Ateneo - UPO

The course consists of a lecture-based module and a series of language practice classes. The lecture module introduces the fundamental concepts of the English language and English linguistics, with particular emphasis on phonetics and phonology, morphology and lexis, as well as syntax. The language practice classes are designed to develop students' receptive and productive language skills in both spoken and written English, with the aim of enabling them to achieve a B2 level of proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

1) ENGLISH LANGUAGE – Language Practice Classes
Required Reading (all students)
Latham-Koenig, Christina, Oxenden, Clive, & Lambert, Jerry. English File Digital Gold. B2 Student's Book, Workbook with Key & e-Book (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Vince, Michael. Language Practice for First. English Grammar and Vocabulary. Student's Book Pack with Practice Online and Keys (5th ed.). London: Macmillan.
Recommended Reading / Supplementary Resources for Developing Grammar and Vocabulary Skills
Aa. Vv. Oxford Grammar 360°. Student's Book with Keys and e-Book. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Biber, Douglas, et al. Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman, 2002 (with Workbook).
2) INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LINGUISTICS
Required Reading (all students)
Crystal, David. Sounds Appealing: The Passionate Story of English Pronunciation. London: Profile Books, 2019 [2018].
Kuiper, Koenraad, & Allan, W. Scott. An Introduction to English Language: Word, Sound and Sentence. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024.
Non-attending Students
The required reading for non-attending students is the same as that listed above for all students.
Each course module has a dedicated page on the DIR online platform, where students can access the materials provided during both the language practice classes and the Introduction to English Linguistics lectures.

(1) The Language Practice Classes are designed to develop students' grammatical, lexical, morpho-syntactic, and discourse competence in contemporary English, with a particular focus on everyday topics, including current affairs and other issues of general interest.
(2) The Introduction to English Linguistics module aims to introduce the fundamental principles of English linguistics, with particular emphasis on the phonological and morphological aspects of the English language.

A B1 level of English language proficiency.

The course employs different teaching methods for its two components. The Language Practice Classes consist of practical activities designed to develop students' communicative language skills through exercises, individual work, and group tasks. The Introduction to English Linguistics module is delivered through interactive lectures that encourage active student participation.

Students enrolled in the Master's programmes in Philology or Philosophy who hold a valid C1 English language certificate may be exempted from the Language Practice Classes only (but not from the Introduction to English Linguistics module). In such cases, a mark out of 30 will be awarded on the basis of the certification score. The final grade for the course will be calculated as the average of the mark obtained in the Introduction to English Linguistics module and the converted mark based on the language certification, and will be recorded on a 30-point scale.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated support services and appropriate accommodations by contacting the University's Student Development and Career Services Office. After contacting the relevant University support service, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN are encouraged to discuss any teaching- and assessment-related accommodations with the course instructor.

Assessment consists of one written examination and one oral examination, both graded on a 30-point scale. Students must pass the written examination before being admitted to the oral examination. The oral examination may be taken in a subsequent examination session. The written examination (Language Practice Classes) is designed to assess students' reading comprehension as well as their grammatical and lexical competence in English. It lasts 60 minutes and consists of five sections: Part 1 – Reading, comprising a text of approximately 700 words followed by five multiple-choice questions on comprehension and vocabulary; Part 2 – Reading Multiple-Choice Cloze, consisting of a text of approximately 200 words with 15 gaps, for each of which students must select the correct answer from four options; Part 3 – Find the Mistakes and Choose the Correct Sentence, including five questions requiring students to identify the grammatically correct sentence from four similar alternatives; Part 4 – Grammar Multiple-Choice Cloze, comprising ten questions in which students complete each sentence by selecting the correct grammatical form or verb tense; and Part 5 – Vocabulary Multiple-Choice Cloze, consisting of fifteen questions in which students complete each sentence by choosing the appropriate word or collocation. The oral examination, conducted entirely in English, includes at least three questions on the syllabus of the *Introduction to English Linguistics* module in order to assess students' understanding of the course content. In addition to disciplinary knowledge, the assessment takes into account students' communicative competence, including lexical, grammatical, morpho-syntactic, pragmatic, and phonological accuracy, as well as clarity and effectiveness of oral expression. The final mark is awarded on a 30-point scale and is calculated as follows: 50% is based on the mark obtained in the Language Practice Classes written examination and 50% on the mark obtained in the oral examination for the *Introduction to English Linguistics* module. To pass the English Language examination, students must obtain a minimum mark of 18/30 in both components. Performance is evaluated according to the following criteria: A (30 *cum laude*), excellent knowledge of all course content demonstrated through precise, accurate, and highly effective presentation; B (30–27), very good knowledge of all course content with accurate and error-free presentation; C (26–24), good knowledge of the course content with language that is generally accurate; D (23–18), satisfactory knowledge of the course content despite some inaccuracies or errors in presentation; E (below 18), insufficient knowledge of the course content, with understanding compromised by numerous errors and an unclear presentation.

Within the Language Practice Classes, particular emphasis is placed on consolidating students' grammatical and lexical competence through guided activities in reading and listening comprehension, as well as spoken and written production. The syllabus covers the principal grammatical structures of contemporary English, including verb tenses and aspect, modal verbs, conditional sentences, reported speech, relative clauses, the passive voice, phrasal verbs, collocations, idiomatic expressions, and general and academic vocabulary. Classroom activities are based on authentic and semi-authentic materials dealing with topics of general interest and current affairs, and are designed to develop fluency, linguistic accuracy, interaction skills, and written communication.
The Introduction to English Linguistics module provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of English linguistics, with particular emphasis on phonology, morphology, and syntax. The phonology component examines the sound system of contemporary English, including the articulatory description and classification of consonants and vowels, the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), phonemic transcription, the main phonological processes of connected speech, stress, rhythm, and intonation, as well as the principal features of the Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA) models of pronunciation. The morphology component explores the internal structure of words, examining free and bound morphemes, derivational and inflectional morphology, the principal processes of word formation, lexical categories, and morphological productivity. The syntax component introduces the fundamental principles governing English sentence structure, with particular attention to phrase structure, constituent analysis, grammatical functions, and the organisation of simple and complex sentences. Throughout the module, theoretical concepts are illustrated through the analysis of examples drawn from contemporary English, enabling students to apply linguistic principles to the analysis of authentic language use.

The Language Practice Classes are designed to consolidate and further develop students' communicative competence in English at an intermediate to upper-intermediate level. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to understand extended spoken texts on topics of general interest, current affairs, and everyday life; read and interpret newspaper and magazine articles; participate effectively in conversations and presentations on general topics, discussing both audiovisual materials and written texts; and produce short descriptive and expository written texts using appropriate and coherent language.
Upon completion of the Introduction to English Linguistics module, students will be able to analyse the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structure of the English language. In particular, they will have developed the ability to describe and classify English speech sounds, explain their articulatory features, use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to read and produce phonetic transcriptions, identify the main phonological processes occurring in connected speech, and distinguish between the pronunciation features of Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA). They will also be able to analyse the internal structure of words by identifying their constituent morphemes and distinguishing between the main processes of derivational and inflectional morphology, as well as analyse the basic syntactic structure of English sentences.