78588 - English Language and Culture (Third Language)

Learning outcomes

The student has a good knowledge of the key elements of English language and culture, and can understand and produce both written and oral texts, expressing themselves fluently and naturally.

Course contents

The course aims to improve students' knowledge of the English language, in particular by consolidating their writing skills in different contexts.

For this purpose, the course will analyze the formal and stylistic characteristics of several types of argumentative texts (in particular, journalistic and academic writing) used to represent themes of social interests (rights, diversity, inclusion, etc.). During some thematic classes, the debate will be introduced from different points of view present in English-speaking countries today, which will then be discussed in class and further explored through writing exercises, also with the aim to analyze texts produced by artificial intelligence. The course thus includes debates during class and homework exercises, which will be reviewed in class.

Readings/Bibliography

Handout and other useful resources available on the Virtuale platform.

Teaching methods

Lectures, workshops, and discussions through individual and group works. 

Assessment methods

Written exam at the end of the course.

Learning assessment scale:

30-30L (excellent): Excellent language skills, with a very high level of knowledge and competence in the language and culture(s) studied.

27-29 (above average): Only minor errors, solid knowledge of the skills required.

24-26 (generally sound): Sound exam, but errors indicating a partial acquisition of the required knowledge and skills.

21-23 (sufficient): Sufficient exam, with considerable limitations in the knowledge and skills required.

18-20 (minimum): Exam meeting only the minimum criteria of knowledge and skills required.

Insuff. / Failed: Basic skills not achieved, the exam must be repeated.

 

Teaching tools

Slides, videos, bibliography and other material, all made available on the platform Virtuale in the dedicated section.

Office hours

See the website of Beatrice Spallaccia