PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

The overall objective of this upper-intermediate course is to consolidate the B2/C1 English language skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference. Students will work on specialized English related to economics, current trends in the world of finance, relevant political and ethical issues and cross-cultural and international negotiation techniques. Techniques related to job hunting, particularly the cover letter, will be included.

Students will perfect their linguistic skills, both oral and written, through textual analyses with free spontaneous discussion and debate, training in listening comprehension and a role play exercise in international/intercultural negotiation, the theme chosen by the participating students.
Students will be evaluated on the knowledge and skills acquired during the course, and on the capacity to use them in an intercultural business environment. They are expected to maintain a critical mind and to defend their points of view in an eloquent manner.
Written work is to be evaluated on structure according to the guidelines provided in our professional/academic writing lessons – writing concise answers with the use of balanced and syntaxically-correct sentences, and the capacity to cite sources clearly.

English language skills at the B2+ level of the CEFR.

Texts taken from various sources for specialized vocabulary, and selected according to current events and the desired journalistic quality: for spontaneous discussion.
Projection of excerpts of documentaries for listening comprehension and debate.
Material pertinent to intercultural relations and negotiation techniques, especially for the study of "cultural intelligence" and "neuromarketing".
Presentation of the techniques of professional/academic writing. .
Presentation of the techniques for describing graphs and trends, and writing thesis abstracts.

Material uploaded on Moodle, to be downloaded and prepared before each class.

Whether online or frontal, validation of the course will be based on oral participation, and/or if possible, participation in a role-play exercise, the negotiation topic to be chosen by common agreement.
It will also consist in a brief essay written at home on a topic chosen from among those proposed.
Online students can participate in the role play exercise.
The final examination will be oral and will consist in a discussion of the essay and a question on the rest of the course material for those not having done a presentation or participated in the role play (if feasible)
Non-attending students will be subject to the same requirements, with the obligation to write an essay, and the final oral consisting in the essay discussion and a question on a theme studied in the rest of the course material.
Non-attending students are strongly advised to make an online appointment for a Zoom “ricevimento” to discuss progress in following the course.
The final orals will take place either online or in presence, in respect of the anti-Covid measures, and according to the situation at that time.

According to the situation, classes will be held in online, in presence or "blended".

English

Online participation is authorized only for valid and exceptional reasons such as those related to distance, illness, work or family obligations. Students must be present with both video and audio on. Black screens or screens with only profile photos will not be tolerated.
Attendance at classes is strongly advised. A language course requires regular practice.
"Ricevimenti", or individual appointments, will be held online by previous appointment via email, schedule to be defined. Working students can request a different time if suitable.

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Circular economy, innovation, work" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development