95349 - English Language and Linguistic Exercises 1-A

Learning outcomes

Sviluppo delle competenze linguistiche del Quadro Comune Europeo delle Lingue a un livello B1-B2.

 

Development of language skills based on the Common European Framework for Languages, level B1-B2.

Course contents

Practical exercises (= Esercitazioni) in English with native English speaking teachers. At the beginning of the academic year, a Placement Test (OOPT) is held to form groups, based on the students' skills, from intermediate to advanced. In order to study English, it is obligatory to take the Placement Test on either of the following dates

· Thursday 12th September 2024 (enrolments in Studenti Online between 1st August 2024 at 1 pm and 5 September 2024 at 1 pm);

· Wednesday 30 October 2024 (enrolments in Studenti Online between 2nd October 2024 at 1 pm and 23rd October 2024 at 1 pm).

The minimum passing score is 55.

Instructions to enrol for the OOPT are available here.

Students who have obtained one of the following certificates after 1 January 2022 (certificates issued before 1 January 2022 can’t be accepted) are not obliged to take the Placement Test:

1) Cambridge ESOL: PET with Merit or with Distinction or in any case no less than 154 points.
2) IELTS: 5
3) TOEFL iBT: 65
4) TRINITY (solo ISE, o Integrated Skills Exam): ISE (II)

The same certificates are accepted if obtained with a higher score. The FCE (the only grades accepted are A, B or C, or in any case not less than 154 points), CAE and CPE are also accepted.

Students with certificates are required to email a PDF or JPEG scan of their certificate (Email subject: “Certificate”) either to sabrina.fusari2@unibo.it (for students whose surname begins with a letter between A and F) or to antonella.luporini@unibo.it (for students whose surname initial is between M and Z), from 12 September to 30 October 2024. It is not possible to have your certificate recognized outside these time slots.

Readings/Bibliography

Course book (all groups): Latham-Koenig et al. English File Advanced 4th edition, published by Oxford University Press.


Additional material will be made available on-line and in local photocopy shops.

Teaching methods

Language classes (= Esercitazioni) with mother tongue English teachers throughout the academic year. Students will be divided into groups from the placement test, and will be trained in all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students are divided into groups depending on the results of the OOPT.

Assessment methods

(1) A language written, based on the contents of the language classes held by native English speaking teachers. This tests the students' capacity to analyze, understand and use the English language at level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages. This exam component is divided into separate sections on (a) Use of English (40 minutes), (b) Reading (20 minutes) and (c) Writing (60 minutes). The final mark is the mean of the scores obtained in the three sections. Passing the Use of English exam paper is an essential condition to pass the language exam. The text types used for this component of the exam are general interest texts (e.g. newspaper articles, reviews, interviews).

(2) A SAT (Speaking Ability Test), which tests the students' listening and speaking skills, and their capacity to communicate spontaneously, understand and make themselves understood in English, with a good command of grammar and a fairly wide vocabulary, on a variety of general, non specialized topics. This component of the exam lasts 8-10 minutes.

Regardless of which semester the theoretical (Functional Grammar) lectures are held in, students may take the practical (Esercitazioni) component of the exam only at the end of the academic year (May 2025), because the corresponding course lasts for the whole academic year.

Teaching tools

See also Prof. Fusari's programme for this course, as it also includes a linguistics part.

Office hours

See the website of Sabrina Fusari