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.
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 6. Develop a positive attitude towards English used in the business context.

IV. Recommended or required readings

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 1: - Lecture
1.1. Dimensions of culture 10-12 - Practice
- Reading: Professor Hofstede’s dimension of - Questions and answers
culture - Discussion
- Output: Finding out about the culture
WRITING 1: MAKING FIRST CONTACT Reading 1: - Writing assignments
(A2) 26-27
2 1.2. Practice: Relocation and repatriation Reading 1: - Lecture
- Listening 2: Preparing to work abroad 13-15 - Practice
- Listening 3: The decision to relocate - Questions and answers
- Listening 4: Coming back - Discussion
- Transferable skill: Using gender-neutral
language - Practice: Situation &
1.3. Skills: Beginning a business Reading 1: discussion
relationship 16-17
- Listening 1: Meeting people and making
small 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 GROUP PRESENTATION 1 (A1)
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Reading 2: - Questions and answers
(CHAPTER 9 – 1st half) 211-221 - Discussion
GROUP PRESENTATION 2 (A1)
- Questions and answers
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Reading 2: - Discussion
(CHAPTER 9 – 2nd half) 211-231

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4 UNIT 4: HUMAN RESOURCES Reading 1: - Lecture
4.2 Practice: Recruiting and keeping staff 36-37 - Practice
- Reading 2: Training staff to retain staff
- Reading 3: Managing a talent pool
- Language focus: Vocabulary of skills,
motivation and training
4.3 Skills: Job interviews
- Language focus 1: Collocations for job Reading 1: - Practice: Situation &
interview 39-43 discussion
- Listening 1: Job interview at a hotel
- Listening 2: Talking about your weaknesses
- Listening 3: Questions for the interviewer
- Language focus 2: Asking questions
diplomatically
- Output: A job interview
WRITING 2: COVERING LETTER FOR A Reading 1: - Writing assignments
JOB APPLICATION (A2) 44-45

5 GROUP PRESENTATION 3 (A1)

ORGANIZING FOR BUSINESS Reading 2: - Questions and answers
(CHAPTER 5 – 1st half) 109-121 - Discussion
- Questions and answers
GROUP PRESENTATION 4 (A1) Reading 2: - Discussion
121-133
ORGANIZING FOR BUSINESS
(CHAPTER 5 – 2nd half)
6 UNIT 6: MANAGING Reading 1: - Lecture
ONLINE ORGANIZATIONS 57-59 - Practice
6.2 Practice: Company development
- Listening 1: How Bryanston Organic
Market developed
- Listening 2: External reasons for change Reading 1: - Practice: Situation &
- Transferable skill: Making timelines 60-61 discussion
6.3 Skills: Starting a meeting
- Listening 1: Before a meeting
- Listening 2: The agenda
- Language focus: Linking words and
vocabulary for the agenda
- Output: A company in crisis
WRITING 3: EVERYDAY BUSINESS Reading 1: - Writing assignments
EMAILS (A2) 62-63

7 PROGRESS TEST (A3) Reading 1 - Correction

PRACTICE Reading 2 - Practice:
Supplementary
exercises
- Questions and answers
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 - Discussion
8 GROUP PRESENTATION 5 (A1)
DISTRIBUTION (CHAPTER 14 – 1st half) Reading 2: - Questions and answers
337-345 - Discussion

GROUP PRESENTATION 6 (A1) Reading 2: - Questions and answers

345-356
DISTRIBUTION (CHAPTER 14 – 2nd half) - Discussion

9 UNIT 7: SUPPLY CHAIN Reading 1: - Lecture

ONLINE MANAGEMENT (SCM) 67-69 - Practice
7.2 Practice: The role of the customer in
SCM
- Reading1: Introduction to IKEA’s supply
chain
- Reading 2: IKEA and the primary sector
- Reading 3: IKEA and the secondary and
tertiary sector
Reading 1: - Practice: Situation &
7.3 Skills: Negotiation skills 70-71 discussion
- Listening 1: Exchanging information
- Listening 2: Persuading
- Language focus: The language of
negotiations
- Output: Logistics meeting
Reading 1: - Writing assignments
WRITING 4: WRITING GROUP EMAILS 80-81
(A2)

10 GROUP PRESENTATION 7 (A1) Reading 2: - Questions and answers

MARKETING AND CONSUMER 263-272 - Discussion
BEHAVIOR (CHAPTER 11 – 1st half)

GROUP PRESENTATION 8 (A1) Reading 2: - Questions and answers

MARKETING AND CONSUMER 273-283 - Discussion
BEHAVIOR (CHAPTER 11 – 2nd half)

11 UNIT 9: MARKETING STRATEGY

9.2 Practice: Marketing strategy in the Reading 1: - Lecture
paper industry 85-87 - Practice
- Listening 1: Target markets and product
- Listening 2: Price and promotion
- Listening 3: Place and international
marketing - Practice: Situation &
9.3 Skills: Organizing and creating Reading 1: discussion
interesting presentations 88-89
- Listening 1: The classic introduction
- Language focus: Clarity and signposting
- Listening 2: A persuasive introduction
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 - Language focus 2: Persuading and raising
interest
- Output: Introduction to a marketing
strategy presentation
WRITING 5: RESPONDING TO WRITTEN Reading 1:
COMPLAINTS (A2)
98-99 - Writing assignments

12 REVISION (A2) Reading 1 - Practice

ONLINE PROJECT EVALUATION (A3) 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. Oral group presentation 30 pts Midterm 40%
A2. Progress test 30 pts score
A3. Project 40 pts
100 pts
A4. Final test 100 pts Final score 60%
100 pts
100% (Passing Grade: 5/10)
(See detailed rubrics attached. A1, A3, A4 – Rubric DTI 04; A2 – Rubric DTI 07)

VII. Course alignment matrix

Course learning outcomes (CLOs) Programme Teaching and Assessment

learning outcomes learning activities tasks
(PLOs)

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 business PLO5 – L1 D, P A1, A2, A3,

situations. A4

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

VIII. Course policies

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 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.

Designed by: Phan Thanh Hung, Ph.D.

Updated by:
- January 2021: Phan Thanh Hung, Ph.D.
- April 2023: Tran Thi Van Hoai, Ph.D.

Date of approval: April 2023

Approved by Approved by

Nguyen Dang Nguyen, Ph.D. Department of American and British

Dean, Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature Culture and Literature