Professional Communication Skills
[ETI-Z]
COURSE SUMMARY:
Communication in a professional context requires a mix of language knowledge and communication skills. Language knowledge gives you the security that you are using the correct forms; communication skills in English give you the ability to build relationships and accomplish tasks. Taken together these two
elements create competence in business and professional communication.
TARGET GROUPS:
This is for all professionals working internationally requiring good communication skills in English. The course is primarily skills-based, not a language learning/development skills course, and the minimum entry level of each participant is a B1 (CEF) or Intermediate level in English. Participants will be encouraged to critically assess their performance as communicators, and will be given training for effective communication.
PREPARATION:
After registration, partcipants on this course programme will receive:
– A pre-course questionnaire which will enable trainers to learn about the participants’ teaching backgrounds
– Information about the Europass Mobility Certificate
– Information about Malta to prepare teachers for their cultural experience
OBJECTIVES:
– To enhance both the language needed for participants to operate, teach or speak in an international working environment.
– The course is primarily skills‐based, not a language learning/development skills course,
– To provide training and practice for effective communication and performance.
– To exchange professional knowledge in a multi‐cultural context
– To enable participants to a better understanding of English in use and to expand and build on previous knowledge
– To further develop participants’ fluency through discussion and role play
– To develop vocabulary in English
– To experience the cultural heritage of Malta with its bilingual linguistic environment
METHODOLOGY:
– The training course will include both input and ample opportunity for practice and feedback.
– An interactive communicative approach is applied, which will provide participants with experiential learning of skills and training.
– Effective communication skills will be explored, analysed and discussed, developing the participants’ use of their own communication skills in English.
– Sessions will take the form of brainstorming, analysis, problem-solving, and role play, both in pair work and group work, further enabling the participants’ use of English.
– Exchange of participants’ professional knowledge will be encouraged through discussion.
– The course employs a highly interactive and practical approach. Input sessions involve multimedia.
FOLLOW UP:
– The course will end with an evaluation session, where participants will be asked to reflect upon the value of the knowledge gained on the course and its usefulness to them.
– A full course report will be prepared for all participants by the trainer and will include all modules covered.
SAMPLE TIMETABLE:
1) Monday
– Introductions. Needs Analysis and Setting Objectives
– Giving Effective Presentations 1: Content/Structure/Delivery/Language
– Socialising Skills and Roleplay
2) Tuesday
– Being Effective in Meetings: Purpose/Preparation/Process/People and Diversity Factors and Chairing Meetings
– Meetings Role play. Feedback on Communication and Language
– Intercultural Skills: What is Culture? What is Intercultural Competence?
3) Wednesday
– Giving Effective Presentations 2: Language
– Topic-Based Discussion
– Effective Writing Skills: Communicating by Email
4) Thursday
– Presentations Practice and Feedback
– More Presentations Practice OR Effective Telephoning
– Language Clinic and Tips for Language Learning
5) Friday
– Negotiating Skills: Approaches/Features/Negotiation Practices
– Negotiation Role play and Feedback
– Topic-based Discussion and Course Evaluation and Wrap-up
PROGRAMME FEES INCLUDES:
– Tuition /Training (1 week) over 5 training days
– Social Programme including Half Day Guided Tours (to Malta’s Capital City Valletta / to the old Medieval City of Mdina)
– Airport Transfers : Shuttle Airport Transfers Arrival + Departure; from/to Malta Airport to /from Accommodation (when booked through our school only!)
– Mobility Euro Pass Certificate
– End-of-Course Certificate
OTHER INFORMATION:
– The School will be closed on public holidays. The schedule for the week including a public holiday will be adjusted to make up the lost training hours on the public holiday on that particular week.
– A social programme including weekly cultural guided tours will be confirmed every Monday. Participation on any activities is optional.
– Classes normally runs from 9:00-14:30 with two brakes. Number of lessons: 22,5 hours (1 lesson=60 min) + 2.5 hours of E learning self- study (5 homework on-line links; lessons about Malta, to cover the cultural aspects) + cultural tours. Therefore thw certificate lists 25 hours/week. If someone misses any lessons, eg 1.5h, it will show ‘ 23.5 hours out of 25 hours.