COURSE AIMS
This course introduces students to the business and economic world through a selection of newspaper articles and authentic materials that highlight the specialist vocabulary and grammatical structures needed for specific business contexts. Students develop language skills for comprehension and expression which prepare them for interactive communication in real-life situations, such as debates, presentations and simulations.
PROGRAM
Grammatical and lexical study of texts and activities in the following areas:
1. Introduction to the economic world
• The Spanish economy: its sociocultural and economic diversity. Economic cycles.
• Economic indicators: income and wealth. Income levels and purchasing power.
• Consumption: consumer and public goods.
• The transition from old to new technologies: a socioeconomic perspective.
• The labour market: the concept of time as an economic commodity. • The tourism sector and its impact on the economy: organizations, companies and jobs in the tourism sector. The leisure and cultural economy.
2. Business organization
• The company. Types of companies.
• Business sectors: statistics, evolution.
• How a company works: departments and posts.
• Work contracts.
3. Human resources
• Job opportunities. Seeking work: curriculum vitae and cover letter.
• Human resources. Salary systems. Types of salary. Types of business letters.
READING LIST
ANES GONZALO (Ed.), (1999), Historia económica de España. Siglos XIX y XX, Madrid, Galaxia Gutemberg, CÃrculo de Lectores.
BARRENECHEA, J. et alii, (1997), Los contratos más utilizados en la empresa, Bilbao, Deusto.
HINDLE, T., (1998), La entrevista provechosa, Grijalbo, Barcelona.
HINDLE, T., (1998), La presentación convincente, Grijalbo, Barcelona.
HORNER, D. â€" AZAOLA-BLAMONT, I., (1994), 1000 palabras de negocios, Difusión, Barcelona.
TAMAMES, R â€" GALLEGO, S., (2000), Diccionario de EconomÃa y Finanzas, Madrid, Alianza Editorial.
EVALUATION
As the course combines theory and practice, evaluation will be based on class attendance and participation, as well as on a final written examination.
(Second quadrimester)
PROGRAM
Grammatical and lexical study of texts and activities in the following areas:
1. Introduction to the economic world
• The Spanish economy: its sociocultural diversity. The affluent society.
• The building sector: Young people and access to housing. Financing a home purchase. Choosing a financial institution. Applying for a credit and a mortgage loan.
• Banking. The main banking operations. Types of international payment.
• Introduction to the financial system: savings and investment. Practices, trends and profiles of Spanish savers and investors. Intercultural aspects of the world of finance. Business approaches to capital, profit and investment.
• Business strategies in the industrial sector: wealth and expansion. International markets and the globalization of the economy.
2. Business organization
• Companies and the environment.
• Labour relations and the work place.
• Chambers of Commerce.
• Employers and unions: conflicts, solutions, strikes.
3. The product
• Consumers and products. Products and companies exemplifying differentiation strategies. Product design.
• Communication strategies in marketing, advertising and public relations.
BASIC READING LIST
ALI, M., (2002), El marketing eficaz, Grijalbo, México.
ANES GONZALO (Ed.), (1999), Historia económica de España. Siglos XIX y XX, Madrid, Galaxia Gutemberg, CÃrculo de Lectores.
BARRENECHEA,
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