42211 - English 1

Learning outcomes

Students should be able to understand the main ideas in both a written and oral text on both concrete and abstract subjects, including those in his or her special field. They should be able to use English to interact spontaneously and appropriately with native speakers. They should be able to correctly motivate a viewpoint.

Course contents

Lessons are in English and require a previous knowledge of English (A2/B1) and will be based on grammar points, vocabulary work, listening and speaking exercises, reading exercises. Students should purchase the workbook for English Grammar Today by R. Carter, published by Cambridge University Press, 2011. Students should speak to the professor before buying any of the other texts. Within a month of the written exam students will be asked to take an oral exam on these three texts: Interpreter of Maladies by J. Lahiri, A History of the World in 100 Objects by N. MacGregor (attending students are required to read 20 objects whereas non-attending students have to read 50 objects) and the third one, by choice, between The Speckled People by H. Hamilton and Chronicles by B. Dylan. Optional: students who choose to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway in addition to the other three books on the syllabus will earn two extra points on their final grade.

Readings/Bibliography

ARCO STUDENTS: Grammar: R. Carter, M. McCarthy, English Grammar Today. An A-Z of Spoken and Written Grammar, Cambridge University Press, 2011.  This text is recommended but it is not mandatory. Students are instead asked to buy the WORKBOOK for use during the lessons and as a tool that may be used to study for the written examination.
Also required: Interpreter of Maladies, J. Lahiri, A History of the World in 100 Objects, N. MacGregor (attending students are required to read 20 objects whereas non-attending students have to read 50 objects), students will be also asked to choose a third text between The Speckled People, H. Hamilton and Chronicles, B. Dylan. Optional: students who choose to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway in addition to the other three books on the syllabus will earn two extra points on their final grade. ALL OTHER STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE THIS 12-CREDIT COURSE, INCLUDING ERASMUS STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS FROM OTHER FACULTIES MUST READ THE SAME TEXTS AS THE ARCO STUDENTS: Interpreter of Maladies, J. Lahiri, A History of the World in 100 Objects, N. MacGregor (attending students are required to read 20 objects whereas non-attending students have to read 50 objects) and, by choice, The Speckled People, H. Hamilton or Chronicles, B. Dylan. Optional: students who choose to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway in addition to the other three books on the syllabus will earn two extra points on their final grade. N.B. Oral exams are always held within 30 days of the written; students will be informed of the date on the day of the written exam.
      

Teaching methods

Discussion and reading in the classroom. Videos and films will be watched and then discussed. Reading, grammar and vocabulary exercises will be carried out and corrected in the classroom.

Assessment methods

ARCO: students will undergo both a written and an oral test at the end of the course. The written test will consist of a multiple-choice close exercise, two reading comprehension exercises, and a word formation exercise. The oral exam is in English. Students are required to read: Interpreter of Maladies, J. Lahiri, A History of the World in 100 Objects, N. MacGregor (attending students are required to read 20 objects whereas non-attending students have to read 50 objects) and a third text between The Speckled People, H. Hamilton and Chronicles, B. Dylan. Optional: students who choose to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway in addition to the other three books on the syllabus will earn two extra points on their final grade.
All other students (including ERAMUS) who choose this 12-course English exam will have to take an oral exam within 30 days of the written (the dates will be given to the students on the day of the written exam). The books to be read in English for the oral exam are as follows: Interpreter of Maladies, J. Lahiri, A History of the World in 100 Objects, N. MacGregor (attending students are required to read 20 objects whereas non-attending students have to read 50 objects) and a third text between The Speckled People,H. Hamilton and Chronicles, B. Dylan. Optional: students who choose to read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway in addition to the other three books on the syllabus will earn two extra points on their final grade

Teaching tools

Teaching tools include the grammar book (see texts section), videos, films, newspaper and magazine articles, essays, novels, short stories.

Office hours

See the website of Sylvia Notini