78700 - English for Specific Purposes 2 (LM)

Learning outcomes

The global aim of this course - which includes lectures and language classes - is to improve students’ communicative skills and provide them with a sophisticated knowledge of selected aspects of the English language and culture also in order to allow them to compete for jobs in the international sector. More particularly, lectures will enable students to think critically about specific varieties of English in connection with their context of production and of reception. This aim will be achieved by providing students with theoretical knowledge taken from linguistics and sociolinguistics, as well as through close readings of authentic texts. Specific varieties of English taught in this course are aligned with the aims of this degree and include institutional discourse as represented in two or more of the following varieties of English: the language of politics, legal English, the language of healthcare and the language of economics. Language classes aim at improving students’ linguistic competence; over the two year period students’ knowledge of English should reach 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

This course aims to encourage a critical reading of specific texts besides consolidating and enhancing students’ language skills, particularly as regards speaking.

The course will provide an introduction to the relationship between language and institutions, with an analysis of the language of institutional and media discourse and examining its contribution to the creation of media styles and genres, including political discourse. Focus will be both on written and spoken language.

More specifically, the course will deal with topics such as racist discourses, social actor analysis, political discourse, and the discourses of the new capitalism. The course will also address Social Skills Training, particularly as regards negotiating, assertiveness and persuasion.

Authentic texts will be used as examples.

The second part of the course, in blended mode, is based on oral presentations in class of academic articles related to the course contents. After choosing an article from the lecturer’s collection, each student will summarise the main points of the chosen paper to present orally online accompanied by the relevant visual material using PowerPoint. With about 4 presentations per lesson, the remaining lesson time will be spent discussing each topic further.

Presentations may be recorded in advance or during the lesson itself.

All materials produced for the presentations (e.g. the original academic article, bibliography, powerpoint, video/audio recordings) will be uploaded onto the Virtual Learning Environment.

Each lesson in the second part of the course will include presentations by 4-5 students grouped by topic.

The chat will be used for feedback and questions. Active participation from the whole class after each presentation is encouraged.

The lecturer will preside over activities, act as mediator and discuss the activities with students.

The overall aim of the module is to develop students’ ability to recognise the ways in which power is disseminated in institutional, media or political discourse.

By the end of the course students will be able to recognise and critique the application of the topics handled in the course in an academic context, by means of the oral and written presentation of an academic article in a ‘conference’ format in class.

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students, materials will be indicated by the lecturer at the start of the course, and will be available on the Virtual Learning platform.

Suggested reading also includes:

Mumby D.K. (ed) (1993) Narrative and social control : critical perspectives, Newbury Park, CA : Sage,

Simpson P., Mayr A. & Statham S. (2018) (2nd ed.) Language and Power. A Resource book for students, London: Routledge.

For non-attenders:

Simpson P., Mayr A. & Statham S. (2018) (2nd ed.)Language and Power. A Resource book for students, London: Routledge.

Teaching methods

The course is part of the University's teaching innovation project.

Lectures will alternate with activities involving reading, listening to and watching materials in English, combined with guided analysis and discussion of the texts as well as individual and group presentations.

Part of the course will be in blended mode, as described above.

Active participation from the students in the discussions and the other activities is an essential part of the learning process and exam preparation.

Assessment methods

Attenders:

• Written exam concerning course contents
• Evaluation of the oral presentation given during the course. The evaluation is based on different criteria, including the ability to select the main points and summarise them appropriately, with a clear visual presentation and appropriate accompanying oral commentary. Connection with course material should be clearly signposted.

Non-attenders:

Written exam based on the textbook Simpson P., Mayr A. & Statham S. (2018) (2nd ed.) Language and Power. A Resource book for students, London: Routledge.

Oral exam based on the contents of two 'threads' chosen by the student from the textbook Simpson P., Mayr A. & Statham S. (2018) (2nd ed.) Language and Power. A Resource book for students , London: Routledge (e.g. 'thread' 5 includes the chapters A5 B5 C5 D5, 'thread' 8 includes A8, B8 C8 D8).

Nb: the final mark for ESP2 requires passing both the course exam and the language practice exam.

Johnson’s exam (written + oral presentation) makes up 2/3 of the overall course mark, with the language classes exam the remaining 1/3.

Teaching tools

Authentic texts in English, Internet, Powerpoint

Office hours

See the website of Jane Helen Johnson