/0/6h)
A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (3h)
- Discussion: adverts on TV and magazines G3.3, G4.2
- Reading: advertising space, the persuaders
- Speaking: improve your creativity, the art of advertising
- Writing: enquiries
- Dilemma: a scent of risk
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Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion
B/ Self-study content: (6h)
- Learning new vocabulary
- Translating the text

Group presentation (0/6h/12h)

A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (6h) G2.1, G3.3,
Comment and assessment G1.1, G3.1
Main teaching methods:
+ Discussion
10-11 B/ Self-study content: (12h)
G2.1, G3.3
- Learning new vocabulary
- Learning skills in making presentation

Chapter 7: Finance (3h/0/6h)

A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (3h)

- Reading: Corporate governance G3.3, G4.2
- Discussion: CEO with account falsity, how to concentrate
- Practice: Profit and loss account, sales analysis
- Speaking: business know how: dealing with your anger
- Writing: memo
12-13 - Dilemma: counting the costs
Pedagogical methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion
B/ Self-study content: (6h) G1.1
- Learning new vocabulary
- Translating the text

7
 Chapter 8: Recruitment (6h/0/12h)

A/ Content and pedagogical methods in class: (12h) G2.1, G3.3,

- Reading: a full house G3.1, G4.2
- Speaking: introduce a mini advertisement, keys to a happy working life
- Dilemma and decision: the Bellagio interview
- Business know how: key interview questions, how not to impress at
an interview
- Writing: replies and quotations
- Skills: soft skills, interview techniques
- Brainstorming: I am proud to work here, introduce about ideal company
Main teaching methods:
+ Presentation
+ Discussion
B/ Content for self-studying: (12h) G1.1, G2.1,
14-15
G3.3
- Learning new vocabulary
- Translating the text
- Writing: solution for dilemma
- Listening chapter 8
- Review all chapters for final exam

12. Learning Ethics

Student did not meet one of the following tasks will be suspended:
- Attendance: at least 80% of teaching hours
- Assignments: do all homework assigned (100%)
- Test: complete all in-class tests (100%)
- Cheating in any form and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student discovered cheating on
an examination or plagiarizing in writing assignment will be dropped from the course and receive
an 0.
- Those who are absent more than ten (10) hours will be dropped from the course and will receive
an 0.
13. First Date of Approval: 10th May 2014
14. Approved by:
Dean Head of Department Instructor

15. Date and Up-to-date content

1st time: Instructor:

8
 Head of Department
2nd time: Instructor:

Head of Department
3rd time: Instructor:

Head of Department