99016 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will gain a comprehension of the fundamental elements of English language and culture and will be able to understand and produce written and oral texts fluently and spontaneously. Students will be guided in the development and knowledge of contemporary English language and culture through an intensive and extensive reading programme on the subject, as well as through similar activities involving aural texts (videos, radio broadcasts, etc.). The reading and listening activities will provide the basis for the production of written and oral texts by the students. By focusing on a variety of texts and genres, students will learn to critically analyze discourses and cultural practices which inform and characterize the current British debate on national and cultural identity against the backdrop of the country's Imperial past and with a view to its current role in Europe and globally.

Course contents

The lessons will take place during the second semester (at the Forlì Campus) and will be conducted in the format of lectures, but active participation by the students will be strongly encouraged.

The module will focus on oral communication and will include the following topics:

- Interpersonal communication and conflict resolution (social interactions, the importance of emotional and social intelligence, register)
- Language and culture
- Non-verbal communication
- Societal and verbal taboos
- Strategies in and for communication
- Active listening and feedback
- Public speaking fundamentals (basics and techniques)
- Persuasive speaking (debates)

- Inclusive language
- Humour in communication

This module is taught only at the Forlì Campus.

Readings/Bibliography

A specific bibliography and a reader will be provided during the course and will be published on the module’s Virtuale.

Teaching methods

All the lessons are lectures and encourage students to actively and critically participate in all planned activities. Additionally, there is an attendance requirement of 70%.

Lessons will utilize methods and tools aimed at creating opportunities for discussion, speaking, and listening in lectures, language and computer lab sessions, and oral argumentation (debates). The module adopts an approach based on interaction between the lecturer and students, group work, and the development of critical skills. The materials used in class include academic articles, newspaper articles, and audiovisual material.

Assessment methods

The final exam for the module will consist of an oral test that will cover the topics discussed and explored in class. For preparation for the oral test, two readers are available on Virtuale, as well as the PowerPoint presentations from the lessons and related supporting materials.

After regsitration to the esam is closed, a timetable with the meeting schedules (following the order of registration for the exam) will be published on Virtuale to facilitate the students.

The final mark is calculated by averaging the grade obtained in the written test (in the 1st semester) with the grade from the oral test (in the 2nd semester).

Teaching tools

Language laboratory, web sites, electronic resources. The printed/audiovisual material used will gradually increase in difficulty and become more specific. Assignments and activities will be carried out both in class and at home.

All printed and audiovisual material used in class, as well as resources for the specific topics tackled in class will be made available on the module's Virtuale (the access key will be provided during the first lesson).

Office hours

See the website of Rachele Antonini