The goal of this course is to build upon already acquired knowledge of general German (minimum level B1 according to the CEF – Central European Framework) and for students to acquire receptive, structural, and productive language competence in the process of understanding Business German. It involves enabling students to work independently on specialist texts in German, which entails knowledge of the structure of a specialist text and approaches to text comprehension (Lesestrategien: globales Lesen und selektives Lesen). Familiarisation with grammatical structures typical of Business German and with business terminology. Development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in Business German, with an emphasis on communication competences and skills in presenting professional content in German.
The content of this course offers students a theoretical and practical foundation for understanding the differences between a foreign language for specific purposes and a general foreign language; it introduces them to the world of business communication (Willkommen, Begrüßungen und Verabschiedungen, Sich und andere vorstellen, Small Talk) and highlights the different norms of behaviour of various business partners from different countries, as well as their customs and attitudes (Andere Länder, andere Sitten). The content is focused on consolidating existing knowledge and ensuring the knowledge and skills required for a foreign language for specific purposes course at university level.
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
1. define basic business terms, collocations and idioms in German and apply them in a given context,
2. understand texts on business topics, identify key ideas and find specific information,
3. use grammatical structures characteristic of B1 level Business German,
4. achieve independent oral communication typical of general business situations.
