ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Introduction and/or revision of English for Computer Science students (BSc in Computer Science).
Consolidation and build-up of specific vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation through the exposure, reading and analysis of authentic texts.
Study and development of academic public speaking skills through presentation activities, discussions and debates related to the professional and academic profiles of EAP Computer Science students.
Detailed study and improvement of EAP reading and writing skills.
By the use and application of different languages, the course consequenly aims at developing transdicilpinary skills meant to promote the intercultural and international profile of Computer Science students.

The course aims at reaching B2 level, that is the fourth level according to the CEFR. In everyday speech, this level might be called “confident”, as in “I am a confident English speaker”. The official level descriptor is “upper intermediate”. At this level, students can function independently in a variety of academic and professional environments in English, although with a limited range of nuance and precision. At this level the students can understand the main ideas of complex texts and standard spoken language, live or broadcast.
The course aims at:
A. developing specific skills in English for Computer Science, focusing on explaining scientific concepts to an audience and on detailed editing of multimedia presentations (abstracts, key words, etc.);
B. developing of presentation and discussion skills within professional and academic situations;
C. identifying and using correct register and style for academic writing;
C. devolping transdisciplinary and intercultural skills.

In order to take the B2 Exam, students are required to possess a B1 level, which is the third level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a definition of different language levels written by the Council of Europe. In everyday speech, this level would be called “intermediate”, and indeed, that is the official level descriptor in the CEFR. At this level, students are beyond the basics or elemntary level (A2) but they are still not able to work or study exclusively in English.

The course is structured as follows:
A) the language classes (MOD. 1 - Dr. Cristiana Pagliarusco) examine methodologies and tools, and provide examples aiming at developing and/or enhancing strategies for designing and delivering professional oral (and written) presentations, and detailed understanding of academic/non-academic CS texts;
More specifically, the course aims at:
1. describing processes: how things work (language for describing sequences);
2. writing e presenting clear and complete definitions of specific language;
3. describing methods used in your work: language for describing method and purpose (IMRaD, academic writing, public speaking);
4. classifications: language for comparing and contrasting different types (interaction and partecipation in class debates);
5. describing tables/figures, describing trends, and speculating about data;
6. Making a presentation in English: the dos and don’ts of good presentations, structuring a presentation, using discourse markers and signposting language, and engaging an audience with
visual aids and body language;
7. Integrating symbols and acronyms into grammar;
8. Reading scientific English (strategies for deep reading).

B) the language tutoring (MOD. 2 - Frederika Gebhardt, Dr. Massimo Mangilli) aims at reviewing and improving specialistic vocabulary and syntax; it also provides support for practicing orals skills before the exam.
The grammar revision includes the use of: relative clauses, indirect questions, participle clauses, position of adverbs and adjectives, principal tenses (active & passive) in technical writing (present tenses, past simple, present perfect), articles, quantifiers, countable/ uncountable nouns, abstract nouns, gerund vs infinitive, compound nouns, collocations, punctuation.
As for short texts and the organization of oral presentations:‘This’ cohesion, linkers and conjunctions, paragraphing, pronoun reference, lexical cohesion.

The language classes and tutoring are held in the II semester.

COMPULSORY READINGS
Materials will be mostly provided by the teachers. The course will examine some excerpts from Bjarne Stroustrup's "Programming Principles and Practice Using C++" (2014); the lessons will also examine short essays, academic and mainstream articles from specific magazines such as CS4FN, or Conference Proceedings. The vision of CS related videos will enhance the listening skills.
Articles, essays, excerpts from book chapters and other teaching material will be available on the MOODLE platform at the beginning of the course with updated weblinks and information, and a detailed bibliography of the examined texts.

OPTIONAL READINGS
Hughes & Mallett (2012), Successful Presentations, Oxford University Press.
Remarcha Esteras (2008), Infotech - English for Computer Users, Cambridge University Press.
Murphy (2012), English Grammar in Use (4th Edition), Cambridge University Press.

The exam consists of two parts:
- a written test (60 mins) with a B2 level reading and listening comprehension (each test is introduced by a preparation task, a reading or listening text and two tasks to check the understanding such as cloze, matching, multiple choice, drag and drop, sentence or word formation, etc)
- an oral presentation on topics connected to Computer Science as seen in class; the presentation is to be prepared and delivered in pairs (the multimedia presentations must be uploaded on Moodle). The presentation will last max 12 minutes, when presented in pairs; max 7, when the student presents individually.
Before taking the oral students must pass the written exam (idoneo/non idoneo)

Assessment criteria:
WRITTEN TEST: A minimum score of 60% of the test total score is required to pass. The grade is recorded as ‘Idoneo’ (60% or more) or ‘Non idoneo’ (59% or less).
ORAL TEST:
- Use of English
- Structure of the presentation: well-structured ppt (or other multimedia tool), well-developed topic, effective slides and contents, authenticity
- Presentation Management: easy-to-follow, catchy, communicatively effective
- Oral skills: correctness in language usage, pronunciation and fluency
-Written skills: correct editing of the multimedia presentation.

Frontal teaching
Group and/or pair work (debates)
Stategy and tips for effective presentations and their editing (samples)
Student's presentation (mock presentations)
Student's podcast
Reading techniques (scientific texts): Skimming, scanning, detailed and revision reading

Italian

In relation to the specific CS field of study and the present health emergency situation related to Covid-19, the course aims at empowering learners (and teacher) to be more productive, responsible, and motivated among the premises and promises of online instruction. Hence, the ESP course meaningfully includes purposeful tasks that enhance learners' academic and occupational skills, by promoting independence, decision-making and ongoing learning. Supported by the authenticity of the web-based material and the promise of autonomy provided by online learning, the course seeks to encourage students to learn on their own pace and have more and more control, responsibility, and self-reflection on their learning process and individual objectives, constructing language information via personal selection of online activities and language resources, to save for their written and oral productions.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development