University of Technology SydneyHandbook 2008

26004 Business Communication Skills 4

Faculty of Business
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Postgraduate

Result Type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject focuses on further developing the written language skills required for postgraduate study in accounting and employment in Australia. Students take a critical/analytical approach to understanding and producing written and spoken texts appropriate for the Australian context.

Readings and documentary films relevant to accounting studies are supplemented by language test preparation material.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

  1. select, evaluate and use a variety of sources of information relevant to postgraduate Accounting studies and professional employment.
  2. understand and produce oral and written texts relevant to the requirements of postgraduate Accounting studies and of professional employment in the Australian context.
  3. be familiar with the critical elements associated with the successful of completion of a language test.

Contribution to graduate profile

This elective subject provides postgraduate Accounting students with integrated academic language and professional communication skills during their postgraduate studies at UTS. It builds on Business Communication Skills I and contributes to the objectives of other core subjects by focusing on the development of vocationally relevant understandings of language and communication needs in the context of organisations in Australia and internationally. The main contribution of this subject and other Communication Skills subjects is to enable graduates of the Master of Professional Accounting to achieve an IELTS band score of 7.0.

Teaching and learning strategies

The lectures and workshops will incorporate a range of teaching and experiential learning strategies including videos, simulations, debates, readings and case studies.

Content

An integrated approach is taken to the teaching of subject topics/components.

  • Critical reading and thinking
  • Critical writing at postgraduate level
  • Summarising and paraphrasing
  • Tutorial participation and seminar presentation
  • Listening and note-taking
  • Preparing for formal language tests (IELTS)

In this subject the level of difficulty of these topics is determined by students' language needs in the context of their postgraduate Accounting studies and future employment.

Assessment

In-class assessment activities: information evaluation, critical reading, summarising/paraphrasing, timed writing exercises and oral presentation (Individual)40%
This addresses objectives 1and 2.
Accounting/Business report (Individual)40%
This addresses objectives 1 and 2.
Language test: IELTS (Individual)20%
This addresses objective 3.

Recommended text(s)

Eunson, B. (2005), Communicating in the 21st century, Wiley, Melbourne.

Faculty of Business (2006), Guide to Writing Assignments, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney.

Jakeman, V & McDowell, C, 2008, New Insight into IELTS, CUP, Cambridge

Indicative references

Commonwealth of Australia. (2002) Style manual, 6th edition Wiley, Melbourne

Mohan, T., McGregor, H., Saunders, S. & Archee, R. (2004), Communicating as professionals. Thomson, Australia.