ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

The course, as part of the teaching activities scheduled for the first year of the master's degree course in Language Sciences, aims to improve students’ linguistic and metalinguistic skills in specialised fields, with a focus on the relationship between language and media.

The main objectives of the course are to develop students’ skills for the critical analysis of the language used by media and to talk about media, and at the same time, to provide them with adequate methodological tools for the analysis of media discourse (at linguistic, textual, multimodal levels). Special attention will be devoted to the relationship between media and language sciences.

English Language for Special Purposes is a year-long course with the module held by the Course Professor (second semester) and associated language practice labs (“esercitazioni linguistiche”, first AND second semester) facilitated by the “Collaboratori Esperti Linguistici” (CEL).

The aim of the Professor’s module is to further consolidate the metalinguistic competences needed to better understand and use the English language, especially in specialised and academic areas in relation to media. In order for students to actively and successfully participate in the Professor’s module, the language practice labs will develop the integrated skills (both spoken and written) at upper-intermediate proficiency level (B2+/C1 level of the CEFR). The integrated skills focus on the comprehension and production of authentic material in English.

1. Knowledge and Understanding: the course will consolidate the syntactic, lexical and pragmatic aspects of English (upper-intermediate language proficiency). Students will be able to understand complex texts dealing with the topics presented during the course. Critical approach to the analysis and interpretation of both media discourse and academic discourse on media.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding: students will be able to use their linguistic competence and the theoretical-methodological approaches provided by the theories and studies on language and media to understand, analyse and discuss different types of texts. Students will also be able to write brief academic texts and to talk about the topics covered in the course as well as their application in real-life communicative situations.

3. Making Judgments: in an effective and autonomous way, students will be able to analyse, interpret and critically comment quite complex texts, as well as to write them.

4. Communication Skills: students will be able to employ communicative strategies, both in spoken and in written form, consolidating the upper-intermediate level of the CEFR (B2+/C1). Students will be able to communicate in a clear and well-structured way, with a limited number of mistakes, demonstrating their skills in interacting and talking about the topics presented in the course.

5. Learning Skills: students will be able to read, analytically and critically, complex academic and specialised texts; they will also be able to report on these topics, in both written and oral form; students will be able to self-assess their English language competence.

4. Communication Skills: students will be able to understand and write texts at the B2+/C1 level of the CFER. Students will be able to communicate in a clear and well-structured way, with a limited number of mistakes, demonstrating their skills in interacting and discussing the topics presented during the course.

5. Learning Skills: students will be able to read, interpret and analyse complex academic and specialised texts; students will also be able to report on these topics, in both written and oral form; they will be able to self-assess their knowledge of the course contents as well as their language competence.

At least B2 level of the CEFR.

The Professor’s Module (held in English) is entitled "Language and Media":
• Language and mediation
• Media, modes, and materialities
• Media, genre, and style
• Media storytelling
• Media and discourse processes
• Audiences, interaction, and participation
• Media and the attention economy, virality and memetics

The texts and examples presented in class will be taken from different media. Audiovisual material will also be projected with the aim of analysing their linguistic and discursive strategies. The videos will be the starting point for critical analysis and spontaneous debate. The videos and material discussed in class may also serve as a reference for the written part of the exam (the essay).

The language practice labs (esercitazioni) will help students consolidate their integrated skills at the upper-intermediate level of the CEFR (B2+/C1).

Textbook/Study Material for the module with the Professor:
Jones R. H., Jaworska S., Aslan E. (2020). Language and Media: A Resource Book for Students. 2nd Edition. London: Routledge.

Additional material discussed in class and made available on Moodle (http://moodle.unive.it : password will be disclosed at the beginning of the course).

For language practice module with CEL "esercitazioni":
Material provided in class and made available to students.

The expected learning outcomes are assessed in a final oral exam that students can take only after submitting a written paper (essay) and passing the tests related to the language practice labs (esercitazioni) with the CEL.

The written exam consists in two parts: the evaluation of the language practice labs with an essay at the end of each semester (for non-attendees an essay in the final exam will be scheduled); a brief argumentative essay (700 words max) dealing with one of the aspects tackled during the Professor’s module. The essay, to be written at home, must be submitted according to the instructions and deadlines provided by the Professor in due time (and made available on Moodle). Students will be asked to choose the topic of their essay from a list of themes indicated for each session.

The oral exam with the Professor will assess students’ ability to describe the topics covered in the module as well as to discuss the essay with the appropriate terminology. In order to take the oral exam, students must have previously submitted the argumentative essay and passed the written tests related to the language practice labs. The positive evaluation of the written parts remains valid for the entire academic year.

For further information, please contact Prof. De Bonis (giuseppe.debonis@unive.it).

The course of English Language for Special Purposes (12 credits) is composed of two parts:
- theoretical module (prof Giuseppe De Bonis);
- language practice classes in small groups with the CEL to develop the B2+/C1 level (CEFR) in written and spoken language.

Traditional teaching methods integrated with the use of multimedia resources and by the students' active participation in discussion activities proposed in class, guided by the Professor and carried out individually or in small groups.

English

• The Professor’s module starting in the second semester will be held in English.
• Materials for the module’s part will be available on the Moodle e-learning platform (password protected).
• Language practice with the CEL will start in the first semester and will continue in the second semester.
• This programme is still provisional and slight changes could still be introduced.

Students who would like to read more on specific topics related to the module’s part or who would like to write their final dissertation (second-level dissertation) can contact Prof De Bonis via e-mail (giuseppe.debonis@unive.it) or during his office hours.

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