12987 - English Language (Third Language)

Learning outcomes

The students know the elements of English language and culture and are able to understand written texts and simple oral discourses.

Course contents

This 4-skill course is for students who wish to upgrade their reading and writing skills for professional purposes and also improve public speaking skills. The course is designed for students who have experience writing expository paragraphs and a reasonable control of grammar and sentence structure. This course emphasizes reading longer passages at a reasonable rate, and taking notes for study purposes. Students will work on improving composing and organizational skills for writing 5-paragraph opinion essays, and revising, editing, and proofreading skills. Students will be introduced to simple research skills, such as finding appropriate sources and documenting source materials.

Readings/Bibliography

These references are intended to supplement readings and exercises offered by the instructor. Students are welcome to carry on additional independent but instructor-supervised practice with any of them.

Engelhardt, Diane. 2013. Practice makes perfect. Advanced English reading and comprehension. [s.l.]: McGraw-Hill Education.

Khashoggi, Khalid & Arianna Astuni. 2020. SAT reading: History passages. [s.d.]: [s.p.]. ISBN 9798618218191

Meltzer, Erica Lynn. 2019. The complete guide to SAT reading, 4th ed. [s.l.]: The critical reader. ISBN-13: 978-0997517873

Roche, Marc. 2019. Business English writing. [s.d.]: [s.p.]. ISBN 9781793353894

Settele, Mike. 2019. SAT Reading & writing packets (2020 Edition): Practice materials and study guide for the SAT evidence-based reading and writing sections. [s.d.]: [s.p.].

ISBN 9781697714203 Swales, John M. & Christine B. Feak. Academic writing for graduate students. Essential tasks and skills, 3rd ed. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472034758

Swick, Ed. 2009. Writing Better English for ESL learners, 2nd ed. [s.l.]: McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9780071628037

Teaching methods

In view of the type of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires the prior participation of all students in Modules 1 and 2 of safety training in the workplace, in e-learning mode. See[https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it

The course will offer a mix of theory and practice. Every class meeting will present theoretical concepts regarding English and communication, but will also apply a hands-on approach to improving English writing, speaking, and comprehension with the help of audiovisual material, group work and discussions/debates in class.

At the begining of each semester, the students will vote and choose five topics to be addressed by everyone one in class, in successive cycles of

1. individual speech for or against the topic. 3-minute long. Individual exercise

2. individual or group speech for or against the topic. 3-minute long. Group exercise

3. individual essay writing, ca. 500 words. Individual exercise

4. individual or group essay writing, ca. 500 words. Group exercise

Assessment methods

Students are required to attend at least 70% of the course sessions. Students who cannot attend because they are on Erasmus should contact the instructor and clarify their situation before leaving.

 

Students will be required to turn in an individual and group essay or video each week. Group exercises will be assessed and discussed in class throughout the year. At the end of each semester, each student will choose two individual videos and two individual essays will be graded.

The grade will be calculated as follows: reader's grade: 25% + instructor's grade: 75%.

The instructor's grade (75% is now 100%) will calculate:

1. the best group essay of the year, 20%
2. best group video of the year, 20%.
3. The best individual essay of the first semester, 15%.
4. the best individual video of the first semester. 15%
5. the best individual essay of the second semester, 15%.
6. The best individual video of the second semester, 15%.

Students attending the course and turning in their assignments will receive a cumulative grade for the course. Hence, they will NOT need to sit for an exam in the first call.

Learning assessment scale

30-30L Excellent. The candidate possesses excellent translation/linguistic skills, with a very high level of proficiency in the target language/(s) in the language and culture studied.
27-29 Above Average. Candidate makes only minor errors and demonstrates a solid command of the required skills and competencies.
24- 26 Generally Good. Candidate shows some gaps, indicating reasonable mastery of the required skills and competencies.
21-23 Adequate. Candidate shows significant deficiencies and only adequate mastery of the required skills and competencies.
18- 20 Minimal. Candidate meets only the minimum required level and shows minimal mastery of the required skills and competencies.
< 18 Failed. Candidate does not meet the required standard and shows completely inadequate mastery of the required skills and competencies.

Office hours

See the website of Ricardo Munoz Martin