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June 24—August 8, 2008
Application deadline May 16, 2008
Program
English for Business Studies (EBS) is an intensive six and a
half week English for Specific Purposes program for students
who have been accepted to a competitive MBA program in the U.S.
for the fall term. Students are expected to have a minimum score of
600 on the paper-based TOEFL, or
92 on the Internet-based TOEFL in order to be considered
for admission to the program.
The primary focus of EBS is on developing the academic language
skills necessary for success in a rigorous MBA program. The program
challenges students with courses and projects designed to reflect
current MBA program practices. Students work both individually
and in teams on a variety of projects and receive personal feedback
on their progress. In addition, students have extensive opportunities
to become accustomed to a U.S. academic environment, the goal
of which is to ease the transition into a full-time MBA program.
The curriculum of English for Business Studies (EBS) focuses
on the English communication needs of international students
entering an MBA program. Students improve their skills through
case studies and a group project, both of which require a high
degree of preparation, participation and collaboration. Classes
are scheduled for at least 20 hours per week, Monday through
Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with some evening sessions.
Students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete
all regular individual and team homework assignments. In addition
to the regular class time, students meet with their teams to
complete projects and attend guest lectures on various business-related
topics. Field trips to area businesses provide students with
the opportunity to link course content to real business contexts.
The EBS program is committed to extending the students' use
of English outside the classroom. A variety of activities such
as receptions, field trips, and sporting events provide students
with opportunities to use English in social and educational settings.
In addition, students in the EBS program are considered fully
enrolled in the University of Michigan and have access to all
libraries and computing centers on campus.
EBS Course Descriptions:
Introduction to Case Studies
The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with
the case study method, a participatory approach to learning used
in business schools throughout the United States. The method
requires considerable preparation, and students are expected
to make quality contributions in study groups and class discussions.
During the course, students improve their ability to read, analyze,
and lead case discussions; they also learn strategies and techniques
for speaking and responding. Watching videos related to the cases,
students also practice notetaking skills and expand their business
vocabulary.
Business Writing
This course focuses on academic written communication essential
to participation in an MBA program. Students learn the skills
of summary writing, argumentation, and writing for a particular
purpose and audience. They produce a collaborative report, write
up case analyses, and work on e-mails, memos, resumes, and cover
letters. Students receive group and individual feedback on their
writing, and common grammar troublespots are reviewed.
Oral Communication and Presentation Skills
This course helps students develop the oral communication skills
needed for academic and professional business contexts. Students
learn to design, develop, and deliver oral presentations with
accompanying visual support. They give a variety of individual
and group presentations, which are videotaped; they also receive
peer and instructor feedback. The course helps students improve
their ability to speak clearly, accurately, and confidently.
Students also meet in small groups to work on specific language
and pronunciation problems.
Business Topics
The goal of this course is to help students operate more comfortably
in the U.S. business school culture. The course introduces students
to some of the academic disciplines that are typically part of
an MBA curriculum, such as organizational behavior, finance,
accounting, marketing, business economics, operations management,
and corporate strategy. Students learn how to work effectively
in teams, practice analyzing cases, and become familiar with
experiential exercises such as role plays and simulations.
Students also acquire the terminology used in business schools,
corporations, and business publications.
Team Project
A unique feature of the EBS program is a team project,
which gives students an opportunity to learn to work collaboratively
and, using their business backgrounds, put their English language
skills to use. Team members conduct research, define a marketing
problem, analyze it, make recommendations, and write and present
a final marketing plan.
Download Application
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