EIL3102 - The Language of Professional Communication

Leader: Lorraine Bullock

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit will focus on the language expected by various professions in which the students will be engaged on the completion of their study. This unit widens the student's language strategies and textual understanding beyond their academic experience. It covers interpersonal and inter cultural communication in a range of diverse situations, from negotiating in groups to presenting formal written presentations and reports. Students will have the opportunity to consider the cultural background to a range of documented communicative problems especially associated with multilingual communication.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit it is expected that students, as multilingual speakers, will be able to:

1. Identify how communication is organised in a wide variety of professional contexts within the professional genres of English.
2. Identify the difference between correct language use and appropriate language choice within a variety of professional situations.
3. Understand the importance of cultural literacy as a communicative influence on language choice.
4. Participate in spoken presentations using appropriate situational based language and genres.
5. Understand the language of interpersonal relationships within the professional context.
6. Understand the social and cultural features of the language of negotiation within professional context.
7. Recognize the communicative expectations of all the members within the various professional discourse communities they may enter.
8. Understand and work within both the limitations and the individual potential in the genres associated with various professional discourse communities.
9. Recognise many of the interpersonal and intercultural features of communication that influence choice, structure and organisation in the language associated with different professional situations.
10. Be able to make informed choices in language and genre that empower them to participate fully in the communicative life of their chosen profession.

Assessment

Written (2000 words): 35%
Oral Presentation (1000 words): 25%
Participation: 5%
Research Project (1500 words): 35%

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour workshop) per week