ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION 1

The course aims to encourage language awareness and to provide some useful metalinguistic instruments for reaching an awareness on the students’ part of their own processes of language learning; indeed, an important objective is to guide students towards autonomous learning. Textual and morphological analysis (including the use of examples of realia) will be used as practical examples of features of theory. The target level of linguistic competence envisaged is B1+ within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

A and B modules introduce the basic structures of the language. The first module focuses on morphological, grammatical and syntactical analysis with reference to translation practice too. The second module focuses on Phonetics and Phonology with the aim of providing the students with practical tools to improve their language learning. Special attention will be given to morphological and grammatical analyses and to translation practice. Module C aims to the acquisition of language analysis tools within a translation practice perspective. A contrastive textual analysis will be carried out to compare L1 and L2 language frameworks. Different text types will be used as well as different registers. The module focuses also on monolingual dictionary practice and use. At the end of the module students will be able to analyse a text linguistically and metalinguistically and will be able to translate it.

Language instruction

Students will be divided into the language classes according to their language competence. A placement test will be organized. The starting level is B1. Language classes are part of the course.

- Culpeper Jonathan et al (eds), 2009, English Language. Description, Variation and Context, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan (A total of 12 chapters: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16).

- Baker, Mona, 2011, In Other Words, Abingdon, Routledge (A total of 4 chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4).

Language instruction –anglophone culture

The reference grammar books and the texts to be used for the language instruction classes will be communicated immediately after the entrance test on the basis of level of competence and assigned group.

Recommended dictionaries

Collins Cobuild Dictionary for Advanced Learners, London: Collins latest edition (together with How to use the Dictionary, Collins ELT, London); Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (with cd-rom), London, Longman latest edition; A.S. Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Oxford, Oxford University Press, latest edition; Cambridge Learner Advanced Dictionary (with cd-rom), Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, latest edition; MacMillan English Dictionary, New edition, Oxford, MacMillan latest edition; Ragazzini Dizionario Inglese - Italiano Italiano - Inglese, Zanichelli, latest edition.