Language Training and Professional Development Certificate Program for International Executives and Managers
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Global Business Communication (GBC) program provides English language training and professional development to international executives and managers. The GBC program is designed for active professionals with business experience who seek to enhance their business English proficiency and business communication skills and to expand their cross-cultural business awareness for work in the international arena.
GBC is a non-degree certificate program for busy professionals who are willing to invest 8 to 16 weeks for language and cross-cultural business communication training. In addition to practical classroom training, events such as business lectures, site visits, guest speakers, community activities, and individualized action research projects are an integral part of the program. Through these activities, the GBC program puts participants in direct contact with the business community, building competence as well as confidence in doing business internationally.
The GBC program at the IEC is part of the University of Colorado at Boulder, one of the major research universities in the United States. GBC participants may be eligible to enroll in additional courses at the university.
PROGRAM DETAIL
The full 16-week semester program is offered twice a year: from mid August to late December and from early January to early May. Each semester is divided into two 8-week sessions. Participants can join for only the first 8-week session or for the full 16-week program.
Each session’s classes culminate in a special activity which provides the GBC participants with the opportunity to utilize the language and cross-cultural skills they have gained in real-life situations. The skills studied in the GBC classes and the opportunities for interaction with local business professionals increase in complexity as the program progresses.
The program includes the following components each session (see individual session descriptions for details):
1. Business Communication Courses
These courses serve as the core of the GBC program, comprising 15 hours or more per week. Class size is limited to a maximum of 8 participants of mixed English proficiency. Courses focus on business topics and business communication skills.
2. Related English Training
These courses provide general English proficiency training according to each participant’s proficiency level. GBC participants are integrated into the IEC’s Intensive English Program for 8 hours per week . Participants are tested on arrival and are placed in classes appropriate to their level. Classes average 13 students and typically include participants from a wide range of countries.
3. Special Activities
Each session culminates in a special activity designed to provide participants with opportunities to actively use the business English and cross-cultural skills acquired during the session in real-life situations. In the first session, eachparticipant prepares for and hosts a business luncheon with a member of the regional business community. The second session culminates in the Business Action Project, a specialized action learning project described in detail below.
4. Business Lectures and Site Visits
Events such as guest speakers, visits to businesses in the Boulder/Denver area, and public business lectures are an integral part of the GBC program. The area's dynamic business climate and the presence of the University of Colorado provide a wealth of business resources for the GBC program.
5. Additional Communication Opportunities in the Community
GBC participants can choose to participate in the Conversation Partners program, which matches a participant with a university or Boulder community member for conversation practice and cross-cultural sharing. Other opportunities include professional organization contacts, public lectures and receptions, public speaking, business lunches and interviews.
6. Individualized Goals
The GBC program is flexible and responsive to the personal goals of each participant. The philosophy of the GBC program is that each participant’s needs and goals in joining the program are unique, so the GBC coordinator and instructors work closely with each participant to create opportunities to achieve those individual goals.
Frequent one-on-one meetings between the participant and the coordinator are held in order to set goals and chart the individual’s progress toward these goals. While the course curriculum is well structured, it is flexible enough to allow for adjustments in assignments and activities to meet the needs of the individuals in the class. Site visits and guest lectures are also arranged with the interests of the particular group of participants in mind.
COURSE OVERVIEW BY SESSION
Session |
Business Communication
Courses |
Related English Training |
| Fall 1 Spring 1 |
Business Communication 1 (5 hrs/wk) Cross-Cultural Communication Skills (5 hrs/wk) Business Action Project Proposal (5 hrs/wk) |
Reading/Writing ( 8 hrs/wk) |
| Special Activity: Hosting a Business Luncheon | ||
| Fall 2 Spring 2 |
Business Communication 2 (5 hrs/wk) Business Presentations (5 hrs/wk) Business Writiing (5 hrs/wk) |
Reading/Writing ( 8 hrs/wk) |
| Special Activity: Business Action Project | ||
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Business Communication 1 (offered Fall 1 and Spring 1) emphasizes effective spoken communication, focusing primarily on practicing language for business social situations such as meeting someone for the first time, engaging in small talk, networking, telephoning, and dining out. It also reviews the language the participants will need to interview business professionals for their Business Action Projects. The goal of the course is to increase spoken fluency and listening comprehension for business purposes. Vocabulary building and pronunciation are integrated. The course culminates in each participant’s hosting a Business Luncheon with a local professional.
Cross-Cultural Communication Skills (offered Fall 1 and Spring 1) analyzes the role of culture in communicating with business people from other cultural backgrounds. Participants gain awareness of the effects of culture and an understanding of cross-cultural concepts through extensive discussion and reading. Participants learn to identify the major cultural characteristics that influence business practices and decisions around the world. Through discussion and role playing participants gain insight into how to communicate effectively with business associates from different cultures. Participants explore the effects of culture in such areas as marketing strategies, negotiating, decision-making, leadership, and sales.
Business Action Project Proposal (offered Fall 1 and Spring 1) guides the participants through the process of preparing a plan for their Business Action Projects (see Business Action Project, below). Participants narrow their topics, conduct background research on their topics of interest, discover and select appropriate business contacts, and draft their proposals. The class also visits various businesses related to their topics and practices interviewing business professionals at these companies. The session ends with each participant presenting his/her Business Action Project proposal and submitting a final written draft of this plan.
Business Communication 2 (offered Fall 2 and Spring 2) centers on analysis and discussion of business case studies and participation in business meetings. Participants continue to build vocabulary, spoken fluency, and listening comprehension, while paying more attention to accuracy. In addition, through writing business reports, summaries, letters, and e-mails, and analyzing case studies, participants utilize and expand their writing and reading competencies.
Business Presentations (offered Fall 2 and Spring 2) focuses on building effective business presentation skills. It emphasizes both the language skills and delivery techniques needed for successful presentations. Participants give a variety of formal and informal presentations, which are video-taped to allow each participant to address his/her own challenges and gain confidence in speaking publicly in English. The final activity is a PowerPoint presentation of the participant’s findings from the Business Action Project.
Business Writing (offered Fall 2 and Spring 2) helps participants polish their writing skills, specifically in the types of writing normally done in business. Participants learn to convey information in clear, concise language and to improve editing skills. Some of the types of writing participants complete include letters (for various pruposes such as requesting infomation, providing information, thanking, complaining and responding to a request or complaint), emails, memos, reports, and summaries. Other types of writing, such as resumes, are included as requested by participants.
BUSINESS ACTION PROJECT
Is an independent research project. Participants carry out the project under the supervision of an advisor. All GBC participants enrolling in the full 16-week program develop a project plan and conduct a small research project. Those able and interested in challenging themselves to interact more deeply with the business community may choose to do a larger-scale Enhanced Project. (The Enhanced Project option may replace related English training entirely in Fall 2 or Spring 2.) Each participant designs an action learning project with the support and guidance of business communication instructors. Participants choose a topic of interest to them and conduct background research during the first 8 week session. During the second session they meet with business and community contacts to gather information on their topics of interest and present their findings in formal presentations and written reports.ELIGIBILITY
Eligible participants must have business or professional experience as well as at least a 600 TOEIC score or a 135 computer-based TOEFL score (450 paper-based TOEFL). Those scores, combined with IEC testing, determine which related English training courses the participants may take in the program.
ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK
GBC participants have the opportunity to participate in business and computing courses through the Division of Continuing Education. Participants with advanced English skills may take regular University of Colorado business courses. These courses average 1-3 hours per week and are subject to additional tuition charges.
FACULTY
The IEC faculty have vast experience in teaching business English and business communication. That experience includes extended teaching in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. In addition, the IEC faculty have designed and implemented various specialized professional programs, including programs for international executives and managers.
LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS
GBC participants have four housing options: they can request to stay with an American family; they can rent an apartment; they can stay in a hotel; or they can stay in the university dormitories (double-occupancy).THE CITY OF BOULDER
Boulder, Colorado is an ideal environment for the GBC training, with its beautiful surroundings, a myriad of cultural and recreational offerings, and a strong, high-tech business climate. The city is surrounded by the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains and is only a short drive away from some of the most spectacular scenery and ski resorts in the United States. Boulder is a safe city with a population of 100,000 and features a charming downtown shopping district and over 250 restaurants offering some of the finest American and international cuisine. Denver, a mere 25 miles and a convenient bus connection away from Boulder, provides additional cultural and business resources. Boulder’s climate is temperate with an average of 300 days of sunshine each year.
The University of Colorado at Boulder is within easy access of such firms as IBM, Sun Microsystems, StorageTek, Qualcomm, Qwest Communications, and Ball Aerospace as well as governmental agencies such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
PROGRAM COST
| PROGRAM COST |
||
| Fees and Expenses | 16-Week |
8-Week |
| Nonrefundable Application Processing Fee (MUST accompany application) |
$100 |
$100 |
| Express Mail Charge (MUST accompany application) | $54 |
$54 |
| Tuition | $6,880 |
$3,550 |
| Student Fees (mandatory) | $320 |
$170 |
| Housing and Meals (estimated) | $5,800 |
$3,000 |
| Health Insurance (see Application Instructions) | $300 |
$180 |
| Personal expenses, books and supplies (estimated) | $1,400 |
$800 |
| Estimated total amounts per session | $14,854.00 |
$7,854.00 |
CALENDAR
|
2008-2009 |
|
| Dates |
Session |
| August 20 - October 15, 2008* | Fall 1 |
| October 16 - December 18, 2008** |
Fall 2 |
| January 7 - March 4, 2009*** |
Spring 1 |
| March 5 - May 7, 2009**** |
Spring 2 |
| . | . |
* Labor Day Holiday, September 1, 2008
** Thanksgiving Holiday November 24-28, 2008.
*** January 19, 2009 Holiday
**** University Spring Break March 23-27, 2009.
|
2007 - 2008 |
|
| Dates |
Session |
| August 22 - October 17, 2007* | Fall 1 |
| October 18 - December 20, 2007** |
Fall 2 |
| January 9 - March 5, 2008*** |
Spring 1 |
| March 6 - May 8, 2008**** |
Spring 2 |
| . | . |
* Labor Day Holiday, September 3, 2007
** Thanksgiving Holiday November 19-23, 2007.
*** January 21, 2008 Holiday
**** University Spring Break March 24-28, 2008.
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM
CONTACT US
Global Business Communication Program
International English Center
Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies
University of Colorado at Boulder
63 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0063, USAIEC: E-mail
GBC Coordinator: Cathy.Murillo@Colorado.eduIEC Director: Cathy.Murillo@Colorado.edu
Tel. 303-492-5547
www.colorado.edu/iec
Fax 303-492-5515
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