BLOCKS 1 and 3 for Fulltime ONLY  (info for parttime comes after)

The Business English and Artificial Intelligence Minor for blocks 1 and 3 is intended only for full-time nonnative speakers who wish to improve their business communication skills in English with AI as a resource and tool. The minor covers international topics to prepare students for working in an international business environment where English is the working language. There will be a domestic or international project which will make use of AI.  If domestic, the objective of the project will be to pitch an innovative business idea  related to a social enterprise in a live presentation. The international project is a 5 week long collaboration between American and AUAS students to research and create a team video related to intercultural communication and business with the use of AI. Besides the project, there is a self-study grammar component and several opportunities to practice speaking with AI as a tool. With the above activities, students have the opportunity to meet the language goal of C1 or advanced level according to the CEFR. The contact person for this minor is Dr. Barbara L. Ciccarelli email: b.l.ciccarelli@hva.nl

BLOCKS 2 and 4 for Parttime ONLY

The Business English and Artificial Intelligence Minor for blocks 2 and 4 is intended only for part-time nonnative speakers who wish to improve their business communication skills in English with AI as a resource and tool. The minor covers international topics to prepare students for working in an international business environment where English is the working language.  This course goes at a more moderate pace than the full-time version with some work-based assignments to keep in mind the needs of the parttime student. Furthermore, the majority of the work for the deliverables will be done in class with a review process to assure success.  The project will be domestic or international and will make use of AI.  If domestic, the objective of the project will be to pitch an innovative business idea  related to a social enterprise in a live presentation.  The international project will be a life case abroad (neighboring countries).  Besides the project, there is a self-study grammar component and many chances to practice speaking with AI as a tool.  With the above activities, students have the opportunity to meet the language goal of C1 or advanced level according to the CEFR. The contact person for this minor is Dr. Barbara L. Ciccarelli email: b.l.ciccarelli@hva.nl

 

During this course your English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills will be brought up to advanced and proficiency level, i.e. C1- C2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). After the course, you should be able to communicate more confidently, fluently and naturally in English in any business situation.

The entry level of the course is English at upper intermediate level, (B2 (CEFR level).

Market leader Advanced Extra Coursebook + DVD/MyEnglishLab access code, Margaret O'Keeffe, Pearson Education Limited (Optional)
• ISBN-13: 9781292134734

Please note that a valid MyEnglishLab access code(see above) is required for the Grammar component of the course and only comes with new paperback books or as the digital option. See below link for digital options. Either the access code with the paperback/digital coursebook or digital by itself is required.

https://benelux.pearson.com/nl/products/market-leader-3rd-extra-advanced?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=45907c479&pr_rec_pid=5515496095902&pr_ref_pid=5515494195358&pr_seq=uniform

Grammar Builder, 2nd edition, Paul Emerson, Macmillan. Recommended
ISBN: 9780230732544

Advanced English  Learners Dictionary: Recommended

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6th Edition, available in hard-copy, online and mobile app: http://global.longmandictionaries.com/

You will find a detailed course schedule, course overview and academic calendar on Brightspace. Study these documents carefully so that you have a clear understanding of the content of the course. 

The course schedule may be subject to changes, so you should check the course website for updates frequently. At the beginning of each period, you will be given access to your individual timetable on HvA Timetables.

The classes take place on Wednesday for blocks 1 and 3 (Fulltime) and Tuesday and Thursday evening for blocks 2 and 4 (Parttime), so check the schedule for the exact time.

On completion of the course, you will earn 15 ECs. Below you will find a brief overview of the course deliverables and ECs. You will receive detailed instructions and guidelines at the start of the assignment. 

• Job Application (3 ECs European Credits) (assignments)

These are work-based writing assignments geared towards job hunting in a global business environment where artificial intelligence Is used as part of the review process.  

Further details and specifications relating to deadlines and the content of the assignment will be provided in class.  A deadline will be set previous to the final deadline in order for you to get feedback for revision before handing in your final result.

• MyEnglishLab (3 ECs) (exams)

This grammar component is the digital companion to the advanced Market Leader business English textbook.  It comes with support from the publisher Pearson Education.

• Speaking Exam (2 ECs) (exam)

• Collaborative Activities and Project (possibly international) (5 ECs)  (assignments)

You will use AI for presentations and simulated meetings. For the project, you will put the theory of the course into practice and in doing so brush up on your English skills.  

• Individual Reflection Report (2 ECs) (assignment)

You will write three reflections related to 3 different tasks in the course especially in terms of your improvement of your English Skills.

Questions about the minor?
Contact Barbara Ciccarelli via b.l.ciccarelli@hva.nl

Questions about the Kies op Maat procedure?
Contact onderwijsbureau FBE via onderwijsbureau.fbe@hva.nl

Applications will be processed in order of receipt signed learning agreements.

Testimonials:

"Taking Barbara’s minor was one of the best parts of my studies. The classes were interactive, the content was relevant, and Barbara’s teaching style made everything accessible and enjoyable. I gained valuable skills in Business English and communication that I now apply regularly. I definitely recommend this minor to any student looking to grow professionally in the business world."

"Taking the English Business minor was a great experience that really boosted my confidence in using English. Although I was already quite used to English—especially since so much of the internet is in English—I never really felt confident using it in a professional or academic context. One of the highlights of the minor was the chance to collaborate with an international team on a project. Working closely with people from different backgrounds was both inspiring and exciting, and it made me realize how much I enjoy international teamwork. It’s something I now genuinely look forward to doing more often in the future."

"I really enjoyed following this minor. Barbara is an amazing teacher who has really helped me improve my communication skills. Apart from the weekly classes, it was very meaningful to work together with students from across the globe. In this course I have learned to be more confident in professional communication. I am very grateful for the opportunities this minor has given me."

"Taking Barbara’s minor was one of the best choices I made during my studies. The course was inspiring, well-organized, and really helped me grow both personally and professionally. Barbara created a supportive learning environment where I felt encouraged to share ideas and step out of my comfort zone. I still use the skills and insights I gained during the minor today."

"I really enjoyed the Business English minor. We had fun, interactive classes where we often discussed different topics in English.  These exercises helped me improve my speaking skills and confidence. The teacher was very kind and supportive. We also had homework where we practiced specific skills and reflected on them with the teacher. If I didn’t score well, she always gave me helpful feedback and tips to improve. We also worked on a project with students from Miami [an American university], where we had to create a video of ourselves speaking about a specific topic. It was a great experience to use English in an international context."

"I really enjoyed your minor;  it was one of the best experiences during my studies. I learned so much from you, and I especially appreciated that you are a native English speaker teaching in the Netherlands. It made the learning experience even more learning , and I improved my English a lot. I would highly recommend this minor to anyone who wants to develop and strengthen their English skills. If I had the chance, I would do it again!"

"I really enjoyed your minor — the content was interesting and well-structured, and the COIL project with the students in Miami was a great experience.  I hope more students will get the chance to take your minor."

"In this course I made a lot of connections and memories that I will never forget. I really liked the meetings that we had and my presentation skills have developed significantly. I am very grateful for the chance to follow this minor."

"I really enjoyed your minor. It was interesting, creative, and I learned a lot. The project helped me grow and gave me confidence. You were always supportive and gave clear feedback. I think more students should know about this minor, because it is really worth it."

"I wanted to thank you again for the inspiring minor you taught. I really enjoyed the course and appreciated the way you created an engaging and supportive learning environment."