ENGLISH LANGUAGE

This is one of the basic courses within the Degree Course in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa. The course aims to provide students with tools for education, training and work in international and multicultural contexts. In particular, the course aims to train and develop students’ ability to understand specialized texts on intercultural communication, as well as the ability to analyse and present contents on intercultural themes in written and oral academic English.

Knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course, students will have acquired:
• knowledge of the main intercultural communication theories
• knowledge of the concepts of ‘culture’, ‘context’ and ‘cultural orientations’
• understanding of the importance of intercultural competence for effective communication in international and multicultural contexts
• knowledge of the features and problems of English as a lingua franca (ELF)
• knowledge of the features of academic English

Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• critically discuss the concepts of ‘culture’ and ‘context’ and the relationship between the two
• apply the knowledge acquired on intercultural theories to everyday communicative situations by means of linguistic analysis

Making judgements:
At the end of the course, students will be able to identify elements of potential ‘conflict’ in communication

Communication:
At the end of the course, students will be able:
• to adopt suitable communicative strategies to communicate effectively in multicultural and international contexts
• to use written academic English correctly

Learning skills:
At the end of the course, students will:
• be able to apply what they have learnt regarding intercultural communication to study, research and analyse linguistic and cultural differences autonomously

Students are required to possess a B1-B2 level on the Common European Framework, along with an interest in deepening their understanding of intercultural notions and improving their communicative competence.

The course consists of a monographic course (“corso monografico”) divided into three parts.
The first aims to develop the students’ intercultural awareness through the analysis of different definitions of ‘culture’, of the notion of ‘Cultural Iceberg’ and of cultural orientations and values. In the same module the concepts of ‘International English’ and ‘English as a Lingua Franca’ (ELF) will be presented.
The second aims to develop intercultural skills and to illustrate the importance of the use of ‘politeness’ and of appropriate language in different communicative situations.
The third is dedicated to applying intercultural skills both to the analysis of authentic texts in order to highlight the relationship between language and culture and in simulations of multicultural contexts in order to discuss possible communicative strategies.

To help students with the final written exam, students will be provided with practice in writing academic English.

Selected readings from:
• Holliday, Adrian, Kullman, John & Hyde, Martin: Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book for Students, 3a edizione. London/New York: Routledge.

Written exam (45 minutes):
- 8 multiple-choice questions,
- 3 open questions (min. and max. number of words specified).

Exam questions will concern the topics dealt with in class, individual and/or group assignments included.

During the course traditional teaching methods are combined with activities on authentic materials and examples that require active student participation. Student interaction in class is highly encouraged.
Additional materials will be provided on-line so that students can explore topics further.

Both attendees and non-attendees will have to sign up to the Moodle course (the password will be disclosed at the beginning of the course). All the teaching materials, assignments and practice are part of the exam contents.

This programme is provvisional and there could be changes to its contents.

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