Learning objectives

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

1. Understand oral messages in standard language through any means of communication, both in daily life situations and in the professional field of administration and finance, and understand the contents of the message accurately.

Identify the main idea in a message.
Identify the finality of oral messages in standard language as wellas the tone and feelinfs of the speaker.
Get information from recorded messages in standard language related to the professional field of administration and finance.
Identify the points of view and attitude of the speaker.
Identify the main ideas in a speech in standard language and at normal speed about specific and abstract issues related to the field of administration and finance.
Understand the details of a message in standard language, even with background noises.
Identify the main ideas in a speeches, reports and professional presentations related to the field of administration and finance.
Be conscious of the importance of understanding a message as a whole, even if you don’t understand all the words.

2. Understand complex written texts related to the field of administration and finance and analize the contents comprehensively.

Read a text with a high degree of autonomy, adapting the style and speed of the reading to different types of text and objectives.
Read the details of long and relatively complex texts related to the field of administration and finance.
Relate the text to its corresponding context.
Quickly identify the contents and importanceof pieces of news, articles and reportsrelated to the field of administration and finance and decide whether a deeper analysis is necessary.
Translate complex texts related to the field of administration and finance using reference materials, if necessary.
Interpret technical messages in different means: post, fax and email, among others.
Interpret longand complexinstructions related to the professional field.
Choose reference material and technical dictionaries and use automatic translators.

3. Produce clear, well-organized oral messages frequently used in jobs related to the field of administration and finance and analize the context of the situation, adapting yourself to the other’s linguistic register.

Identify the registers used in oral messages.
Express yourself fluently,accurately and efficiently ina great variety of professional and daily life situations, clearly establishing the relationship between the different ideas.
Express yourself spontaneously with the appropriate degree of formality according to the situation.
Use the appropriate protocol in formal and informal introductions.
Make a correct use of the technical words related to the field ofadministration and finance as normally used in your profession.
Express and defend your points of view clearly by using the appropriate explanations and reasoning.
Describe the steps in a process related to your professional field.
Explain the choice of a specific option in detail.
Require the repetition of a speech or part of a speech when necessary.
Apply the appropriate interaction formulas normally used in your professional field.

4. Write texts normally used at work and in the daily life and use the appropriate register for each situation.

Write clear, detailed texts about a variety of issues related to the professional field, summarizing and considering the information from different sources.
Organize the information correctly, accurately and coherently and ask for and/or give general and detailed information.
Write reports related to the professional field pointing out the relevant aspects and giving details to support your points.
Fill in documents related to the professional field.
Apply the standard rules and the specific vocabulary used to fill in administrative, accounting, fiscal and financial documents.
Summarize articles, pieces of news and other types of information related to the professional field using a great variety of words to avoid frequent repetitions.
Understand the most important points in manuals, regulations, legislations and other written texts as normally used in the field of administration and finance.
Use the appropriate protocol rules that apply to a specific document.

5. Show the appropriate attitude and behaviour in communicative situations as established by international conventions.

Define the most distinctive aspects of the customs of your professional field in the use of a foreign language.
Describe the social conventions of the English-speaking countries.
Identify the values and beliefs which are characteristic of English-speaking countries.
Apply the social conventions in English-speaking communities.
Identify the language traits of different regions.