西南财经大学商务英语

Chapter 1 Introduction to International Business

Date:Week 1

Grade: Sophomore Classes (Second Semester)

Time: 3 class periods

I. Teaching Objectives：

1. Students will get a general knowledge of International Business, including the definition of the

International Business and some basic concepts.

2. Students will know the reason why International Trade takes place and the classification of

International Trade according to different criteria.

3. Students will study the definition and evolution of International Settlements.

II. Resources/Materials:

1. Textbook: 邹勇，《国际商务英语――理论与实务》。上海财经大学出版社，2008

2. PPT slide shows: Introduction to international business

III. Activities and Procedures:

1. Pre-learning (10 minutes)

Give a brief introduction to the international business and ask students to give a general impression on the international trade. Then give the exact definition of international business, which is the worldwide exchange of goods and services among nations, generally using some forms of currency as payment.

2. While-learning

Part One: Explain some special terms (20 minutes)

For example:

(1) Transit trade: it means that commodities are sent into the buyer market by passing through the frontier of a third country due to some special geographical position or time and cost-saving. This kind of trade is transit trade for the third country.

(2) Absolute advantage is the ability of a country to produce a special good with fewer resources (per unit of output) than its trading partners.

(3) Comparative advantage is the ability of a country to produce a specific good with the lower opportunity cost than its trading partner.

Part Two: Text analysis (50 minutes)

Make a detailed exploration of the text, help the students understand the key points and difficult points in the text; comprehend the classification of international trade and new electronic devices used in international settlement.

3. Discussion (25 minutes)

Discuss the difference between our country and American’s comparative advantag es.

Firstly, let the students present their ideas voluntarily. Then comment on their presentation mainly to encourage them. Finally summarize some important traits of our country’s international trade according to their presentations.

4. Post-learning (15 minutes)

Give the students some time to review what have been learned in class and answer their questions if they have.

5. Exercises (15 minutes)

Ask students to do all the exercises of Chapter one after class and supply answers to them either in class time or via internet. Comment on difficult ones. Have them self-study Chapter two. IV. Assignments：

1. Translate the following Chinese terms into English.