BANKING ACADEMY

FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY

ENGLISH 3 SYLLABUS
I. Course description
In this course you will learn about:
 Key vocabulary of banking products and services, retail banking, loans and credit, financial statements and
accounting.
 Languages used in giving permission; talking about necessity and prohibition; expressions of likelihood and
probability; giving advices and suggestions; and talking about figures.
 Background knowledge on the organization of the financial industry, retail banking, loans and credit, and
accounting.
II. Course objectives
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
 understand the organization of the financial industry, the future of bank branches, basic knowledge about
banks and bonds, the rationales of lending decision, and the types of accounting.
 understand and apply key terminologies relating to studied subjects into professional and daily situations,
that means:
 read and/or listen to news, articles, journals, books extracts, etc. about banking products and services
and discuss them
 read and understand terms in financial statements (balance sheet, income statements)
III. Materials
 Compulsory material: English 3 text book
 Suggested books of references:
 Banking transaction text book
 Marie McLisky, English for Banking in higher Education studies, Garnet Education
 Richard Clark and David Baker (2011), Finance1, Oxford English for Careers
 Jim Corbett (2002), English for International Banking and Finance, Cambridge
IV. Evaluation and grading policy
Mark Midterm 1 Midterm 2 Attendance & Final
participation exam
Weight 15% 15% 10% 60%
Notes:
 Midterm tests are placed on day 7 and day 13
 Mini tests can be weekly or randomly placed by your teacher.
 Attendance: you are required to attend full course with only 01 day off.
 Participation: in class discussions, exercise corrections, homework preparation, assignments
 V. Course schedule
Day Unit In-class Activities Main focus Homework
1  Class arrangement, Search information
 Introduction to the course, about organization of
 Diagnostic test the financial industry
2 Unit1.  Listening:  Vocabulary: banking products & services, bank 1. Make glossary for
3 The 1. The development of account terms & conditions unit1
4 organization the financial industry  Language: permission, necessity & prohibition 2. Search information
of the financial 2. going international  Key concepts: about retail banking
industry  Reading: Regulation &  types of financial institutions: banks,
deregulation insurance companies, building societies
 Speaking: class (customers, services, source of income)
discussion and/or role  types of banks: retail, commercial,
play investment
 Internationalization vs. homogenization
5 Unit 2.  Reading:  Vocabulary: retail banking terms, phrasal verbs 1. Make glossary for
6 Retail banking 1. commercial &  Language: likelihood & probability unit2
7 investment banking;  Key concepts: 2. Search information
2. the future of bank  retail banking (features, pros & cons, future), about loans and
branches plastic money & non-cash payment credit
 Listening: retail  internet banking (features, pros & cons,
banking future)
 Speaking: class
discussion and/or role
play
 Midterm test 1(day7)
8 Unit 3.  Reading: Banks and  Vocabulary: loans & credit terms, word 1. Make glossary for
9 Loans & credit bonds combination unit3
10  Listening:  Language: advising & suggesting 2. Search information
1. lending decisions  Key concepts: about accounting
2. margins  banks’ lending decisions (who to lend to, at
 Speaking: class what interest rate, how to determine interest
discussion and/or role rate, different costs involved in calculating bank’s
play margin, how to reduce risks?)
 Midterm test 1  companies’ raising capital options( debt
correction (day9) financing, equity financing)
 types of bonds: treasury bond, junk bond,
floating-rate bond, zero-coupon bond
11 Unit 4.  Reading:  Vocabulary: financial statements & accounting 1. Make glossary for
12 Accounting  Listening: types of terms unit4
13 accounting, financial  Language: talking about figures 2. Preparation for
statements, Barclay  Key concepts: speaking test
Balance sheet  different jobs of the accounting profession
 Speaking: class  Types of accounting and auditing
discussion and/or role  3 main types of financial statements
play  3 stakeholders of financial statements
 Midterm test 2(day
13)
 Writing portfolio
submission (day13)
14 Speaking test
15 Midterm test 2 correction (wk15)
16 Revision
17
 Suggested topics for oral presentation

1. The organization of the financial industry

2. Retail banking and the future of bank branches in Vietnam
3. Internet banking and home banking
4. Banks’ lending decisions
5. Corporates’ options for raising capital
6. The importance of accounting
7. Financial statements

Suggested topics for writing assignments

1. What are the the main services that retail banks provide to customers? How would you recommend to improve
retail banking services in Vietnam?
2. Internet banking and home banking are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Discribe the main
features and show the PROs and CONs of those services.
3. Distinguish the three main financial statements that companies include in their Annual reports. Why is it
important that financial statements give a true and fair view of a company’s profit, assets and liabilities?