German 414/001 3.0 Term 2 Business German II
Macroeconomic Orientation
Prerequisite: German 300 or equivalent
Course description:
This course is designed to introduce students to the terminology used in German business contexts and to familiarize them with a wide variety of macroeconomic themes. We will look at current German economic issues as well as their global implications – topics such as the European Union and its defining characteristics, the Euro and the financial system, industry and trade, agriculture and ecology, the resource sector and energy policy, climate change and the environment, sustainability and consumerism. In addition, a continuous intercultural component aims at preparing students for a range of social sensitivities and behavioral challenges encountered in the German corporate arena.
Our textbook and custom course materials will serve as the primary resources but we will also draw on audio-visual components, online publications and other authentic materials from the German-speaking media. This course is most appropriate for students who are in their third year of post-secondary study in the German language. No prior business knowledge is required. Instruction will be in German and students are expected to actively engage in class and group discussions in order to build strong communication and team working skills. The course is not intended to teach grammar which is reinforced through regular reading and writing.
Grades will be based on exams, assignments, class/group participation, an in-class group presentation and an end-of-term project. Students can also take the optional exam BULATS (Business Language Testing Service) which is being offered by Goethe-Instituts worldwide. It rewards those who pass with an internationally recognized assessment of proficiency in the language of Business German.
