B2453 - Language and Culture of English-Speaking Countries (First Language) I

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student will have a good knowledge of the fundamental features of the language and culture of English-speaking countries; will be capable of understanding and producing written texts and oral speeches of medium complexity, expressing himself or herself with relative fluency and spontaneity. The skills achieved at the end of the first year are approximately at the B2+/C1 level of the CEFR.

Course contents

The module will focus on social, cultural and political issues regarding multiethnicity in Great Britain. 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 activities involving a variety of podcasts and videos.

In particular, the students will examine the following topics:

• the history and socio-cultural background of multiethnic Britain;
• racism and the discrimination of diversity;
• policies which promote a tolerant and diverse society;
• post-colonialism and heritage;
• the Black Lives Matter movement.

The module will include specific language practice (lettorato) attendance of which is compulsory.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Class reader.Work in class will centre on a number of brief texts regarding aspects of multiethnic society in Great Britain from the 1960s until the present.
2. Further reading for discussion in the exam.

The reading material will be made available to students at the start of the course.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of two lessons a week. The first will be a plenary lecture and include the viewing of two films. The second lesson instead will be a discussion workshop in which students will contribute actively with presentations of individual research and group discussion.

Assessment methods

The ability of the student to understand and produce oral texts in English will be assessed by means of an oral exam consisting of (a) a power-point presentation of an individual piece of research carried out on a topic to be agreed upon; (b) a discussion of the texts discussed in class; (c) a discussion of the secondary readings.

Students who demonstrate an excellent comprehension of the written and oral texts proposed, an excellent capacity to present the topics discussed and in class and an excellent ability to carry out autonomous research in the area will obtain a mark of 28-30.

Students who demonstrate a good comprehension of the written and oral texts proposed, a good capacity to present the topics discussed and in class and a good ability to carry out autonomous research in the area will obtain a mark of 23-27.

Students who demonstrate an adequate comprehension of the written and oral texts proposed, an adequate capacity to present the topics discussed and in class and an adequate ability to carry out autonomous research in the area will obtain a mark of 18-22.

Students who are unable to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the written and oral texts proposed and whose capacity to present the topics discussed and in class and carry out autonomous research written and oral production is inadequate or with major grammatical, lexical or phonological errors will get a ‘fail’ mark.

Teaching tools

PC, e-learning (using VIRTUALE).

Office hours

See the website of John Patrick Leech