Introduction to Functional English

By Dr. Prasenjit Das | Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati

Learners enrolled: 881

Functional English relates to the use of the English language to perform a specific function. However, in certain cases, a particular form of English may be required for a specific profession, vocation or purpose. This is commonly known as English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This MOOC is meant for those learners who want to learn some important aspects of Functional English to be used in a profession where communication through English is mandatory. Some of the functional English skills include the ability to Communicate effectively orally and in writing, present information clearly and creatively, understand how people react when someone is speaking. As, English communication continues to be the most sought-after skills in the professional workplace, improving that skill is very important.

This MOOC has two main objectives. The first objective is to introduce the learners to the different important aspects of the English language as a medium of communication in diverse areas. The second objective is to introduce the learners to specific use of English in select professions and areas such as Business, Media and Journalism, Banking and Management, Academics, ICT and computers, Health care and Service industries etc. under the concept of ESP.

This MOOC will be a 4-credit multidisciplinary course at the Certificate level. There will be a total of 40 modules to be completed within 3 months of duration. Learners who have completed their 10+2 or graduation in any discipline, or completed a professional degree, learners who want to join a company and lifelong learners interested to learn new things shall be immensely benefited from this MOOC. Interested learners can enroll in the course for free. However, if a learner wishes to get a formal certificate upon completion of this course, he/she must register and take the exam conducted by SWAYAM in person. The certificate will help them get recognition while applying for job or even get a job.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Not Applicable
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	English
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	01 Jan 2025
End Date :
Exam Date :

Page Visits

Course layout

Weeks	Modules
Week 1	Module 1: Communicating through English in the 21st century
	Module 2: Importance of Skills in the 21st century
	Module 3: The Essentials of Written Professional Communication
Week 2	Module 4: Language and Literary Skills
	Module 5: ESP and Language Skills
	Module 6: English as the Global Lingua Franca
Week 3	Module 7: Ideas of Communication
	Module 8: Communication Skills
	Module 9: Oral Communication
	Module 10: Effective Communication
Week 4	Module 11: Grammar in Context
	Module 12: Modals in Conversation
	Module 13: Formal and Informal Speech
Week 5	Module 14: Features of Written Technical Communication
	Module 15: Report and Proposal Writing
	Module 16: Business correspondences
Week 6	Module 17: Structure of Writing in English
	Module 18: Letter Writing
	Module 19: Colum writing and Press release
	Module 20: Note taking and Note making
Week 7	Module 21: Soft Skills and Language
	Module 22: Public speaking Skills
	Module 23: Interview Skills
Week 8	Module 24: English for 21st century Business world
	Module 25: English for Marketing
	Module 26: English for Banking and Finance
Week 9	Module 27: English for Media
	Module 28: English for News Writing
	Module 29: English for Journalists
	Module 30: English for Anchoring
Week 10	Module 31: English for Academic Writing
	Module 32: Writing a Research paper in English
	Module 33: Acquiring academic vocabulary
Week 11	Module 34: English for Computers
	Module 35: English for Internet and World Wide Web
	Module 36: English for Nursing and Health Care I
	Module 37: English for Nursing and Health Care II
Week 12	Module 38: English for Hospitality Professionals
	Module 39: English in Tourism
	Module 40: English for 21st century emerging fields

Books and references

Agarwala, V. B. (2006). Essentials of Practical Journalism. New Delhi, Concept Publishing House
Alec Sabin ‘You,re On! How To Develop Great Media Skills for TV, RADIO and THE INTERNET, How To Content, United Kingdom. 2009.
Andy Green. Effective Personal Communication Skills for Public Relations. Kogan Page, 2006.
Barton, David and Nigel Hall. Letter Writing as a Social Practice. John Benjamins Publishing, 2000.
Baugh, Sue L. How to write first-class Letters. McGraw-Hill Professional, 1994.
Berner, R. T. Language Skills for Journalists. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1979.
Beyza Björkman De Gruyter Mouton. English as an Academic Lingua Franca: An Investigation of Form and Communicative Effectiveness.
Bly, Robert W. Webster’s New World Letter Writing Handbook. Webster’s New World, 2004.
Brian Paltridge and Sue Starfield. A John. The Handbook of English for Specific Purposes.
British Broadcasting Corporation. Better Speaking: A Guide to Improving Your Spoken English. 2003.
Catrin E. Morris. FLASH on English for Tourism. Eli, 2011.
Dan Kim. English for Occupational Purposes. Continuum, 2008.
Edmond H. Weiss. The Elements of International English Style. M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Edward L. Smith and Stephen A. Bernhardt. (1997). Professional Writing Skills for People on the Job. NTC Publishing Group, Lincolnwood, Illinois USA
Eric H. Glendinning and Beverley A.S. Holmstrom. English in Medicine.
Gourlay Lesley, Hullock Paul. English for IT and the Internet. Thomson, 2006.
Helen Wilkie. Writing, Speaking and Listening. How To Books Ltd, UK. 2001
Ian Mackenzie. Professional English in Use. Finance. Cambridge University Press.
Ian Tuhovsky. 21 Days of Effective Communication: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Improve Your Communication Skills and Social Intelligence, 2018.
Jain, A. Anchoring: The Art of Mastering Stage Presence. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.
John M. Swales & Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students, 3rd Edition: Essential Skills and Tasks. Michigan ELT, 2012.
Judith Johnstone. Planning a Career Change. How To Content, United Kingdom, 2006.
Kalra, R. J. The ABC of News Anchoring: A Guide for Aspiring Anchors. New Delhi, India: Pearson Education, 2012.
Kamath, M. V. Professional Journalism. New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House, 2000.
Ken Hyland. English for Academic Purposes: An advanced resource book. Routledge, 2006.
Laurence Anthony. Introducing English for Specific Purposes. Routledge
Lawrence J. Zwier. Everyday English for Hospitality Professionals. Compass Publishing 2007.
Lingo Mastery. The Business English Vocabulary Builder: Powerful Idioms, Sayings and Expressions to Make You Sound Smarter in Business, 2020.
Mable Chan. English for Business Communication. Routledge, 2020.
Marjorie Rosenberg. English for Banking and Finance. Pearson.
Prashant Sharma. Soft Skills Personality Development for Life Success. BPB Publications. New Delhi, 2019.
Professional English in Use. ICT.
S. D. Sarma. A Textbook of Scientific and Technical Communication Writing for Engineers and Professionals, Swarup and Sons, New Delhi, 1998.
Sasikumar, V. & P. V. Dhamija. Spoken English: A Self-Learning Guide to Conversation Practice. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, 1995.
Selsdon, Esther. Everything You Need to Know-Letter Writing. Collins, 2001.
Sethi, J. & Dhamija P. V. Course in Phonetics And Spoken English. PHI Learning, 2009.
Shirley Taylor & & Alison Lester. Communication: Your Key to Success, Marshall Cavendish Business, Singapore, 2009.
Sylee Gore. English for Marketing and Advertising. Oxford.
Tony Wagner. The Global Achievement Gap. The Basic Books, New York, 2008.
Wynford Hicks. English for Journalists. Routledge. 1993.

Instructor bio

Dr. Prasenjit Das

Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati

Dr. Prasenjit Das is Associate Professor in Discipline of English at Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Guwahati, Assam, India. With more than 15 years of experience in the field of Open and Distance Learning, he has offered courses in UG and PG English programmes of the University which include courses on Literature and Language, Spoken English, English Communication Skills and so on. His articles have appeared in several national and international CARE and SCOPUS journals and books. He co-edited a book entitled Open Higher Education in the 21st Century published by Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA in 2021. In 2022, he submitted an international project on “MOOCs for Mobilising Higher Education in India” funded by the Asian Association of Open University. His scholarly interests include Criticism and Literary Theory, Indian Writing in English, Open and Distance Learning.

Course certificate

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