47431 - English Language Lab 1 (B)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student:

• is able to demonstrate English language competence at full Threshold level of the CEFR (B1), that is:

• can understand the main points of familiar topics related to school, leisure, personal interests, etc.;

• can interact in English confidently and without errors or misunderstandings in situations that may arise while travelling in English-speaking countries;

• is able to produce a simple written text in English on topics that are familiar or of personal interest;

• is able to express in English experiences and events, plans, hopes and ambitions, and can briefly explain the reasons for their opinions and desires.

Course contents

The common goal of the English language labs in the first and second year is to consolidate students’ receptive and productive language skills, in order to promote English language competence that is both preparatory and functional for the content of the labs in the third, fourth, and fifth year. In those later years, the focus will gradually shift from language learning to the study of appropriate approaches for teaching English. In the first- and second-year labs, the emphasis will therefore be on reinforcing and strengthening the speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills acquired prior to university.

The first-year labs, divided into 8 groups, will all take place during the second semester of the current academic year. In addition to the 8 regular groups offered in the second semester, a ninth group will be added for the summer make-up lab.

There is no placement test. Therefore, each student may register for the group of their choice through AlmaEsami. Registration lists cannot be modified, nor may students divide their attendance between groups: each student must attend exclusively the group in which they are officially registered. Anyone who decides to withdraw from the lab after registering must notify the instructor promptly.

The groups will be mixed-level, but all groups will follow exactly the same programme, using the same textbook. The textbook content to be covered in class and for individual study will be specified by the instructor during the first lesson and will form the basis of the final exam.

As with all English language labs, attendance for first-year labs is strictly and exclusively in person. The maximum number of absences allowed is 25% of the total hours, i.e., 8 hours out of 32. While the first and last lesson are not mandatory, they are strongly recommended (except in cases of serious emergency or objective inability to attend). During the first lesson, the lab programme and exam procedures will be presented; during the last lesson, the mandatory course evaluation questionnaire required for exam registration will be completed. Students who are absent from both the first and second sessions will be excluded from the rest of the lab.

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 + 2 hours, 10 hours must be made up. If absences total half of the total hours (i.e., 16 hours), the entire lab must be retaken.

For all information about the English language labs, please refer to the following page on the course website:
https://corsi.unibo.it/magistralecu/ScienzeFormazionePrimaria/laboratori-di-lingua-inglese

Readings/Bibliography

The textbook for the first-year language labs will be announced by the instructor before the beginning of classes.

Teaching methods

The methods and techniques used may include: reading and comprehension exercises in small groups, form-focussed grammar revision individually and in small groups, listening practice with small group exercises, flipped classroom student presentations of lexical, grammatical and video material, production of short texts, poems, scripts based on the language presented in the book, Grammar-Drama activities (acting out original scripts exemplifying grammar and pronunciation issues), songs, role-play, videos, collaborative and individual writing on paper and on Moodle/Virtuale.

Assessment methods

After attending the course, students will have to take a comprehensive language exam. In case of a fail, exams can be taken in consecutive regular appelli.

The exam will consist of a B1 language test which includes: Lexical exercises (naming objects, describing simple pictures, filling in the gaps in a text, finding the right words to describe a room, school, house, natural landscape, outdoor scene, etc., all at B1 level); Grammar exercises (sentence completion, grammatical choice, verb tenses, irregular verbs, pronouns, comparatives and superlatives, conditionals, etc., all at B1 level with a few B1+ questions); a Reading exercise (a short text with T/F/Not said questions, word definitions, simple synonym identification, title or sentence insertion, etc.); a Writing on familiar topics (describing people, common situations, simple school activities, etc., at least 100 words). The exam lasts 60 minutes.

For a facsimile of the exam, see the course webpage.

There is no session skipping or salto di appello.

Marks will be sent via the University email to each student, and details will be quoted for each part of the test. Students do not have to accept the ID result, registering (verbalizzazione) will be done by default.

In order to take the exam it is absolutely necessary for a student to have enrolled on Almaesami. It is not possible to take any exam without formal enrolment there. In case of problems with the enrolment process students MUST CONTACT THE UFFICIO DIDATTICO BEFORE THE ENROLMENT DEADLINE. Once the enrolment lists are closed, no student can be added.

Teaching tools

Apart from the book, students will work with presentations, audio clips, photos, videos from the book CDs and online, Padlet or similar, own cellphones to contribute materials on shared platforms like Moodle, or to ask questions online, OHP, besides traditional paper-based tools.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Brambilla