NLIII_02 Bussiness and Scientific Communication

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Sofie Rose-Anne W. Royeaerd, M.A. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marta Kostelecká, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Sofie Rose-Anne W. Royeaerd, M.A.
Department of German, Scandinavian and Netherland Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Marta Kostelecká, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of German, Scandinavian and Netherland Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:40 J.401, except Wed 15. 11.
Prerequisites
Required knowledge of Dutch: B1(+).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is intended for students of Dutch who have reached level B1(+). The aim is to familiarize them with various forms of business communication in Dutch.
The focus is primarily on (formal and informal) conversations at work and (formal and informal) business correspondence. With the help of the book De juiste toon, various speech acts (requesting, making a proposal, rejecting something, apologizing, giving feedback,...) are analyzed by means of concrete examples and subsequently practiced.
In addition, different sorts of formal letters (request letters, letters of complaint, bad newsletters, application letters,...) and other forms of business communication are discussed and practiced, such as negotiating, presenting, telephoning, meeting and taking minutes. For this purpose, exercises and example sentences from the book Ter Zake are being used.
In this course all language skills (reading, listening, speaking and writing) are practiced (target level: B1+). Students acquire the necessary vocabulary to communicate in various business situations with an eye for the appropriate style.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should:
- be able to perform various speech acts (such as giving feedback, suggesting and rejecting something) correctly and in an appropriate style, both in writing and orally
- have a good knowledge of vocabulary and collocations to communicate fluently in various work-related situations (e.g. during telephone calls or meetings)
- know and be able to apply the conventions of business correspondence and be able to write different types of letters (e.g. letters of complaint or letters of application)
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction / writing formal letters + advising
  • 2. Requesting / + letters of request
  • 3. Making a proposal / + informative letters
  • 4. Rejecting something / + bad newsletters
  • 5. Negotiating
  • 6. Apologizing / + letters of complaint and replies
  • 7. Telephone conversations
  • 8. Giving positive feedback / + letters of appliction and CV's
  • 9. Giving negative feedback / + job interviews and evaluation interviews
  • 10. Giving presentations
  • 11. Micro language acts in conversations / + presentation and feedback
  • 12. Holding a meeting and taking minutes
  • 13. Repetition: conducting conversations at work + corresponding
Literature
    required literature
  • NAEFF Roos & Saarein TE BRAKE, De juiste toon. Zakelijk Nederlands voor anderstaligen. Bussum: Coutinho, 2022. 133 s. ISBN 978 90 469 0663 7.
  • BEKKERS Lyan & Susan MENNEN, Ter Zake. Zakelijk Nederlands voor anderstaligen. Amsterdam/Antwerpen: Intertaal, 2011. 200 s. ISBN 978 90 5451 0277.
    recommended literature
  • BAALEN, P. C. van. Taal in zaken : Zakelijk Nederlands voor anderstaligen. Utrecht: Nederlands Centrum Buitenlanders, 2003, 304 s. ISBN 9055176095. info
Teaching methods
Intensive seminars: analyzing examples of business communication together, performing short written tasks, practicing speaking and conversational skills, including giving a presentation
Homework: studying examples of business communication, learning and repeating example sentences and vocabulary, preparing different types of tasks (e.a. writing assignments)
Assessment methods
Conditions for participation in the exam:
- Presence (max. 2 absences) and active cooperation
- Preparing weekly homework and submitting it on time
- Perform oral tasks (conversations, presentations, meetings,...) during class (+ peer and teacher feedback)
Written exam:
Vocabulary (completing sentences), style (adjusting sentences), writing tasks (short mail and longer letter)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2023/NLIII_02