13271 - English Language (1)

Learning outcomes

The course is held at two levels: Intermediate & Advanced. Both levels comprise two modules: English Grammar & Text Comprehension.

 

Intermediate Level: course aims

The aim of the Grammar Module is to offer an overview of the main areas of English Grammar (for details see below), so as to allow students to consolidate and extend their knowledge in this area. Classes are followed by laboratory sessions where practical grammar exercises are done. The aim of the Text Comprehension Module is to offer direct experience of reading English texts (chiefly texts of an expository & argumentative type, narrative texts are not included), so that students can reach a first level  of real autonomy as L2 readers.

The Text Comprehension Module is designed as a self-access module (i.e. there are no formal classes) but a series of laboratory sessions (Text Comprehension Laboratory) will be organised, where students will be able to read the texts (examinable material) and do various exercises designed to test their comprehension and develop their lexical and grammatical knowledge, as well as their awareness of different stylistic levels.

 

Advanced Level: course aims

The Grammar Module starts from the assumption that students have a good knowledge of the basics of English Grammar, and aims to introduce them to certain areas of grammar (for details see below) where their knowledge may as yet be somewhat sketchy. Grammar classes are followed by laboratory sessions where students do practical exercises designed to give them 'hands-on' experience of the structures in question. 

The Text Comprehension Module starts from the assumption that students are already able to read straightforward expository/argumentative texts (ones that are lexically and grammatically less complex) without serious difficulty. It aims to build on this ability, gradually extending it towards texts that are more demanding from the lexical point of view and/or more elaborately written from the grammatical and stylistic points of view. After working through the materials, students should be able to approach practically any English text (outside specialised subject areas) with confidence. This module is basically self-access (there are no formal classes) but a series of laboratories (Text Comprehension Laboratory) will be organised during which students will be able to read the texts, check their comprehension, and work on the lexis and grammatical structures encountered.

 

Summarising....

The course is offered at two different levels: (i)Intermediate& (ii) Advanced. Each level comprises two modules: (i) Grammar & (ii) Written Text Comprehension. All students have to do a Grammar module and a Text Comprehension module, so the first thing that each student has to decide is which level is right for him/her.

For the Intermediate Level Course the starting level is European Level A2. For the Advanced Level Course the starting level is European Level B1.

An online placement test will be made available (in September) to help students decide which level they should choose.

Special notice for students with no knowledge of English or very limited knowledge: as will be clear from the above, the course starts from the assumption that students have already studied English and that they have reached European Level A2or have progressed beyond this. For this reason no classes (or teaching materials) are specifically designed for students below level A2 (though it is possible that some of the materials will prove useful to such students). In cases where students have not yet reached the entry level for this course, it is recommended that they take advantage of the services offered by the Bologna University Language Centre (CILTA, Piazza San Giovanni in Monte 4, 40124 Bologna tel. 051/2097751; website http://www.cilta.unibo.it/CILTA/default.htm ). The Language Centre organises English language courses at all levels (NB: those intending to take advantage of its services should contact the Centre well in advance of the semester in which they want to attend).

Learning outcome: in terms of the common European Framework, which recognises 6 different levels of foreign language competence, the course aims to bring students up to level B2 (if they opt for the Intermediate Level ) or level C1 (if they opt for Advanced Level ). Naturally in the case of this course these levels refer exclusively to text comprehension skills; other language skills are not included.

Course contents

More detailed description of the two modules:

 

(i) Grammar Modules:

The 10 grammar subjects are divided into two levels:

Intermediate level: these 4 grammar subjects constitute the fundamentals of English Grammar. Done together, they offer the opportunity to consolidate one's knowledge of the basics, eliminating misunderstandings and misconceptions that may have remained from previous study.

1. Basic clause structure (1): order of elements, syntax of the subject, verbal agreement and number, impersonal constructions, verb complementation

2. Basic clause structure (2): syntax of auxiliary verbs, clause negation and other types of negation, adverbial elements

3. Noun Phrases (1): order of elements, types of adjective, determiners and their uses, relative clauses, the Genitive construct (i), compound nouns

4. Verb tenses and time reference: the English verbal system, verb tenses and their uses, temporal adverbials

Advanced level: these 6 grammar subjects constitute a departure from ‘basic grammar'. They introduce the student to a wide variety of structures, especially of the kind found in more formal written language. Anybody aiming to reach a good level in English will need, sooner or later, to become acquainted with these structures.

5. Marked clause structures: inversion structures, cleft clauses, presentative there structure

6. Parenthetic constructions: non-integrated relative clauses, as clauses, gerund and participial clauses, appositional structures

7. Noun Phrases (2): deverbal nouns, complex modifier constructions, the Genitive construct (ii), quantifiers

8. Verb Mood: modal verbs & their uses, 'unreal mood' constructions, conditional clauses

9. Complement clauses: finite complement clauses, infinitival complement clauses, gerund complement clauses

10. Adverbial clauses: temporal clauses, reason clauses, consecutive clauses, purpose clauses, comparative clauses, concessive clauses, aconditional clauses etc.

Each student should choose a maximum of 5 subjects; at the final exam he/she will complete the 5 sections of the exam that correspond to his/her chosen subjects.

Special notice for students who choose the Intermediate Level: since only 4 grammar subjects are designated ‘Intermediate Level', most students will want to add a fifth subject (4 points). This should be chosen from those designated ‘Advanced Level' (i.e. subjects (5) to (10) in the above list).

Special notice for students who choose the Advanced Level: students who choose all five grammar subjects from the Advanced Level sections (i.e. subjects (5) to (10) in the above list) and also choose the Advanced Level Text Comprehension Module will be allowed, at the final exam, to complete one extra grammar section (i.e. the remaining Advanced Level subject). In this case their grade in the exam will be based on 6 sections instead of 5.

 

(ii) Text Comprehension Modules:

As stated above, the Text Comprehension Module is offered at 2 different levels: Intermediate & Advanced. Here is a brief description that will help you to understand how they differ:

- Intermediate Level: this comprises texts which have been chosen for their intrinsic interest as well as for their accessibility (the subjects which they deal with are generally quite concrete ones). They may have been slightly shortened and simplified from the lexical point of view. They are taken from various sources (weekly magazines, newspapers, websites, etc). They show the written language being used in some of its most characteristic functions: description, exposition, argumentation.

- Advanced Level: the texts included here have usually not been shortened or simplified in any way. In most cases they come from important, internationally recognised reviews (The New York Review of Books, The London Review of Books etc.) and concern subjects that may be more abstract (for example, the future of libraries in a digitalised world, the ownership of major works of art in the era of globalisation) than those proposed at Intermediate Level.

Students are required to choose one of the two levels described above; at the final exam they will complete the corresponding section.

Whether the student opts for the intermediate level or the advanced one, the aims of the module are much the same: to help the student to become a fully autonomous reader of English language texts. This is largely a matter of developing a series of strategies for dealing with difficulties, usually of a lexical sort. These difficulties are inevitable: nobody, however solid their basic knowledge of a given foreign language, can realistically expect to encounter only texts where all the lexis is familiar to them; they will inevitably run into unfamiliar words and expressions. The course aims to help students develop strategies for dealing with these difficulties, and thus become foreign language readers who can operate successfully without a 3000 page bilingual dictionary under their arms.

Readings/Bibliography

Works for consultation:

Grammars and grammar-centred learning materials (during the course students should use the specific course materials; many would also like to have a reference grammar and so we recommend the following):

Alexander, L. The Longman English Grammar, Longman.

Sinclair, J. The Collins Cobuild English Grammar, Collins.

Swan, M. Practical English Usage, Oxford U.P.

(a sort of 'dictionary of grammar and usage'. There also exists a version with explanations in Italian : Swan, M. English Usage. A Guide for Italian Students Oxford)

The following, while not grammars in the strict sense, are very useful:

Packham, R. & Fiori, F Grammar in Communication. Self-study English Course - Secondary and University Level, Mermaid

Little, B. Foundation Course. The Basics of English for Italian University Students Mondadori

Dictionaries (monolingual learner's dictionaries - every student should possess and make regular use of one of these, in preference to a bilingual dictionary):

Crowther, J. (a cura di) Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Oxford U.P.

Sinclair, J. (a cura di) The Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary, Collins.

McArthur, T. (a cura di) Longman Lexicon of Contemporary English, Longman.

Teaching methods

Classes, exercises in the computer laboratory, and individual study.

Assessment methods

Important:  like any other university course, the English Language course has a full course programme containing a number of subjects that have to be studied with care and attention. The final exam is designed to establish whether the individual student has dealt successfully with these course contents. It is not - and is not intended to be - a general test of linguistic competence.

Assessment will be based on a written examination, consisting of two papers:

Grammar part: this will consist of 10 sections (corresponding to the 10 subjects listed above). Students will normally complete 5 of these; each of them carries a maximum of 4 points, making a grand total of 20. Each section consists of a number of different grammar exercises (completing sentences by inserting a word/words; transforming sentences; identifying incorrect formulations and rewriting them so as to eliminate the error(s)). The marks for each exercise are clearly indicated in the examination paper itself.

Text Comprehension part: there will be two versions, Intermediate Level and Advanced Level (as explained above). Each student will choose one of the two versions (maximum 10 points). The intermediate Level version contains 10 multiple-choice comprehension questions; the Advanced Level versions contains 8 multiple-choice comprehension questions together with two questions requiring a brief written answer. The texts used for the exam are taken from the course materials.

The exam (both levels) is held 6 times a year (it will be held for the first time in December 2013).

In order to be admitted to the exam, students must have signed up - using the online system  - within the published deadline (5 days before the day of the exam). Late enrolments are not accepted.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL GRAMMAR MODULE - MIDTERM TEST:

During the week of 11 November 2013, at the end of the cycle of intermediate level grammar laboratories, a Midterm Test will be held. This midterm test is optional, but students who obtain a good mark in it can count this as part of their final exam result, meaning that all that they have to do at the December exam session  (or at the January one) is complete the remaining parts of the exam (i.e. the Text Comprehension section and, if desired, a fifth grammar subject). NB: after the January exam session the result obtained in the Midterm Test loses its validity and can no longer be counted as part of the final exam.

The midterm test is only for students who in October/November completed the five laboratory sessions relating to the intermediate level grammar subjects.

Teaching tools

For the English Grammar Module:

For the classes: specially prepared materials - an announcement will be made at the beginning of the course about how to obtain them ( and subsequently they will be made available online at Alma DL).

Per individual study: supplementary study materials (exercises, solutions, notes, explanatory material), which will be available online.

In order to download the above material, students should go to the Alma DL website (click on: Scuole di Lettere e Beni culturali > Corso di laurea in Scienze della Comunicazione > Insegnamento 13271 Lingua Inglese).

For the Text Comprehension Module:

The reading texts will be presented during the Text Comprehension Laboratory and will be made available ONLINE  (on Alma DL) immediately after.

Warning: there are two separate sets of materials, one for the Intermediate Level ('Modulo di Comprensione del testo (livello intermedio) Units 1-5')  and another for the Advanced Level ('Modulo di Comprensione del testo scritto - percorso di livello medio-avanzato - Units 1A - 5A').  

Office hours

See the website of Peter Grenville Taylor