Goals: To develop four skills (speaking, writing, listening, reading) and to be able to use them in business communication. To obtain professional competence in the English language which will help you to use your knowledge successfully in authentic sphere of business communication. To prepare for the international Cambridge examination Business English Certificate Preliminary (BEC Preliminary).
Course description
This course is intended for people who work or want to work in the sphere of business, including marketing, production, finance services and work in the office. Class size – 10-12 students. Enrollment is based on interview results. The course is integrated with the course of preparation for the international examination Business English Certificate Preliminary, which evaluates your ability to use English in a big number of functions, including making CVs, filling in forms, providing personal information, etc.
Level needed
Pre-Intermediate – Intermediate level.
Exam structure
Business English Certificate Preliminary has 3 parts:
Reading & Writing: you will have to fulfill some tasks of the following types: multiple choice, matching, Right/Wrong/Doesn't Say, multiple choice gap-filling and form-filling; and to produce a piece of internal company communication (approx. 30-40 words), and a piece of business communication, based on Reading input (approx. 60-80 words).
Listening: you will face several tasks of the following types: multiple choice, gap-filling and form-filling.
Speaking: you will have to answer questions, make short presentations (duration: one minute), participate in pair work and discussions.
What you will have at the end of the course
know up-to-date business terminology; know collocations used in business communication; develop a number of language skills necessary for business conduct; know how to use grammar in business communication; be able to read, understand and summarize content of texts with different degree of understanding; understand the meaning and the purpose of short business texts, such as notification, advertisement, memoranda; understand description of graphs, tables and schemes; produce texts on business issues according to requirements of the language situation; be able to listen to foreign texts and extract specific information; be able to listen to and understand factual information (dates, process, telephone numbers, etc.); be able to talk on a number of topics in the business sphere; be able to read, understand and summarize content of business texts (Mass Media articles, press releases, interviews, notes, advertising texts, memoranda, reports, presentations, notifications, business correspondence) with different degree of understanding.
BEC Preliminary preparation
follow a simple presentation; offer advice to clients within own job area on simple matters; make notes on routine matters, such as placing orders; write straightforward, routine letters of a factual nature; make CVs; fill in forms; provide personal information.
Advantages of taking BEC
- a BEC certificate is valid for life;
- BEC is recognised around the world for business and study purposes;
- you will have a great advantage in the jobs market;
- you will have much greater flexibility if you want to work abroad;
- BEC is officially recognised by more than a thousand employers, educational institutions, ministries, government bodies and professional organisations all over the world as a suitable qualification for business use;
- leading international companies such as Sony Ericsson, Shell, Vodafone, Bayer, Coca-Cola and HSBC have all recognised BEC in their overseas offices.
Course duration
1 academic year (2 semesters) – 200 academic hours of class work and the same number of hours of independent work.
Completion documents
Certificate of completion of the “Business English Course” at the Cambridge English Centre and the University of Cambridge Certificate Business English Certificate Preliminary; Certificate of advanced training “The English language and intercultural communication”.
Time-table
Three times a week at 19.00. Each lesson lasts 4 academic hours.
