78677 - Mediation - English (LM)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with theories of linguistic and cultural mediation and its diverse practical/professional applications. The students are expected to be able to apply the theoretical and practical tools learned in class to the needs of the public and social services, as well as to international and intercultural communication. They are also expected to progress to being able to independently monitor and update their skills and competence, also for the purpose of conducting autonomous research in the field. Language classes aim at improving students’ linguistic competence; over the two year period students’ knowledge of English should reach the level C2 according to the European framework in all four abilities. These classes will work in connection with the lectures to improve students’ writing skills in particular.

Course contents

The course prepares the student for the role of Mediator in various institutional settings such as Healthcare, Business affairs and negotiations, and the Law. Hence, active participation is central to the course through authentic dialogues which recreate the original settings and the student will have to face the problems involved in interpreting not only from a linguistic stand point, but also the cultural discrepancies which arise in the process. Duration: 60 hours.

The course is accompanied by 42 hours of practice meetings held by Dr. Nigel James.

Readings/Bibliography

Given the ongoing emergency situation, detailed information regarding reference material will be communicated during the first lesson so that the needs of off-campus students can be met as those students which have physical access to the University’s libraries.

Students are strongly asked to sign up as participants of the VIRTUALE platform in order to receive direct notices via email.

Specific Reference Material and e-book will be uploaded on the course’s VIRTUALE platform.

Teaching methods

Lectures will cover the theoretical and professional ethical aspects of the mediator and these will be accompanied by simulations which will allow the student to apply the concepts and comprehend first hand the difficulties involved, as well as develop their own person strategies.

Visual and written material involved in these settings will be handled through sight-translation between English and Italian.

Teaching Modality: Blended: The course (60 hours) will be held online by the teacher, while the practice meetings (42 hours) will be held in class by dr. James.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist in an oral exam in which the student will take on the role of mediator to demonstrate their skills in handling a situation in one of the settings seen during the course. The student's skills in sight translation will also be tested. This will represent 2/3 of the final mark.

The final mark will be completed with a written exam worth1/3.

Exam Modality: Online.

Teaching tools

Didactic material will be made available on the course's online platform VIRTUALE. Students will be required to download available documents and to regularly check for updates.

All students must have MS TEAMS and ZOOM correctly installed with their Unibo credentials.

ATTENTION:

Given the instability of the Covid19 emergency situation, this program, first published in June 2021, is subject to change with regards to methods of teaching, didactic material, and/or exams. Timely communication will be given through an update of this program, as well as through appropriate notices published on the usual institutional channels: notices published on the teacher’s web-page, and on the LILEC program website.

Office hours

See the website of Antonietta Iacoviello