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Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

German as a Foreign Language - Specialized Language course

Semester 1 · 27118 · Bachelor in Economics, Politics and Ethics · 3CP · DE


The course is designed to acquire further language skills. A basic course in specific language for economics students based on the B2 -> C1 (CEFR). The course focuses on the various styles of language used in the field of economics and business studies and aims to improve the students’ receptive, but above all, productive language skills in general.

Lecturers: Brigitte Widmann
Teaching assistants: Lisa Widmann

Teaching Hours: 30
Lab Hours: -
Mandatory Attendance: Suggested, but not required.

Course Topics
Topics covered include an introduction to more complex grammatical structures used in this field and at this level, with subsequent consolidation through the use of practical applications. There will also be emphasis on improving productive skills, especially writing skills, so that the students can produce accurate, cohesive texts in German for professional use.

Propaedeutic courses
Proficiency at B2 level recommended (CEFR).

Teaching format
Active participation in classes is expected. Teaching methodology emphasizes student co-operation and participation in the classroom through individual, pair and group work.

Educational objectives
Knowledge and understanding: By the end of the programme, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills: - analyse the demand and supply of goods and services; - the ability to understand the price mechanism in market economies; - the ability to apply the concepts of game theory to the economic behaviour of public and private actors; - the ability to understand the role of governments in market economies; - the ability to analyse the behaviour of economic variables in the short, medium and long run; - the ability to place economic thinking in a historical context and to assess the role of technology and social change in the development of economic thinking; - the ability to understand complex texts in the field of economics in the three languages of instruction; - the ability to analyse human behaviour in organisations; - the ability to understand theories of organisational decision-making; - the ability to understand how political decisions are made and how these decisions affect the economy; - recognising and understanding the conditions required for sustainable economic development, taking into account the environment and natural resources; - understand the reasons for economic growth and development of countries; - understand the basic principles of the functioning of labour markets; - estimation and interpretation of econometric models for the empirical analysis of the above problems. Applying knowledge and understanding: the ability to communicate fluently and spontaneously with native speakers on economic topics. Communication skills: Fluency in written and spoken Italian, German and English, including the translation of these languages. Intercultural competence. Conceptual conciseness, ability to capture facts in writing, especially for scientific and science-based texts.

Assessment
The written exam tests competence in reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar A monolingual dictionary is permitted. The portfolio contains the written work that students are given to do outside the classroom with a focus on central aspects of the programme. The oral examination is divided into three parts: • introduce oneself • presentation of a project or a topic • discussion of the contents of the portfolio

Evaluation criteria
• 50% written exam • 10% portfolio • 40% oral examination Evaluation criteria are clarity of answers, mastery and correctness of language, ability to summarize, evaluate, and establish relationships between topics.

Required readings

G. Fuhr: Grammatik des Wissenschaftsdeutschen, Julius Groos Verlag – Heidelberg




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Sustainable Development Goals
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals.

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