BDM104K English for Specific Purposes I

Faculty of Law
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Asynchronous teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Štěpánka Dillingerová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Štěpánka Dillingerová, Ph.D.
Language Centre, Faculty of Law Division – Faculty Branches of University Departments – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Lenka Pavlíková
Supplier department: Language Centre, Faculty of Law Division – Faculty Branches of University Departments – Faculty of Law
Prerequisites
! OBOR(PR) && ! OBOR(PR01) && ! PROGRAM(N-VS)
The students must have at least an intermediate level of general English (B1+ according to the CEFR) before they enter the course. All language skills will be practised with a particular focus on English for specific purposes and English for academic purposes.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The objective of the subject is to: - get familiar with the basic professional terminology in English focused on international commercial law, specifically sale contracts and contractual terms,
- enhance summarizing and presenting key ideas from texts in English,
- develop an understanding of texts/recordings dealing with international commercial law topics,
- explore examples of sale contracts in English, typical contractual vocabulary, and basic clauses,
- practice conducting (commercial law) expert-client meetings,
- practice writing formal emails in English.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to: - understand simple texts on international commercial law topics (basic terminology, contracts, and contractual terms),
- explain basic terms from these areas,
- prepare and present the main ideas of a given professional text,
- describe the structure and language of sale contracts in English,
- describe the basic clauses of a sale contract in English (e.g. delivery terms, payment terms), contractual obligations, and potential consequences of their breaches,
- conduct a consultation meeting with an English-speaking client,
- write a formal email in English.
Key topics
1. Introduction to commercial law terminology
2. Commercial contract structure and language
3. Contractual terms and a breach of contract
4. Basic clauses in international commercial contracts
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • materiály ve složce Učební materiály ve studijních materiálech v IS MU
    recommended literature
  • BILOVÁ, Štěpánka; Radmila DOUPOVCOVÁ; Alena HRADILOVÁ; Věra HROMÁDKOVÁ; Barbora CHOVANCOVÁ; Hana KALLUS and Radek ŠIMEK. Právnická angličtina : kniha ušitá na míru českým právníkům. První vydání. Praha: Grada, 2022, 325 stran. ISBN 9788027125371. URL info
  • ŠOPOVOVÁ, Radoslava and Radek ŠIMEK. Introduction to English for International Trade Law. 1.vydání. Masarykova univerzita Brno, 2005, 99 pp. Právnická fakulta, Multimediální učební text č.15. ISBN 80-210-3777-06. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
The teaching methods include three formats: - an initial mandatory interactive face-to-face session with the student's attendance at the faculty building to explain the subject's content, teaching methods, and final assessment requirements,
- asynchronous e-learning (individual self-study) using provided materials in the Information System (IS): ROPOTs with texts, videos, and audio exercises as well as vocabulary practice.
- synchronous MS Teams interactive sessions in which the outcomes of the individual preparations will be presented and discussed, using group work and cooperative learning. Emphasis will be placed on self-reflection, providing feedback and improving interactive and productive language skills. Communication between students will take place both during the sessions (in-person and online) and through the subject team in MS Teams or through discussion forums in the MUNI IS.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The course is concluded with a colloquium. The requirements for passing the colloquium is:
- attending the sessions (face=to=face, online)
- completing e-learning tasks during the semester (ROPOTs)
- the completion of a language portfolio ("colloquium tasks"): evaluation of the group MS Teams tasks, recorded presentation, describing a sample of a sale contract, providing expert advice, writing an email
- final self-reflection.
Alternate completion
The description of substitution tasks is given in the IS Interactive Syllabuse.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Up-to-date information, including e-learning support (ROPOTs), is provided in the course materials and interactive syllabus.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/autumn2026/BDM104K