Effective business communication in English (C1)

ENG10 Effective business communication in English (C1)

Spring 2026

  • Topics

    Effective Business Communication in English is a course that enables you to communicate strategically in professional contexts where English is the business lingua franca, the shared language. The course is tailored for your future career in an increasingly international business world. 

    You will develop your English business communication skills by engaging in spoken language activities within business administration and economics. You will also learn to communicate in culturally appropriate ways in a working life that is increasingly characterised by diversity and globalisation. The course will also enhance your teamworking skills by offering opportunities for collaboration and for giving and receiving constructive feedback.  

    Learning takes place through student-active and case-based teaching, which will include, e.g., presentations in groups and individually, pitches to customers and investors, meeting interaction and negotiations, including an international negotiation activity with a partnering university. 

     

    Level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR): C1 

  • Learning outcome

    Upon completion of the course, the students are able to: 

    Knowledge 

    • evaluate the communicative needs of international business  
    • demonstrate their understanding of phraseology and spoken genres used in business 
    • apply important principles and strategies for interaction, including in intercultural contexts 

    Skills 

    • pitch their business ideas persuasively
    • give compelling business presentations  
    • engage in meeting interactions in a professional manner 
    • negotiate confidently in intercultural settings 
    • manage physical and digital interactions 

    General competence 

    • collaborate in groups and across organisations 
    • reflect on own and others' communicative skills and efforts 
    • give constructive feedback and develop own work based on received feedback 

  • Teaching

    This is a course where interaction and language use are in focus. Classes will consist of case activities, short lectures and exercises related to business communication. 

    The language of instruction is English. 

  • Required prerequisites

    ENG10 requires a good command of the Norwegian language.

  • Compulsory Activity

    Compulsory participation in 75% of lectures. 

    Compulsory participation in an intercultural negotiation activity followed by peer feedback. 

    The compulsory activities (work requirements) are only valid in the semester in which it was obtained.

  • Assessment

    Portfolio consisting of three assignments:

    • a business pitch (individual)
    • a group presentation (2-3 students per group)
    • a reflection text (individual)

    The oral assessments will be recorded.

    All parts of the portfolio must be submitted in the same semester, and it is not possible to retake the elements separately. For the portfolio to be accepted, each part must adequately demonstrate that the student has achieved the learning outcomes relevant to the assigment.

  • Grading Scale

    Pass/fail.

  • Computer tools

    Students are expected to bring their own PC or tablet to all classes.

  • Literature

    Texts, ppt slides from lectures and digital material posted in Canvas.

    The NHH term base for economic-administrative topics: term.nhh.no.

  • Retake

    Retake in ENG10 will not be offered during the non-teaching semester (autumn). Only mandatory bachelor courses with an individual written school exam or a home exam lasting up to one day will have a retake assessment in the non-teaching semester.

    For detailed information regarding the retake policy, please visit our website: https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/retake-of-exams (copy URL)

Overview

ECTS Credits
7.5
Teaching language
English
Teaching Semester

Spring. Offered in spring 2026.

Course responsible

Associate Professor Kaisa Pietikäinen (main course responsible), Department of Professional and Intercultural Communication

Associate Professor Gavin Lamb, Department of Professional and Intercultural Communication

PhD scholar Evelina Lucas, Department of Professional and Intercultural Communication