LINGUA INGLESE

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: PAOLA CLARA LEOTTA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims at consolidating and deepening students’ linguistic skills, particularly concerning the morphological, syntactical, and lexical aspects of language (B1 level of the Common European Framework), the receptive and productive oral and written skills, and the comment on specialized texts belonging to the fields of education and pedagogy.

Entry level: A2.
Achievement level: B1.

Following the Dublin Descriptors, the expected learning outcomes are the following:

Knowledge and understanding (DD1)

  • Knowledge of theories and translation models in the English linguistics

Applying knowledge and understanding (DD2)

  • Link the theoretical and methodological contents learned to the interpretation of specialized texts
  • Being able to research dictionaries and corpora through the use of technology

Making judgments (DD3)

  • Being able to interpret and formulate the learning demand

Communication skills (DD4)

  • Being able to talk, negotiate and argue using the specialized lexicon
  • Being able to write texts of various genres.

Learning skills (DD5)

  • Being able to identify one’s learning needs

Course Structure

Lectures + Laboratory held by a native speaker.

Required Prerequisites

A2-Elementary level of CEFR

Attendance of Lessons

It is to underline that attendance, both in the laboratory activities and the lectures, is highly recommended, given the communicative language teaching approach.  It is also necessary to access the in-progress tests.

Detailed Course Content

Morphological, syntactical, and lexical analysis of different texts types; reading comprehension activities with a focus on the scientific lexicon of Education and particularly on the following topics:

  • Learner-centred pedagogy (The Reggio Emilia Approach - Italy, Summerhill - England, Sudbury Valley School - the USA, T. Makiguchi - Japan)
  • Technology in Education (Wake Forest University, The Modern Student, Internet Linguistics)
  • Stories and Immigration (Reading Pinocchio, Pinocchio in America)
  • Education and English-language varieties: Indian English in Bend it like Beckham, American English in Freedom Writers' Diary
  • The Education System​ in the UK and the USA.

 By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Identify and use the grammatical and syntactical structures dealt with during lessons
  • Recognize and use the most frequently recurring elements of the specialized lexicon
  • Read, translate, and comment on texts about education and pedagogy
  • Sum up information found in texts/films.

Textbook Information

Grammar and language skills:

  1. M. Swan, C. Walter, D. Bertocchi, The Good Grammar Book for Italian Students, Oxford U.P., 2015 (only for reference, 318 pp.)
  2. Handouts (about 20 pp)

Monographic course:

  • Leotta, P.C., The Challenge of Mediating: from English to the New Englishes. Cultural Otherness in Bend it like Beckham, Englishes 41/2010, pp. 51-61, 10 pp. 
  • Leotta, P.C., “The transportation of British, American and Indian cultures to Italian-dubbed films. Conventionality and creative solutions”, in V. Bonsignori, G. Cappelli, E. Mattiello (eds), Worlds of Words: Complexity, Creativity, and Conventionality in English Language, Literature and Culture, Vol. 1 (Language), Pisa University Press, Pisa, 2019, pp. 187-201, ONLY 5 pp.
  • S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001 (pp. 61-144, 83 pp.)
  • Handouts (Internet Linguistics, Makiguchi, Freedom Writers' Diary, 6 pp.)

Students who don’t attend the course are kindly requested to meet the Professor during office hours.


AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN
M. Swan, C. Walter, D. BertocchiThe Good Grammar Book for Italian StudentsOxford U.P.2015 
M. Hancock, A. McDonaldEnglish Result, Pre-IntermediateOxford U. P.2010
S. Notini, H. MonacoIssues in EducationClueb2001

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Grammar, B1 CEFR levelM. Swan, C. Walter, D. Bertocchi, The Good Grammar Book for Italian Students, Oxford U.P., 2015
2lab units M. Hancock, A. McDonald, English Result, Pre-Intermediate, Oxford U. P., 2010
3Bringing Reggio Emilia home, pp. 62-67S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
4Bringing Reggio Emilia home, pp. 62-67S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
5Film analysis: ''The Freedom Writers''Leotta, P.C., “The transportation of British, American and Indian cultures to Italian-dubbed films. Conventionality and creative solutions”, in V. Bonsignori, G. Cappelli, E. Mattiello (eds), Worlds of Words: Complexity, C+ handouts
6S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
7Sudbury Valley School, pp. 81-85S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
8Internet Linguisticshandouts
9Technology in Education, pp. 92-93S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
10The modern student, pp. 98-101S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
11Film analysis: ''Bend it like Beckham''Leotta, P.C., The Challenge of Mediating: from English to the New Englishes. Cultural Otherness in 'Bend it like Beckham', Englishes 41/2010, pp. 51-61.
12Stories in Education, pp. 103-105S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
13Reading Pinocchio, pp. 105-112S. Notini, H. Monaco, Issues in Education, Clueb, Bologna 2001
14Tsunesaburo Makiguchihandouts

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Written test, oral test (interview with a native speaker + interview with the Professor), in-progress assessment for attending students.

The evaluation criteria used for the examination are:

  • Adequacy of expression about content and method
  • Ability to re-process knowledge
  • Ability to organize knowledge according to specific objectives
  • Orderliness of essay
  • Breadth of thematic awareness and vocabulary accuracy
  • Ability to study critically

The final mark of the entire course (7 ECTS) will be derived from the average of the marks obtained in the three parts (written test, interview with the native speaker, and interview with the Professor).

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

The written test focuses on the B1 level of the CEFR.

The oral exam is focused on the discussion of the topics dealt with in the laboratory and lectures 

Students will read, translate, answer comprehension questions, summarize, and comment.

 The exam is based on the knowledge of specific lexicon.