Ateneo - UPO

MAIN TOPICS:

- COURSE:

Text and discourse;

Types of texts and genres;

Register and style.

- ESERCITAZIONI (PRACTICAL CLASSES):

In-depth study of the English language in use, of complex language structures and communicative strategies, for writing and oral interaction.

Decoding and encoding processes of medium length/complexity texts.

METALINGUISTIC AWARENESS AND LANGUAGE SKILLS.

This course aims at introducing and discussing the notion of text and discourse, along with their linguistic features. The focus is placed on knowledge dissemination, with a view on the popularization of scientific contents in different socio-linguistic contexts for a non-expert target audience.

English Language III aims to develop complex lexical, grammatical, morpho-syntactic, and discursive skills of contemporary English, in relation to everyday topics and events, or more specialized contexts and usages.

COURSE:

CORE learning objectives of the course are:
- to identify the main text types and recognise their essential structural features (e.g. cohesion and coherence);
- to identify discourse construal methods from the perspective of popularisation (e.g. plurality of texts and intertextuality, language registers, target audience, etc.);
- to recognise and describe the rhetorical-linguistic strategies and features governing popularising texts;
- to be able to read and comment on the original texts under scrutiny, identifying basic elements (vocabulary, morpho-syntax, phenomena of reformulation, repetition, simplification, adaptation, etc.).

A more ADVANCED objective is the development of critical reflections through the comparison of the original texts under scrutiny (e.g. articles from popular science/general interest magazines for an informed/educated and/or general audience): discussing, through significant examples, the linguistic choices and discursive strategies in relation to theoretical considerations (Critical Discourse Analysis).

The 6 ECTS credits to be earned are distributed as follows for attending students:
Lecture-based teaching (DE) + interactive classroom teaching (DI) (1.2 ECTS, 30 hours)
Independent study (4.8 ECTS)

ESERCITAZIONI (PRACTICAL CLASSES):

CORE learning objectives are:
- to learn grammatical structures and Italian-English contrastive aspects;
- to learn simple and complex sentence structures, with particular reference to relative clauses and their textual functions;
- to expand general vocabulary, and the use of denotation, and connotation;
- to consolidate verb tenses with reference to the expression of modality;
- to write medium-length paragraphs highlighting textual cohesion;
- to describe events or situations.

A more ADVANCED objective is the development of complex rhetorical-stylistic strategies and skills in writing medium-length paragraphs.

The 6 ECTS to be earned refer to the "use of English" and are essentially interactive in nature.
Interactive classroom teaching (DI) + Independent study.

The course general contents and specific topics, language skills and activities, the end-of-course examination, as well as the assessment criteria applied, refer to B2+/C1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).

The course will be held from October to June.

English Language III assessment process includes a written task and an oral discussion (English Linguistics B), and a written test (English Language 3 year practical classes).

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://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 written test and the oral exam will be on site for both English Language 3 year practical classes and English Linguistics B, respectively.

The oral exam is a discussion on English Linguistics B course contents. Oral interaction skills, language competence, and fluency (discourse structure, pronunciation, lexis, morphosyntax, and linguistic appropriateness) will be assessed when students sit the English Linguistics B exam.

English Linguistics B oral exam and language assessment are worth 60%, English Language 3 year practical classes written test is worth 40%.

Students will pass their exam if they get 18/30 in both these didactic units. The final grade is calculated on a weighted assessment basis.

With reference to the 'Intended learning objectives' (see below), the following grades correspond to different skills:

18-22/30: minimal knowledge of the syllabus, poor command of expression;
23-25/30: a largely mechanical and/or rote-based knowledge of the subject matter, limited vocabulary and expression;
26-28/30: a substantially accurate presentation, with some minor imperfections (language and content);
29-30 lode: a coherent and comprehensive understanding of the topics covered, excellent command of expression, advanced use of language.

Honours will be awarded based on the accuracy, depth, and capacity for critical elaboration of the responses.

Further information on the assessment process is included in English Linguistics B and English Language 3 year practical classes specific syllabi, General English o British English.

ENGLISH LINGUISTICS B (metalinguistic approach):

An introduction to discourse: spoken and written interaction

Context an sociolinguistic perspectives

Text and discourse: thematic structure and syntax

Text types, genres, register/s

Rhetorical strategies and popularising issues

Coherence, cohesion and the seven standards of textuality

Cross-references, intertextuality, ellipsis, reiteration, deixis

Meaning construction: lexis and semantic fields

Meaning and/in context

Corpus linguistics and corpus-based approaches to analyse text and discourse: investigating a variety of written texts with the software AntConc 4.3.1.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 3 PRACTICAL CLASSES (use of English):

Grammatical structures with a view on contrastive aspects (Italian vs. English): simple and complex sentences, relative clauses (full and reduced) in structuring a written text.

Lexical expansion (general vocabulary and specialised terminology): combining noun words and adjectives to denote and connote.

Tense consolidation: combining verbs and adverbs.

The expression of modality in English: modal verbs and adverbs of manner.

Writing paragraphs and longer texts: practising cohesion beyond sentence level.

Describing events and circumstances: textual consistency.

Summarising, paraphrasing, and reformulating skills: language competence (grammar, lexis, and morpho-sytax).

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Students will also be able to identify and understand different registers and styles, to identify and explain the most appropriate rhetorical strategies and language features used for the production of popularising texts. Students will also be able to read and understand complex texts of contemporary English at an advanced level, of general and/or specialized content.

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Students are expected to 1) explain and exemplify the complex notions introduced and discussed during the course; 2) discuss the most relevant processes of discourse construal; 3) explain the rhetorical strategies and the correspondent linguistic features to communicate a variety of contents. They will also be able to translate texts and write descriptive essays of medium length and complexity on general topics, to write reports of medium length from an outline, and to have a conversation in the same general/specialized domains. Linguistic knowledge and language understanding will be used at a practical level, and applied to the many disciplinary research and professional contexts.