C9815 - ENGLISH, CULTURE AND INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES (CL5)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Integrated Course, students will have a basic knowledge of the culture and society of English-speaking countries, of information retrieval tools, and of elementary translation techniques. They will be able to apply such knowledge to analyzing and writing texts in English and to translating non-specialized texts from English into Italian. They will also be able to improve these skills autonomously by a careful and mindful use of Artificial Intelligence tools. By the end of this module, students will have a basic knowledge of the culture and society of English-speaking countries. They will be able to develop autonomously further cultural-analytical skills linked to the society of English-speaking countries and to use Artificial Intelligence tools mindfully to retrieve information and write texts in English.

Course contents

The course will be divided into two modules:

• Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain
• Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain

In the globalized world of the mid-21st century, nations are increasingly composite cultural entities including a wide variety of different cultures, languages and ethnicities, although within a shared framework of national institutions. The issues of the relation between these ‘minority’ cultures and the ‘majority’ national system in which they flourish is the principal focus of this module. This will involve a consideration of the following questions in relation to Great Britain. How, historically, did Britain become an increasingly multiethnic and multicultural society? How is this ethnic diversity managed and how successfully? How has Britain’s history of empire and colonialism impacted upon contemporary British society? How has contemporary writing and filmmaking dealt with issues of integration, discrimination, racism and multiculturalism?

The module will look at these issues through a series of lectures and interactive classes. It will include close readings of contemporary writers reflecting on issues of belonging, identity and culture in this perspective.

The module will also prepare students to give oral presentations through a focus on aspects of English phonology particularly pertinent to Italian speakers, on public speaking skills and time management.

Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

Module 2 examines the relationship between language and intelligent technologies, with a focus on how AI is transforming language, communication, knowledge dissemination and professional language practices. Consistent with the principles outlined in UNESCO’s Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research (UNESCO, 2023) and the AI Competency Framework for Students (UNESCO, 2024), the module develops your ability to engage critically, responsibly and ethically with AI mediated communication.

The module adopts an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) perspective, using AI as a contemporary and socially relevant theme through which to develop your academic literacy in English. You will develop and strengthen your skills in critical reading, genre awareness and audience adaptation while becoming familiar with two core discourse varieties (or registers) of English: academic/scientific discourse and popularized discourse and examine how specialized knowledge is communicated to different audiences, and how linguistic choices reflect differences in communicative purpose, audience, credibility, and accessibility. Since the thematic focus is on artificial intelligence (AI), you will develop a basic understanding of how generative AI systems work, and the opportunities and challenges these systems pose. This provides a common knowledge basis for the further analysis of texts.

The core of the module consists of the comparative analysis of pairs (and occasionally sets) of texts that communicate the same AI-related research to different audiences. For this module, you will be expected to critically read academic and scientific research articles alongside university research blogs, institutional news releases, science journalism, and mainstream media articles on topics such as language change, various forms of bias, including linguistic bias, political persuasion, misinformation, hallucinations, and sychophancy. Attention will be paid to the discursive features of each genre, and the processes of recontextualization and popularization. You will examine how information is selected, reformulated and adapted across different genres, and how different linguistic and semiotic choices influence public understanding of scientific knowledge. Through these activities, you will develop the ability to analyse texts critically, evaluate the credibility and appropriateness of sources, and adapt specialized knowledge for different communicative contexts and audiences.

In the final part of the module, you will have a chance to submit an optional coursework assignment for extra credit, giving you an opportunity to independently and creatively engage with the practice of science popularization. Drawing on the concepts and analytical frameworks introduced in the course, you will produce a short popularised text that communicates an AI-related topic to a lay audience. Your text should address one opportunity and one risk associated with AI, and related to languages and communication.

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain

The module requires reading extracts from the following works (the extracts will be made available to students):

John McCormick, Contemporary Britain (2023)

Bhikhu Parekh, The Future of Multiethnic Britain (2000)

Afua Hirsch, Brit(ish). On race, identity and belonging (2018)

Reni Eddo-Lodge, Why I am no longer talking to white people about race (2018)

Salman Rushdie, ‘The New Empire Within Britain’, in Imaginary Homelands (1983)

Jackie, Kay, ‘Let It Be Told’, in Into the Nineties: Post-Colonial Women's Writings (1994), ed. Anna Rutherford, Lars Jensen, and Shirley Chew.

Leila Aboulela, ‘Barbie in the Mosque’, in Being Scottish. Personal Reflections on Being Scottish Today (2002), ed. T. Devine.

It will also look at extracts from the following two films:

Ae Fond Kiss (Ken Loach, 2004)

Red, White and Blue (Steve McQueen, 2024)

Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

Bray, N. (2025). Introduction to academic writing. University of Alberta. https://doi.org/10.29173/oer/a1ia9upy

Sterk, F. M., & van Goch, M. M. (2023).Re-presenting research: A guide to analyzing popularization strategies in science journalism and science communication. Palgrave Macmillan.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28174-7

UNESCO. (2023). *Guidance for generative AI in education and research*. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386693

UNESCO. (2024). *AI competency framework for students*. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391105

Other readings will be provided during the module.

Teaching methods

Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain

The module is structured around a series of 10 lessons which will combine lectures, interactive sessions, and questions on extracts from texts, podcasts and videos. The module will also include 10 lessons focusing on specific language practice and presentation skills (lettorato) for which students will be divided into smaller groups.

Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

The module is structured around a combination of lectures and interactive sessions, as far as class size allows. Lectures are supported by slides for clarity and as supports for self-study. Learning activities are problem-based, and centred on authentic tasks that students solve working autonomously or in small groups. Peer support and the lecturer' scaffolding create a relaxed learner-centred environment that encourages active participation while developing critical thinking, communication, and relational and problem-solving skills.

Module 2 is also complemented by specific weekly language laboratory sessions (lettorati), taught in smaller groups by language instructors. These sessions focus on developing the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) skills introduced in the lectures, including critical reading, academic writing, argumentation and audience-aware communication, through practical activities and formative feedback.

Assessment methods

Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain

The assessment of Module 1 will be by means of an oral exam. For this you will be asked to give a presentation (supported by slides on Power Point, canva or other format) on a topic of your choice relating to the issue of multiethnicity and multiculturalism in the UK. To prepare the presentation, you should carry out online and/or bibliographic research on the subject. The presentation should last no longer than 5 minutes. It will be followed by a brief Question and Answer session. The presentation can take as its starting point a topic covered in class but should include at least some new material. The mark for the presentation (out of 30) will be based on content (your ability to carry out an original piece of research related to the issues discussed in class) and language (your ability to present it effectively and accurately).

Evaluation criteria:

30–30L: An excellent presentation in terms of originality, research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills.

28–29: Very good presentation in terms of originality , research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills

26–27: Good presentation in terms of originality, research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills.

23–25: Fair presentation in terms of originality, research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills.

18–20: Barely sufficient presentation in terms of originality, research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills.

<18: Insufficient presentation in terms of originality research, grasp of the issues covered in the module and oral skills

Extra points are awarded to students who complete non-obligatory coursework:

- satisfactory: 1 point

- excellent: 2 points

Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

Final assessment for module 2 is by written examination. You will sit an exam in a computer laboratory under closed-book conditions, with no access to external resources of any kind (including AI tools). The exam consists of three tasks:

- Popularization: Rewrite a short extract from an academic text for a lay audience;

- Comparative text analysis: Analyse a popularised text extract, comparing it to the corresponding academic source identifying issues in terms of content accuracy, communicative effectiveness and register-adherence;

- Knowledge and understanding: Answer questions on topics covered during the module, including registers in English, Artificial Intelligence, opportunities and challenges of AI in language and communication.

Evaluation criteria:

30–30L: Excellent popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module.

28–29: Very good popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module.

26–27: Good popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module.

23–25: Fair popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module. Several shortcomings and gaps are present.

18–20: Barely sufficient popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module. Many shortcomings and gaps are present.

<18: Insufficient or seriously insufficient popularization writing skills, discourse analytic skills and understanding of the topics covered in the module.

Extra points are awarded to students who complete the non-obligatory coursework:

- satisfactory: 1 point

- excellent: 2 points

You may take the module 1 (oral) and module 2 (written) parts of the exam either in the same examination session or in different sessions. Both module 1 and module 2 must be passed within the same academic year (i.e. within three examination sessions). If you fail either module 1 or module 2, or wish to improve your grade by re-sitting the examination, you must retake both parts. Any bonus point(s) awarded for coursework are added to the mark for each individual module before the two marks are averaged to calculate your final grade.

Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) or with disabilities that can affect their ability to attend courses are invited to contact the [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students] at the earliest opportunity—ideally before the start of the course. The University service will suggest possible adjustments to the course work and/or exam, which must then be submitted to the course leader so they can assess their feasibility, in line with the learning objectives of the course. Please note that adjustments to the exam must be requested at least two weeks in advance.

Teaching tools

Module 1: Cultural aspects of multiethnic Britain

All course materials are made available through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale). Non-interactive, lecture-like contents are delivered with the support of slides. As far as possible, the course uses open access sources.

Module 2: Language and intelligent technologies

All course materials are made available through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale). Non-interactive, lecture-like contents are delivered with the support of slides. As far as possible, the course uses open access sources.

Given the emphasis in the module, we expect, and in fact encourage, you to become familiar with AI tools and make good, appropriate (and critical!) use of them to support your learning path. The use of AI tools and all other external resources is not permitted during the final examination. Mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, and any other electronic devices must be switched off and kept out of reach for the entire duration of the exam.

Office hours

See the website of John Patrick Leech

See the website of Dallas James Hopkins