Higher Institute of Studies Applied to Humanities University of Tunis

2nd Year English 2022-2023

ELECTIVE 1: Business communication

Course Instructor: Dr. Asma MAAOUI

Course Description:
In order to achieve their employability goals, learners need to improve their knowledge of
English language as it is used in the workplace and also develop key communication skills
for the international and intercultural workplace. This course is designed to give students
of English for Business Communication an overview of the nature, function and centrality
of communication in professional settings. It is also based on the development of genre
awareness, the ability to develop discourse competence where language is strongly
embedded in a corporate, social, interpersonal and cultural setting. It particularly
emphasises the role of communication in establishing a favourable professional
environment and achieving business goals successfully.
By the end of this course, the students should be able to:
Semester 1
We Topic Specific objectives
ek
1-2 Introduction to business Define “business communication” from the
communication perspectives of business and applied linguistics
Describe the characteristics of communicating
effectively in the business world (principles,
organization, using conventions…)
Discuss the dimensions involved in business
communication (linguistic, personal, interpersonal,
professional…)
3-4 • The Functions of Identify and define the functions of business
Business communication with examples
Communication Analyze a business text (written or oral) to identify
• Written and Spoken the communicative purpose and rhetorical
Communication in expressions used to convey it
Business
• Business and other Analyze a text to identify communication problems
Styles of Suggest ways of improving communication at the
Communication workplace
• Codes in business
communication
Planning what you are Identify the communicative purposes and the
going to say business goals and the way they are related
5-6
• Reasons for
writing or
speaking/ The
 communicative
purpose Identify and describe the audience and how it
• Accounting for the shapes the textual in a message (tone, formality…)
audience/
anticipating the
reaction
7-8 Interpersonal skills in Describe the characteristics of face to face
action communication in business (the importance of
Communicating face to socializing)
face Analyze the language of socializing in a business-
related context (listening and speaking)

e.g., welcoming visitors in a company

Semester 2
Group Discussions vs http://managementstudyguide.com/lms/pluginfile.php
public speaking /2715/mod_presentation/content/2/Objective1-What-
is-Group-Discussion/html5.html
http://managementstudyguide.com/lms/pluginfile.php
The seen Cs of business /2715/mod_presentation/content/2/Objective1-What-
communication is-Group-Discussion/html5.html
http://managementstudyguide.com/

9 Communicating Demonstrate an understanding of communicating in

electronically in business business vs e-business
10 Communication channels Identify and describe the medium and channel in a
and media message
Describe the advantage sand disadvantages of the
medium and channel
11 Verbal and non-verbal Analyze a piece of discourse while identifying the
discourse in business verbal and the non-verbal and the relationship
communication between them
Using visual aids in Use appropriate language to describe a non-verbal
technical communication message
Understand and identify the link between the verbal
and the non-verbal in business discourse through
different examples (oral and written genres)
Use rhetorical structures and vocabulary pertinent to
meaning construction in verbal discourse in relation
to visuals, graphs…
12 Intercultural Develop and demonstrate awareness about issues
communication in challenges related to intercultural communication
business Communicate effectively using English as a Lingua
Franca
Analyze a case critically
 13 Interviews http://managementstudyguide.com/lms/pluginfile.php
e.g., business report /120343/mod_presentation/content/1/Facing-
Interview-for-Success-Demo/index.html
business
presentations
References

Bennie, M. (2009). A Guide to Good Business Communication (5th edition). How to write
and speak English well in every business situation. Taylor & Francis.

Bruckmann, C. G., & Hartley, P. (2001). Business Communication: An Introduction. Taylor

Dubicka, I., O'keeffe, M., Dignen, B., Hogan, M., and Wright, R. (2019). Business
Partner B1+. Pearson.

Gerson, S. J., & Gerson, S. M. (2012). Technical communication: Process and product.
Boston, MA: Prentice Hall,.

Guffey, M., Loewy, D., & Almonte, R. (2016). Essentials of Business Communication (8th
Can. ed.). Toronto, Nelson.

Locker, K. O., & Kaczmarek, S. K. (2009). Business Communication: Building Critical

Skills. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Quintanilla, K. M., & Wahl, S. T. (2018). Business and professional communication: keys
for workplace excellence. Sage Publications.

Schofield, J. (2012). Workplace English 1. Collins English for Work.

Sweeney, S. (2003). English for Business Communication. Cambridge University Press.