LI2 (S)


Anno accademico: 2021–2022
SSD: L-LIN/12
Corso: Lingua inglese
Insegnamento: Lingua inglese livello 2 (LI2)S
CFU: 4,5
Docente: Michael Scott Kennedy (michaelscott.kennedy.vi@fusp.it)


Description

While Lingua inglese livello 2 will be dedicated primarily to improving language skills, time will also be found for continuing to familiarise students with the basic language system, focusing particular attention on those areas where systematic discrepancies between English and Italian exist.  Students are expected to reach a B2 level or above (Council of Europe Framework) in the four skills. Notwithstanding time limitations, attention will be paid to questions of coherence and cohesion, register and genre, and emphasis will be placed on improving students’ understanding of phonological features of the language – word and sentence stress patterns, weak forms, word linking, intonation patterns and problems with individual sounds.

Aims

  • to develop listening skills and strategies; the ability to understand specific information; understand gist; understand attitude and opinion; recognise context, topic and theme.
  • to develop speaking skills and strategies, targeting the following elements: fluency– readiness, speed and rhythm; accuracy and appropriacy – range and accuracy; pronunciation – individual sounds, linking, stress and intonation patterns. Students will be encouraged to extend their knowledge of functional components, e.g. agreeing/disagreeing, clarifying etc. Students will also be encouraged to avoid problems through the use of paraphrase or reformulation and will be encouraged to listen to each other and respond appropriately, through turn-taking.
  • to develop reading skills and strategies. Students will work with authentic and semi-authentic texts of the following types:
  • informational material ( brochures, guides, manuals)
  • newspaper/ magazine articles
  • reports
  • correspondence/ messages
  • advertisements etc

Students will be made aware of strategies to improve their ability to:

  • understand gist and main ideas
  • understand detail
  • follow text structure
  • deduce meaning
  • select specific information

Students will work with exercises of different types – multiple matching, gapped text, multiple choice.

  • to develop writing skills and strategies. A task-based approach will be adopted. Students will be given models/templates and guidance before being asked to fulfil set task. Students will be encouraged to consider register and format appropriate to the purpose and audience; organisation, paragraphing and use of suitable linking devices;  range of structure and vocabulary needed to complete task.

Task types may include the following

  • informal letters and messages
  • transactional letters – both formal and informal
  • discursive composition
  • descriptive composition

Students’ own work will provide material for error correction activities. Additional exercises will be included to improve students’ ability to proofread and self-correct. Problems identified at this stage will also provide valuable source materials for work on the language system. The writing skills component with its functional content is also ideal for introducing students to the importance of the phrasal element in the lexicon, to our reliance on a large repertoire of fixed and semi- fixed expressions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to

  • listen to and understand without difficulty a range of recordings appropriate to their level, both monologues and dialogues, representing a variety of styles and formats
  • communicate information and opinions effectively, using an appropriate register and format, and with a minimum of non-impeding errors (at a B2 level)
  • read and understand without difficulty a range of authentic and semi-authentic texts (appropriate to their level), representing a variety of styles and formats
  • communicate in writing information and opinions effectively, using an appropriate register and format, and with a minimum of non-impeding errors (at a B2 level)

Assessment

While there will be continuous assessment of class work and homework throughout the year, a final exam (1 hour and 45 minutes) will also be included as part of the overall evaluation. End of year marks will be weighted on a 50/50 basis—that is, 50% continuous assessment and 50% final exam. Students’ performance will be assessed on the basis of achievement of tasks set and linguistic skills.

Materials adopted during the year will be pitched at a B2 level (Council of Europe Framework).

Bibliography

Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

All classroom materials will be provided by the course instructor.