Ateneo - UPO

The B2 level English course is designed to provide students with the tools to develop the solid, flexible and self-reliant language skills necessary to successfully interact in academic and professional contexts in English.
The course is divided into thematic modules and helps students comprehensively develop their comprehension, production, interaction, and mediation skills in a typical academic environment. The modular structure allows students to tackle the different aspects of academic communication step by step: from initial orientation to independent study and use of the language, to the ability to have oral discussions or giving presentations, the analysis of specialized texts, writing formal emails and short academic texts, and to listening to audio (or audiovisual) texts followed by note-taking exercises. The last module is designed to prepare students for the final exam, with self-assessment exercises and review of the skills learned.
Each module is developed using digital resources, which integrate interactive exercises and materials for independent study.

Resources provided by the instructor via the DIR page
CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH Grammar and Vocabulary for First and First for
Schools with answers Louise Hashemi, Barbara Thomas, Laura Matthews
ISBN 978-1- 107-48106-0

The course awards 6 CFUs, corresponding to a total of 150 hours of student commitment, comprising 50 hours of structured activities (2 CFUs) and 100 hours of independent study and self-learning (4 CFUs).
The course is delivered face-to-face and comprises 10 hours of lecture-based teaching (DE – 0.4 CFUs), dedicated to the introduction and systematisation of the main linguistic structures, academic vocabulary and communication strategies required by CEFR level B2, and 40 hours of interactive teaching (DI – 1.6 CFUs), dedicated to communicative tasks, guided exercises, academic presentations, collaborative work and language reflection activities aimed at using the language in university contexts.
The course aims to consolidate the linguistic and communicative skills corresponding to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with particular reference to the use of English required in university and professional contexts.
Knowledge and comprehension
The course aims to develop students’ comprehension of complex spoken, written and multimodal texts, expanding the linguistic repertoire necessary to participate in the main communicative practices of university life. Particular attention is paid to understanding lectures, presentations, subject-specific texts, articles, abstracts and other authentic materials, as well as to the development of academic and specialist vocabulary and discourse competence.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The course promotes the integrated development of reception, production, interaction and mediation skills through communicative tasks linked to authentic situations in university life. Students develop the ability to understand and process information from various sources, participate in discussions, prepare and deliver individual or group academic presentations, and use the English language appropriately in different contexts of study and communication.
Autonomy of judgement
The course fosters the ability to reflect critically on one’s own language development, to identify effective strategies for tackling communicative tasks typical of academic contexts, and to use feedback and self-assessment tools to progressively guide one’s own learning.
Communication skills
The course aims to strengthen students’ ability to participate in academic interactions, present subject-specific topics orally, defend and justify their own point of view, collaborate in group activities, and communicate clearly, coherently and appropriately with different audiences and in different communicative contexts.
Learning skills
The course promotes independent study through the informed use of digital resources, authentic materials, and learning and self-assessment strategies, fostering the ability to plan one’s own study programme and to develop language skills that can be transferred to future university and professional contexts.

The English course is aimed at students who have achieved a level of English proficiency equivalent to at least level B1 of the CEFR. This requirement can be certified in three ways:

1) by the recognition of a language certificate (see CLUPO regulations link https://clupo.uniupo.it/lingua-inglese/riconoscimento-certificazioni;
2) by passing the English Placement Test administered by CLUPO;
3) by attending and passing the online realignment course on the DIR platform (link https://clupo.uniupo.it/lingua-inglese/english-placement-test).

The course is organised into thematic modules and comprises guided exercises, collaborative activities, and individual and group assignments, all designed to foster the progressive development of the language and communication skills required in academic and professional contexts.
The activities on offer encourage students’ active participation through discussions, presentations, analysis of authentic materials, practical exercises and reflection on their own learning, with a particular focus on developing autonomy in language learning.
The DIR platform forms an integral part of the teaching programme and provides a dedicated space for level B2, featuring materials for independent study, the consolidation of language skills, revision of topics covered during the course, individual in-depth study and preparation for the final exam. Students who are unable to attend classes regularly can use these resources to follow the course independently.
The course adopts inclusive teaching methods, designed to encourage the active participation of all students, whilst valuing the diversity of linguistic backgrounds, learning styles and educational experiences.

The DIR platform is the main digital environment supporting the learning process. On the course page, the lecturer makes available the syllabus, teaching materials, exercises, consolidation and catch-up activities, resources for independent study, and all the information relating to preparation for the final exam.
Students who are unable to attend classes regularly can use the DIR platform to follow the course independently and access the materials and activities included in the course.
Students may take the same exam a maximum of three times in a calendar year. For the regulations governing exams, please refer to Article 35 of the University’s Teaching Regulations.
Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via reference office consulting the University webpage:
https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities.
Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The assessment is designed to ascertain whether the learning outcomes set out for the course have been achieved, by evaluating the development of B2-level language and communication skills and the ability to apply them appropriately in academic and professional contexts.
The assessment consists of two complementary parts: an ORAL ASSESSMENT and a final COMPUTER-BASED WRITTEN TEST. Both parts must be passed in order to pass the exam.
To sit the exam, students must have met the entry requirements (EPT) and must register for the exam session by the deadlines specified on the ESSE3 website.
Production task
The production task consists of an oral presentation of an individual or pair assignment, agreed with the lecturer and developed during the course. The assignment involves preparing and presenting a paper in English on a topic relevant to the student’s subject area or to the topics covered during the course. The presentation assesses oral production, interaction, discourse organisation and language use in an academic context.
Assessment of Pass/Fail
Pass: the presentation demonstrates achievement of the expected learning outcomes, with clear and coherent communication, effective organisation, appropriate use of English and linguistic competence at B2 level according to the CEFR. Particular attention is paid to oral communication, organisation, linguistic appropriateness and interaction.
Fail: the presentation does not demonstrate achievement of the expected learning outcomes and shows significant shortcomings in discourse organisation, communication, linguistic accuracy or use of English at B2 level that compromise the achievement of the assessment objectives.
Students who have taken and passed the production assessment during the course will sit the standard version of the final language use and comprehension test. Students who have not taken the production assessment will sit a version of the final test including an additional written assignment.
Language use and comprehension test
The final test consists of a computer-based written test administered in person via the esami.DIR platform. It comprises three sections covering listening comprehension, reading comprehension and language skills (language in use, grammar and vocabulary). Each section includes 1–2 tasks with multiple-choice questions, cloze exercises or fill-in-the-blank exercises. To pass, students must achieve a mark of 18/30 or higher.
Students who have completed and passed the production assessment during the course will sit the standard version of the final test, whereas students who have not completed the production assessment will have an additional written component.
Assessment of the writing task
Writing at B2 level is assessed according to four key criteria:
Compliance with the task and content: completeness and relevance of the response, appropriate format and development of the main ideas with suitable details or examples.
Coherence and cohesion: logical organisation of the text and effective use of connectors to link ideas and paragraphs.
Lexical richness and precision: variety and appropriateness of vocabulary, including suitable synonyms, common idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs and collocations.
Grammatical variety and accuracy: control and variety of grammatical structures, with only minor errors that do not compromise comprehension.
Students may take the same exam a maximum of three times in a calendar year. For the rules governing exams, please refer to Article 35 of the University’s Teaching Regulations.

The B2-level English course is designed to develop the language and communication skills consistent with CEFR Level B2, which are necessary to participate effectively in university life and to navigate academic and professional contexts in English.
The course is organised into thematic modules that integrate comprehension, production, interaction and linguistic reflection through activities progressively geared towards using the language in authentic contexts.
Particular attention is paid to developing independent study skills, learning strategies and the skills required to communicate in an academic setting.
Module 1. Finding your way around the course and planning your learning
Course introduction, analysis of your language profile, initial self-assessment of skills, setting personal learning objectives, using the resources available on the DIR platform and planning your study programme.
Module 2. Participating in academic communication
Understanding and producing oral contributions in university contexts; individual or group academic presentations; discussion of subject-specific topics; appropriate use of specialist vocabulary; development of pronunciation, intonation and interaction strategies.
Module 3. Understanding and using academic texts
Reading and analysing subject-specific texts; identifying main and supporting information; recognising text structure; expanding academic vocabulary; consolidating grammatical and lexical structures through ‘Use of English’ activities.
Module 4. Understanding spoken texts and processing information
Comprehension of lectures, presentations and discussions on academic topics; identifying key and detailed information; note-taking; reorganising and summarising information heard.
Module 5. Preparing for the final exam
Consolidation of the skills developed during the course; guided practice and mock final exams; self-assessment activities and reflection on learning strategies.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired linguistic and communicative competence in English corresponding to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and will be able to:
Knowledge and comprehension skills
• understand the essential content and relevant details of spoken, written and multimodal texts at B2 level, including those of an academic and specialist nature;
• understand lectures, presentations, articles, abstracts, slides, podcasts and other authentic and digital materials relating to university life and one’s own subject area;
• recognise the structure of texts, the main logical relationships between pieces of information and communicative intentions;
• understand and interpret academic and specialist vocabulary and the main morphosyntactic structures in various communicative contexts.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
• use English appropriately to carry out communicative tasks in academic and professional contexts;
• identify, select and process information from spoken, written and multimodal texts;
• take part in discussions on topics of general, academic and subject-specific interest, expressing and justifying one’s own point of view;
• prepare and deliver short individual and group academic presentations, organising information in a clear and coherent manner;
• use general, academic and subject-specific vocabulary appropriate to the context and apply effective linguistic strategies to carry out various communicative tasks.
Autonomy of judgement
• assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of their own linguistic and communicative choices in relation to the purpose, context and interlocutor;
• reflect on one’s own level of language proficiency and identify appropriate strategies for overcoming communication difficulties;
• select and make informed use of dictionaries, language resources, authentic materials and digital tools to support learning and communication;
• recognise one’s own strengths and those aspects of language proficiency that require further development.
Communication skills
• interact in English with sufficient fluency, clarity and accuracy in academic and university settings;
• participate actively in conversations and discussions, expressing opinions, asking questions, providing explanations and responding appropriately to interlocutors;
• to adapt register, vocabulary and communication strategies to the purpose, context and interlocutors;
• present academic and subject-specific topics orally in a structured, clear and comprehensible manner;
• respond to questions and requests for clarification during a presentation or interaction;
• collaborate on the planning and delivery of presentations and other group communication tasks;
• summarise and rephrase information drawn from spoken, written and multimodal texts clearly and effectively.
Learning skills
• organise and monitor their own English language learning journey independently;
• use appropriate learning strategies and digital tools to consolidate and develop their language skills;
• use self-learning resources, such as dictionaries, digital platforms, authentic materials and language support tools;
• self-assess their progress against the CEFR B2 level descriptors;
• independently identify areas for improvement and plan activities to consolidate and develop their language skills.