68020 - English Language Lab 5 (D)

Learning outcomes

 

NOTE TO INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS: we regret that these labs are not available to Exchange students, due to the very nature of the labs and their internal rules. For a list of courses in English you can attend in our Department, please refer to the guidelines (Incoming mobility: info on courses - English / Incoming mobility: info on courses -Spanish-/ on the following page (https://edu.unibo.it/en/teaching/international-mobility-programme/incoming-students). If you are interested in a course on English Language Teaching, you can attend course 13726 - English Language Teaching in the second semester (https://www.unibo.it/en/study/course-units-transferable-skills-moocs/course-unit-catalogue/course-unit/2025/498491).

At the end of the course students will have maintained their previous language abilities and will have acquired specialised lexis for the teaching of English in Italian primary schools and for introducing CLIL activities. Students will develop an awareness of culture and language skills in a prospect of lifelong learning with the aim of taking part in cultural exchanges and making contact with English speaking partners, developing awareness of cultural tolerance and social harmony and inclusion.

Course contents

The main aim of this lab is language improvement through a series of teaching activities related to English language instruction in preschool and primary school. The activities will focus mainly on the early stages of English language teaching and will include the exploration of a range of techniques and methodologies designed to make lessons more engaging and dynamic.
We will carry out a variety of activities to illustrate the following topics: introducing and consolidating new vocabulary; introducing reading and writing; how to approach grammar in a non-grammatical way; the use of drama; songs, chants, and humanistic dictations.
During the second part of each session, we will engage in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) activities (for both adults and children) with the aim of stimulating communication in English, developing vocabulary, and fostering processes of language improvement. Some of the activities will also focus on the analysis and practice of written English at the B2 level.
The fifth-year labs are divided into eight groups, six of which take place during the first semester and two during the second semester of the current academic year. In addition, there is a ninth summer make-up group for students who need to recover missed activities.

It is not possible to change enrolment lists or split attendance across multiple groups: each student must therefore attend only the group for which they have officially enrolled. After successfully enrolling in a laboratory group, anyone who may wish to withdraw after the enrolment deadline must notify the lab instructor promptly.

All labs last 32 hours and are divided into 8 sessions of 4 hours each. Attendance is compulsory for at least 75 % of the total duration (i.e. for at least 6 lessons, equivalent to 24 hours). If a student is unable to attend a class, they must notify the lab instructor by email on a case-by-case basis, specifying in the email their first name, surname, student number, group and the date of the class they will be missing.

In the event of absences exceeding the maximum 8 hours allowed, ALL missed hours must be made up in the summer make-up lab. For example, if a student misses 8 + 3 hours, 11 hours must be made up. If absences total or exceed half of the overall lab duration (i. e. 16 or more missed hours), the entire lab must be retaken.

While the first and last lesson are not mandatory, they are strongly recommended. Students who are absent from BOTH the first and second sessions will be excluded from the rest of the lab.

Those who do not think they will be able to attend the first two sessions of the chosen lab are asked to withdraw (before the enrolment deadline) to make their place available to other students and (if necessary) to have the opportunity to enrol in another lab. It is not possible to be enrolled in more than one lab at the same time.

Attendance at all English workshops is permitted solely and exclusively in person.

Readings/Bibliography

Rice, R. (2011), First Steps, CLUEB (una guida all'insegnamento della lingua inglese nella scuola primaria)

Further Reading:
-Phillips, Sarah, Young Learners, OUP
-Read, Carol, 500 activities for the primary classroom, Macmillan

Both books are extremely practical and full of ideas for teaching

Teaching methods

Teacher-led workshops and group work.

Assessment methods

The assessment is written. Students are required to produce a short written text based on a prompt selected from a range of options provided by the instructor. The topics of the prompts will focus on teaching techniques and classroom activities for preschool and primary school contexts, as well as on more general topics.
To sit the examination, students must register through the online system (AlmaEsami) within the specified deadlines. These deadlines are mandatory and cannot be waived. Students who are unable to register due to technical problems by the scheduled deadline must promptly notify the Academic Office (and in any case before the official closing of the registration lists). The instructor may, at their discretion, allow such students to take the examination.
There is no ‘salto d’appello’ and studentes can sit any exam session.
Assessment is on a pass/fail basis.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or disabilities are strongly advised to contact the University's dedicated support service well in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) for any requests for accommodations. The University Support Service will propose any appropriate accommodations for the students concerned. Any such accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days in advance for approval. The instructor will assess their suitability in light of the intended learning outcomes of the course.

N.B. With regard to the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the examination, the use of AI is prohibited. Any such use constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Notes containing summaries of the activities carried out in each lesson.

Office hours

See the website of Richard Rice