- Docente: Andrew John Cresswell
- Credits: 5
- SSD: L-LIN/12
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Forli
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Intercultural and Linguistic Mediation (cod. 8059)
Learning outcomes
The student will learn to understand and produce a wide range of written texts and speeches in English in a fluent and spontaneous way.
Course contents
The starting point of the course is discourse analysis and the objective is the practical application to oral production of theoretical understandings of the management of communication, in the context of the process of negotiation intrinsic to dialogue interpreting. The main analytical aspects are dealt with in outline and the emphasis is above all on the application of analytical understanding to the practice of communication. Thus students are encouraged to reflect on the communicative effect of a range of interpersonal language, including phonology (sounds, intonation), lexis (discourse markers, hedges) and prosody (pauses), and to critically evaluate and appreciate their own oral production (accuracy and fluency) in English.
In normal circumstances, the centrality of self-evaluation means that the most suitable place to hold the lessons is a language laboratory with computers. Given that such laboratories may not be available during periods of Covid emergency, it is necessary for students to supply their own equipment to compensate. It is thus indispensible for students to bring to each lesson (1) a fully charged laptop, (2) a charged smartphone, and (3) personal earphones.
Readings/Bibliography
A reading list (the items on which are optional) will be made available on the course Moodle site.
Teaching methods
Most of the lessons involve pair or group work, and there will be plenty of opportunities for students to put their knowledge of spoken English into practice in activities such as discussions, roleplays, memorisation exercises and peer and individual evaluation.
Assessment methods
Students will write a brief analysis of their own oral production during the term and in the exam (held in the language lab) will record a spoken summary of an extract of semi-specialist language. Assessment will be on the basis of listening comprehension, oral production and critical ability.
During periods of coronavirus emergency, there will be special arrangements for holding exams on line. In the online exam, the task is the same (a test involving listening to an extract followed by a speaking test), but does not take place in the laboratory. Instead, students download the extract , and after listening, record their speaking task and submit it on line (via Moodle) within a given time limit, and following the instructions given. To make sure that any technical problems can be identified in advance (rather than during the exam), each student is expected to be available for at least one technology trial during the weeks preceding any given exam date. This would be necessary if any or all of the exam procedures and/or apps had not been dealt with explicitly during the course, or if there are students who are taking the exam without having followed the course.
Teaching tools
In order to prepare students for the work of dialogue interpreting, the course uses electronic media such as films, videos and radio podcasts to provide experience of specialist language, as well as programs for the recording and analysis of spoken language. All the materials will be posted on the Moodle e-learning platform, as will instructions for exercises and activities and the reading list (optional).
Office hours
See the website of Andrew John Cresswell