91656 - English Language And Laboratory

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student must demonstrate the ability to express and understand concepts and topics related to the social sciences, political sciences, and international political news at a level of spoken English no lower than A2 and ideally at least equal to B1, according to the reference framework of the Council of Europe; as regards the written language, students must be able to read and understand basic to complex texts, in particular reviews and manuals - at a level no lower than B1 and ideally at least at level B2.

Course contents

The course will focus on English language enrichment through the analysis and study of general linguistics, cultural studies, communication practices in the mass media and the ways that events are framed with regards to Contemporary Issues in the United States. Moreover class lectures will be on both basic English linguistics, Cultural Studies, and sociological concepts. 

Readings/Bibliography

Readings and bibliographical material will be provided during the course. All relevent material used in class will be uploaded to the course’s IOL page. 

Teaching methods

The course will blend theory (lectures) and praxis (language labs) therefore one class a week will be dedicated to traditional lectures on past and current theoretical concepts while the labs will be a more practical, "hands on” approach wilh speaking, group work, and presentations. 

Opportunities to talk, present, listen, read, and write in lecture settings, conversation/debate and basic writing exercises will all be carried out in English. 

All material covered in class will be posted on the course's IOL page.

Assessment methods

At the beginning of the year, students will be asked to take an intial English placement test. From the results of this test, students will be placed into one of three English language labs taught by Prof. Rizzi (one lab in the first semester and two labs in the second semster). Students attending these labs will be exempt from the longer final exam at the end of the year. Students that do not attend labs and not attending the lectures will have a longer exam. 

Students completing the course and exam will receive a mark of pass/fail. Those students that have enrolled in the course before the 2019-2020 academic year will recievie a numerical mark. 

Students that attend the labs will take a shorter exam than those students unable to attend the labs or course. 

Students that are not attending the course but will still sit the final exam must keep up to date with the course material upoloaded to the course’s IOL page. 

More information on the structure of the exam will be provided in the second semeter. 

Teaching tools

Course specific PPT presentations, documentaries, websites, podcasts, and social media applications. Assignments and activities will be carried out both in class and at home with a focus on enriching students' grasp and mastering the relevance of modern digital age communication.

Most if not all printed and audiovisual material used in class, as well as resources for the specific topics tackled in class, will be made available on the IOL e-learning site.

Links to further information

https://iol.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=41436

Office hours

See the website of Anthony Dion Mitzel