FAK 2621 English for the non-life insurance market

APPLIES TO ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

FAK 2621 English for the non-life insurance market

Responsible for the course
Gillian Warner-Søderholm

Department
Department of Communication - Culture and Languages

Term
According to study plan

ECTS Credits
7,5

Language of instruction
English

Introduction
The course has been developed to offer practical language and communication training to people working in the non-life (general) insurance market. The course has been specially designed for insurance business people who feel that they need to improve their writing skills and speaking skills in order to feel more confident when dealing with non-Norwegian speaking colleagues and customers. The overall objective is to enable course participants to develop the English skills needed to communicate effectively in an international non-life insurance business environment.

Learning outcome
Acquired knowledge
Students will be able to define and identify in proper and appropriate English:
  1. Key principles of risk management and non-life insurance
  2. Current trends in non-life insurance products
  3. Writing skills needed for corresponding in international English
  4. Historical perspectives of insurance

Acquired skills
Through group work discussions and writing practice, students will acquire increased cultural awareness and a more comprehensive business vocabulary. They will be able to apply key insurance terminology in an appropriate and convincing English in letters/ reports/ e-mail styles of business writing

Reflection
Students will ideally exercise greater diplomacy and better insight into communication approaches and non-life insurance matters in English: in both written and orally.

Prerequisites
None.

Compulsory reading
Books:
Rejda, George E. 2010. Principles of risk management and insurance. 11th ed. Pearson

Other:
Classroom handouts and Lecture notes published on It's Learning. It's Learning


Recommended reading
Books:
Bennett, Carol. 2004. Dictionary of insurance. 2nd. ed. Prentice Hall/Financial Times

Course outline
Vocabulary development in:
  1. Principles of risk management and general insurance
  2. Legal aspects of the non-life insurance market
  3. Homeowners, property and liability insurance coverage
  4. Automobile, commercial and professional liability insurance
  5. Cross cultural issues in business communication


Computer-based tools
Students are expected to use Internet during the course.

Learning process and workload
The course comprises 38 hours of classroom teaching. In order to manage the requirements of the course it is essential that students attend the seminar sessions. Individual teachers will set written assignments for individual appraisal and feedback. Students will complete a mandatory mid term report writing assignment with a pass / fail grade. This must be completed in order to sit the final exam.


Activity
Hours used
Classroom participation
38
Preparation for class & practice exam
46
Writing assignments & checklist assessment
10
Task presentation (oral or written)
10
Online multiple choice tasks (content and language) and discussion groups
10 + 16
Self-study and study groups (offline)
30
Contextualization of feedback
10
Examination preparation
30
Total time
200


    Examination
    A three hour written examiniation concludes the course.

    Examination code(s)
    FAK 26211 - Written examiniation which accounts for 100% of the final grade in the course FAK 2621 English for the non-life insurance market, 7.5 credits.

    Examination support materials
    One English-English dictionary and one bilingual dictionary may be used at the written examination. Examination support materials are specified under examination information in our web-based Student Handbook. Please note the use of dictionary
    http://www.bi.edu/studenthandbook/examaids

    Re-sit examination
    A re-sit examination is offered the next time course is offered.
    Students that have not passed the course work requirement must re-take the hole course.
    Students that have not passed the written exam or who wish to improve their grade can retake just the written examination in connection with the next scheduled course.

    Additional information

    Semester

    Oversettelser