Ateneo - UPO

The programme focuses on the use of English in the tourism sector, with particular attention to communication relating to destinations, travel and cultural heritage.
Activities will mainly focus on reading and understanding authentic English-language texts. Students will work on tourism-related vocabulary and on the main grammatical and linguistic structures found in the texts, learning to recognise their meaning and use.
A range of texts will be used, including newspaper articles, texts about destinations and travel, websites, brochures, travel guides, reviews and online content. Activities will include reading comprehension, work on vocabulary and grammar, paraphrasing and summarising, leading to the production of clear and accurate written texts on tourism-related topics.

Compulsory texts:
Mirella Ravecca, A New Journey. Sustainable and inclusive tourism. (Minerva Scuola) ISBN 978-88-298-6143-9.
Raffaella Picello, Understanding Heritage. English for Cultural Heritage, Tourism and the Visual Arts, Padova, libreriauniversitaria edizioni.
Further materials will be provided to students during the year, and uploaded to the webpage DIR.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
identify the main ideas and relevant details in authentic English-language texts on tourism, travel, destinations and cultural heritage
identify and explain the meaning of tourism-related vocabulary and common grammatical and linguistic structures in context
select and organise relevant information from a source text for the purpose of summarising it
paraphrase and summarise information from English-language texts using their own words and appropriate reporting structures
produce clear and well-structured written texts on tourism-related topics, using appropriate vocabulary, grammar and register

Adequate knowledge of English (at least B2+, preferably C1 level according to the CEFR). Please refer to the page on the admission requirements for the MA in Foreign Languages, Cultures and Tourism: https://disum.uniupo.it/it/didattica/corsi-di-laurea/lingue-culture-turismo-foreign-languages-cultures-tourism-laurea-doppio-titolo-aa-20262027

nteractive classroom activities (Didattica Interattiva – DI) + self-study. Practical receptive activities using authentic materials and productive activities, both individual and group-based; grammar practice; and oral interaction on specific topics within the subject area. Individual study of the materials and topics covered in class, together with individual grammar revision.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and support by contacting the University’s Staff for Career Development and Coordination and Student Services and consulting the relevant section of the University website:
https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-fragilit%C3%A0-disabilit%C3%A0-dsa-bes
Once they have contacted the relevant University staff, students with disabilities, SLD or SEN may contact the lecturer responsible for the course regarding the arrangements for examinations, particularly with regard to teaching and assessment-related matters.

The final assessment consists of a written examination lasting 2 hours.
Students will be given an English-language news article relating to tourism, travel or a destination and will be required to write a 450-500-word summary.

The summary should:
identify and organise the main ideas and relevant information from the source text;
use students’ own words rather than copying from the original;
demonstrate appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar and reporting structures;
present the information in a clear, coherent and well-structured manner;
make appropriate use of cohesive devices to link ideas and information.

With reference to the Intended Learning Outcomes, the following grades correspond to different levels of achievement:
18–22/30: basic understanding of the source text; limited ability to select and organise relevant information; frequent grammatical, lexical and syntactic errors that affect clarity;
23–25/30: adequate understanding of the source text; generally correct selection and organisation of information; mostly accurate language, with some errors in grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure;
26–28/30: good understanding and effective selection of relevant information; clear and well-organised summary; generally accurate and appropriate use of grammar and vocabulary, with only occasional errors;
29–30/30: very good understanding of the source text; accurate and effective paraphrasing and summarising; clear, coherent and well-structured written production, with a high level of grammatical and lexical accuracy;
30/30 with honours (cum laude): excellent overall performance, demonstrating a very high level of accuracy, effective organisation and confident use of English in the written task.

Use of English in the tourism sector
Vocabulary: terminology relating to tourism, travel, destinations, tourist facilities and services; use of vocabulary in different communicative contexts.
Grammar and syntax: main grammatical and syntactic structures commonly found in tourism-related texts; use of verb tenses, passive forms, modal verbs and structures used to describe and provide information about experiences and destinations.
Style and register: features of the language used in different types of tourism communication; differences between informative, descriptive and promotional language; use of recurring expressions and structures.
Text comprehension and organisation: identifying main ideas and relevant information; organising and linking information; use of cohesive devices and other means of establishing textual coherence.
Written production: paraphrasing and summarising tourism-related texts; selecting and reformulating information; producing clear, coherent and well-structured texts using appropriate vocabulary and register.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
By the end of the course, students will be able to understand authentic English-language texts relating to tourism, travel, destinations and cultural heritage, identifying their main ideas and relevant information. They will also be able to recognise and understand the meaning of specialist vocabulary and the main grammatical and linguistic structures used in the texts.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will be able to select, organise and reformulate information from a source text, using appropriate paraphrasing and summarising strategies. They will also be able to produce clear, coherent and well-structured written texts on tourism-related topics, using vocabulary, grammar and register appropriate to the context.
At a minimum pass level, students must demonstrate that they have acquired the fundamental knowledge and skills relating to reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and written production, and are able to apply them appropriately.
At an advanced level, students must demonstrate a good command of English, accurate understanding of texts, the ability to select and effectively reformulate information, and the ability to produce clear, coherent and linguistically accurate written texts.
For further details, please refer to the Learning Objectives and Assessment Methods.
The language skills acquired during the course can be applied to a range of academic and professional contexts related to tourism, particularly the comprehension and production of English-language texts.