All course materials including readings and audio-visual files will be provided during the course via E-learning or MS Teams.

Supplementary resources

A. Barker (2016). Improve Your Communication Skills, 4th edition, Kogan Page, ISBN: 978-0-7494-7575-8

Online dictionaries

Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary (monolingual): https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/

Word Reference (English-Chinese):

https://www.wordreference.com/enzh/

1.Course Introduction + Self-Introductions /Pronunciation Assessment + Introduction to Dialogue Journal Writing

2.Study Goals + Skills, Norms and Standards /Pronunciation Practice

3.Visiting Places/Pronunciation Practice

4.Hosting Visitors + Networking /Pronunciation Practice

5.Eating Out + Socializing / Pronunciation Practice

6.Business Travel / Pronunciation Practice

7.Presentations 1 - Introduction + Practice / Pronunciation Practice

8.Opinions + Meetings: opinions and suggestions /Pronunciation Practice

9.Presentations 2 /Pronunciation Practice

10.Dates, Numbers and Trends

11.Working together/Pronunciation Practice

12.Online* Student Presentations

13.Reflective Essay Due, most frequent mistakes

14.REVIEW - Feedback

Students are expected to have the minimum A2+/B1 level of English knowledge in order to communicate in face-to-face situations and in writing.

Active participation: As the course focuses on active communication, attendance is mandatory, and students can miss a maximum of 8 sessions total out of 56. Active participation also includes the preparation and submission of homework. Two incomplete homework assignments count as one absence.

Dialogue Journal writing: Students are required to write and respond regularly based on the dialogue journal instructions.

Presentation: Students will give a 5-minute presentation on the topic of their choice at the end of the course.

Reflective essay: Students will submit a 250-word reflective essay based on their dialogue journal writing.