VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HO CHI MINH CITY

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. General information

1. Course title BUSINESS ENGLISH

2. Course code NVA045
3. Type of course (compulsory, optional) Optional
4. Level of course Bachelor
5. Year of study (if applicable) 3
6. Semester when the course is delivered 5
7. Number of course credits allocated 3 (2 theoretical credits + 1 practical credit)
Independent study: 90 hours
8. Name of lecturer(s) N/A
9. Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance Face-to-face, distance learning
learning)
10. Prerequisites Learners are supposed to have completed the
following courses: Language Skills.
11. Language of instruction English
12. Work placement(s) N/A

II. Course overview

This is an optional course. Learners are introduced with some background knowledge to improve
their Business English systematically. The course is designed to provide them with
● Basic and necessary concepts in business so as to understand and use English in
business.
● Basic terms and expressions in Business English.
● Case studies in business to deal with problems and to improve their skill of communication,
teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking.
III. Course learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain some basic concepts in business.
2. Apply business concepts, theories and practices for some business communications
3. Build communication and teamwork skill in some business situations.
4. Develop creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills in some business situations.
5. Respond positively to some business situations.
6. Develop a positive attitude towards English used in the business context.

IV. Recommended or required readings

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Required readings
● Reading 1: Almut Koester et.al. (2012). Business Advantage (Intermediate). CUP.
● Reading 2: Rachman, D. J., & Mescon, M. H. (1987). Business Today. Random House.
Supplementary readings
● Mascull, B. (2004). Business Vocabulary in Use (Intermediate). CUP
● Littlejohn, A. (2008). Company to Company. CUP
● Relevant books and audios.
● Updated business reports and news.
V. Course contents and schedules
Sections Required Teaching and learning
Topics
readings activities
1 INTRODUCTION
UNIT 1: CULLTURE AND ITS IMPACT Reading - Lecture
1.1. Dimensions of culture 1: 10-12 - Practice
- Reading: Professor Hofstede’s dimension of - Questions and
culture answers
- Output: Finding out about the culture Reading - Discussion
WRITING 1: MAKING FIRST CONTACT (A2) 1: 26-27 - Writing assignments
2 1.2. Practice: Relocation and repatriation Reading - Lecture
- Listening 2: Preparing to work abroad 1: 14-15 - Practice
- Listening 3: The decision to relocate - Questions and
- Listening 4: Coming back answers
- Transferable skill: Using gender-neutral - Discussion
language
1.3. Skills: Beginning a business relationship Reading - Practice: Situation &
- Listening 1: Meeting people and making small 1: 16-17 discussion
talks
- Listening 2: Small talk topics
- Listening 3: Making successful small talk
- Language focus: Showing interest and keeping
the conversation going
- Output: Making a successful small talk
3 UNIT 4: HUMAN RESOURCES
GROUP PRESENTATION 1 (A1) Reading - Questions and
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2: answers
(CHAPTER 9 – 1st half) 211-221 - Discussion
4.2 Practice: Recruiting and keeping staff
- Reading 2: Training staff to retain staff
- Reading 3: Managing a talent pool Reading - Lecture
1: 36-37
- Language focus: Vocabulary of skills, - Practice
motivation and training
WRITING 2: COVERING LETTER FOR A Reading
- Writing assignments
JOB APPLICATION (A2) 1: 44-45

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4 GROUP PRESENTATION 2 (A1)
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Reading - Questions and
(CHAPTER 9 – 2nd half) 2: answers
4.3 Skills: Job interviews 211-231 - Discussion
- Language focus 1: Collocations for job
interview Reading
- Listening 1: Job interview at a hotel 1: 42-43
- Listening 2: Talking about your weaknesses - Practice: Situation &
- Listening 3: Questions for the interviewer discussion
- Language focus 2: Asking questions
diplomatically
- Output: A job interview
5 UNIT 6: MANAGING ORGANIZATIONS
GROUP PRESENTATION 3 (A1) Reading - Questions and
ORGANIZING FOR BUSINESS 2: answers
109-121 - Discussion
(CHAPTER 5 – 1st half)
6.2 Practice: Company development
- Listening 1: How Bryanston Organic Market - Lecture
developed Reading - Practice
1: 57-59
- Listening 2: External reasons for change
- Transferable skill: Making timelines
Reading
WRITING 3: EVERYDAY BUSINESS - Writing assignments
1: 62-63
EMAILS (A2)
6 GROUP PRESENTATION 4 (A1) Reading - Questions and
ORGANIZING FOR BUSINESS 2: answers
121-133 - Discussion
(CHAPTER 5 – 2nd half)
6.3 Skills: Starting a meeting
- Listening 1: Before a meeting
Reading - Practice: Situation &
- Listening 2: The agenda
1: 60-61 discussion
- Language focus: Linking words and
vocabulary for the agenda
- Output: A company in crisis
7 PROGRESS TEST (A3) Reading 1 - Correction
PRACTICE Reading 2 - Practice:
Supplementary
exercises
- Questions and
answers
- Discussion
8 UNIT 7: SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT - Questions and
(SCM) answers
GROUP PRESENTATION 5 (A1) Reading - Discussion
DISTRIBUTION (CHAPTER 14 – 1st half) 2:
7.2 Practice: The role of the customer in SCM 337-345 - Lecture
- Reading1: Introduction to IKEA’s supply chain - Practice
- Reading 2: IKEA and the primary sector

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 - Reading 3: IKEA and the secondary and Reading - Writing assignments
tertiary sector 1: 67-69
WRITING 4: WRITING GROUP EMAILS (A2) Reading
1: 80-81
9 GROUP PRESENTATION 6 (A1) Reading - Questions and
DISTRIBUTION (CHAPTER 14 – 2nd half) 2: answers
345-356 - Discussion
7.3 Skills: Negotiation skills
- Listening 1: Exchanging information
- Listening 2: Persuading - Practice: Situation &
Reading discussion
- Language focus: The language of negotiations
1: 70-71
- Output: Logistics meeting
10 UNIT 9: MARKETING STRATEGY
GROUP PRESENTATION 7 (A1) Reading - Questions and
MARKETING AND CONSUMER 2: answers
BEHAVIOR (CHAPTER 11 – 1st half) 263-272 - Discussion
8.2 Practice: Marketing strategy in the paper
industry
- Listening 1: Target markets and product Reading - Lecture
- Listening 2: Price and promotion 1: 85-87
- Practice
- Listening 3: Place and international marketing
WRITING 5: RESPONDING TO WRITTEN - Writing assignments
COMPLAINTS (A2) Reading
1: 98-99
11 GROUP PRESENTATION 8 (A1) Reading
MARKETING AND CONSUMER 2: - Questions and
BEHAVIOR (CHAPTER 11 – 2nd half) 273-283 answers
9.3 Skills: Organizing and creating interesting - Discussion
presentations
- Listening 1: The classic introduction
- Language focus: Clarity and signposting - Practice: Situation &
- Listening 2: A persuasive introduction Reading discussion
- Language focus 2: Persuading and raising 1: 88-89
interest
- Output: Introduction to a marketing strategy
presentation
12 REVISION (A2) Reading 1 - Practice
Reading 2 - Questions and
answers
- Discussion
13 Final examination (A4)
* Note: The Schedule is subject to revision.
VI. Assessment scheme

Assessment tasks Percent Score Weighting

A1. Group presentation 30 pts Midterm 30%
& Assignments 20 pts score

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 A2. Progress test 50 pts
100 pts
A3. Project 30 pts Final score 70%
A4. Final test 70 pts
100 pts
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)
(See detailed rubrics attached. A1 – Rubric DTI 04; A2, A3, A4 – Rubric DTI 07)

VII. Course alignment matrix

Course learning outcomes (CLOs) Programme Teaching and Assessment

learning learning tasks
outcomes (PLOs) activities
CLO1 - Explain some basic concepts in business. PLO2 - L1 L, D, GP A1, A2
CLO2 - Apply business concepts, theories and PLO2 – L1 L, D, GP, P A1, A2, A3,
practices for some business communications. A4

CLO3 - Build communication and teamwork skill. PLO3 – L2 D, GP, P A1, A2, A3
CLO4 - Develop creativity, problem solving and PLO4 – L2 L, D, P A1, A2, A3,
critical thinking skills. A4

CLO5 - Respond positively to some banking PLO5 – L1 D, P A1, A2,

situations. A3, A4
CLO6 - Develop a positive attitude towards PLO6 – L2 GP, P A1, A2,
English used in the business context. A3, A4
(Note: L = Lecture, D = Discussion, GP = Group presentation, and P = Practice)

VIII. Course policies

1. The course will be conducted in different modes including lecturing, discussion, practice, and
group presentation.
2. Attendance in all sessions is strongly recommended. Participants are required to give advance
notice of their absence in case of illness or any other situations. However, 80% is the minimum
attendance required for a student to take the final test.
3. Participants are expected to be well prepared and take an active role in class discussions and
work collaboratively with their peers.
4. Forms of plagiarism and cheating will lead to a failing grade or zero on the assignment or test.
5. For late submitted work, 10% of the component grades will be deducted per day.

Date of approval: January 2021

Approved by Designed by
Department of English Translation and
Interpreting

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, Ph.D.

Dean, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature
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