LINGUA INGLESE

The course aims to consolidate and deepen students’ linguistic skills, particularly their knowledge of the morphological, syntactical, and lexical aspects of language (B1 level of the Common European Framework), their receptive and productive oral and written skills, and their comprehension of 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 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

Lectures + Laboratory held by a native speaker.

Attendance at the laboratory activities and the lectures is highly recommended due to the communicative language teaching approach.  

Morphological, syntactical, and lexical analysis of different text 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 and Education (Distance Education in the Virtual Age, Technology as a Pedagogical Tool, 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 the information found in texts/films.

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. 61-85 + 103-113 +141- 148,  tot. 44 pp)
• J. Wade, English for Education, Cafoscarina, Venezia 2006 (pp. 148-159, tot. 12 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.

Written test, oral test (interview with a native speaker + interview with the Professor), and a discretionary in-progress assessment.

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 the 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 and interview with the native speaker (50%), and interview with the Professor (50%)).

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

The oral exam focuses on discussing 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.