The goal of this course is to help students operate more comfortably in the American business school culture. To achieve this goal, the course provides opportunities for class participation, case analysis, experiential exercises and group projects. In addition, the course introduces students to the academic disciplines that contribute to an MBA curriculum, including organizational behavior, finance, accounting, marketing, business economics, and corporate strategy. Through this overview, students also learn terminology used in business schools, corporations and business publications. 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.
Special emphasis is given to helping students become effective speakers through improving their ability to speak clearly, accurately, and confidently. Students give a variety of individual and group presentations in the course and have the opportunity for individual and small group consultation to focus on specific pronunciation problems. The EBS program is committed to extending the students' use of English beyond hours spent in the classroom. Staff members plan a variety of activities such as receptions, field trips, and sports events, which 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, sports facilities, and computing centers on campus.