English for Academic Purposes
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at introducing the concept of English as a Lingua Franca and English for Specific Purposes. The main focus will be on the communication skills needed to succeed in academic studies, in particular, reading philosophical texts, and delivering formal presentations, and writing reports on elementary research.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the morphological and syntactic features of the English language, including English as a second language, and English as a lingua franca.
- knows the discursive modalities of English for specialized purposes and academic English.
- understands the relationships between language and culture, and language and society.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the student
- can apply the 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) both in general and in academic contexts.
- can communicate effectively in English, being aware of the communicative objective and selecting the communication strategies mostly suited to the context.
- can read and interpret philosophical texts and write short essays using guided sample activities.
- can deliver short presentations on philosophical topics, on the basis of provided guidelines and language patterns.
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the morphological and syntactic features of the English language, including English as a second language, and English as a lingua franca.
- knows the discursive modalities of English for specialized purposes and academic English.
- understands the relationships between language and culture, and language and society.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the study path, the student
- can apply the 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) both in general and in academic contexts.
- can communicate effectively in English, being aware of the communicative objective and selecting the communication strategies mostly suited to the context.
- can read and interpret philosophical texts and write short essays using guided sample activities.
- can deliver short presentations on philosophical topics, on the basis of provided guidelines and language patterns.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Teaching Unit A: ELF, ESP, EAP
English as a Global Language. General English and English for Specific Purposes. Registers and Genres in Professional and Institutional Contexts. Intercultural Issues. Introduction to text analysis tools.
Teaching Unit B: Academic skills: Reading and Writing
READING SKILLS
Skimming and scanning
Understanding meaning from context
Understanding the connection of ideas
Understanding details and recognizing paragraphs
Making inferences and drawing conclusions
Identify summary information and organize information into charts
WRITING SKILLS
Introductions
Topic sentences and paragraphs
Conclusions
Paraphrases and summaries
Essays
CV Writing
Teaching Unit C: Academic skills: Listening and Speaking
LISTENING SKILLS
Understanding the gist
Understanding the details
Understanding the function(s)
Understanding the organization and relations
Understanding the speaker's stance
SPEAKING SKILLS
Pronunciation
Cohesion (transitional expressions, parallel structures)
Independent tasks (free-choice response, paired-choice response)
Integrated tasks (identifying main points in a reading passage/conversation/academic lecture)
English as a Global Language. General English and English for Specific Purposes. Registers and Genres in Professional and Institutional Contexts. Intercultural Issues. Introduction to text analysis tools.
Teaching Unit B: Academic skills: Reading and Writing
READING SKILLS
Skimming and scanning
Understanding meaning from context
Understanding the connection of ideas
Understanding details and recognizing paragraphs
Making inferences and drawing conclusions
Identify summary information and organize information into charts
WRITING SKILLS
Introductions
Topic sentences and paragraphs
Conclusions
Paraphrases and summaries
Essays
CV Writing
Teaching Unit C: Academic skills: Listening and Speaking
LISTENING SKILLS
Understanding the gist
Understanding the details
Understanding the function(s)
Understanding the organization and relations
Understanding the speaker's stance
SPEAKING SKILLS
Pronunciation
Cohesion (transitional expressions, parallel structures)
Independent tasks (free-choice response, paired-choice response)
Integrated tasks (identifying main points in a reading passage/conversation/academic lecture)
Prerequisites for admission
The entry level of English required is B1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Teaching methods
Lectures
Communicative approach
Pair/Group work
Discussion
Communicative approach
Pair/Group work
Discussion
Teaching Resources
Teaching Unit A
Attending an non-attending students
Materials and links on ariel platform at
http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Teaching Unit B and C
Attending students
1. Hewings, M., Cambrige Academic English (Upper Intermediate), Cambridge, 2012.
2. Mc Carthy M., New Academic Vocabulary in Use (Intermediate to Upper Intermediate), Cambridge, 2015
3. Materials and links on ariel platform: http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Non-attending students:
1. Chris Sowton, Alan S. Kennedy, Wendy Asplin, Christina Cavage, Prism Level 3 Student's Book with Online Workbook Reading and Writing, Cambridge, 2017, ISBN: 9781316624456
2. Materials and links on ariel platform: http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Attending an non-attending students
Materials and links on ariel platform at
http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Teaching Unit B and C
Attending students
1. Hewings, M., Cambrige Academic English (Upper Intermediate), Cambridge, 2012.
2. Mc Carthy M., New Academic Vocabulary in Use (Intermediate to Upper Intermediate), Cambridge, 2015
3. Materials and links on ariel platform: http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Non-attending students:
1. Chris Sowton, Alan S. Kennedy, Wendy Asplin, Christina Cavage, Prism Level 3 Student's Book with Online Workbook Reading and Writing, Cambridge, 2017, ISBN: 9781316624456
2. Materials and links on ariel platform: http://mbaiteap.ariel.ctu.unimi.it
Assessment methods and Criteria
The course is addressed to students from the degree course in Philosophy. The exam will be the same for all students, regardless of course attendance.
The exam has a written and spoken section. Only students who pass the written section can access the oral exam.
The written section (without dictionary) includes:
1. Language check (grammar, vocabulary) with open /close questions.
2. Information transfer: listening with open/close exercises.
3. Test with open/close exercises on course content and skills.
Oral:
The spoken section of the exam consists of a presentation on a specific subject of the student's choice (e.g. an institution, an NGO, a course subject, an event). The student must have carried out research on the chosen subject using the tools and guidelines presented during the course and available on the course website on Ariel (e.g. use of search engines, websites, referencing etc.) and provide a collection of materials, including:
1. 7/8 printed slides on the subject explored
2. a list of references used (with at least 3 different sources)
3. a printed selection of the articles and/or web pages consulted
During the interview, students will be asked questions on the subject chosen, the methods used in conducting the project and the planning and preparation of the slide presentation. Sample questions will be available on Ariel.
Evaluation criteria:
- awareness of the morphological and syntactic features of the English language, including English as a second language, and English as a lingua franca.
- awareness of the discursive modalities of English for specialized purposes and academic English.
- knowledge of the relationship between language and culture, and language and society.
- sound language skills for the analysis and discussion of written and spoken texts from various sources (websites, newspapers, magazines, etc.) in the field of academic studies.
Notice
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with SEN must be agreed with the professor, after contacting the competent office.
The exam has a written and spoken section. Only students who pass the written section can access the oral exam.
The written section (without dictionary) includes:
1. Language check (grammar, vocabulary) with open /close questions.
2. Information transfer: listening with open/close exercises.
3. Test with open/close exercises on course content and skills.
Oral:
The spoken section of the exam consists of a presentation on a specific subject of the student's choice (e.g. an institution, an NGO, a course subject, an event). The student must have carried out research on the chosen subject using the tools and guidelines presented during the course and available on the course website on Ariel (e.g. use of search engines, websites, referencing etc.) and provide a collection of materials, including:
1. 7/8 printed slides on the subject explored
2. a list of references used (with at least 3 different sources)
3. a printed selection of the articles and/or web pages consulted
During the interview, students will be asked questions on the subject chosen, the methods used in conducting the project and the planning and preparation of the slide presentation. Sample questions will be available on Ariel.
Evaluation criteria:
- awareness of the morphological and syntactic features of the English language, including English as a second language, and English as a lingua franca.
- awareness of the discursive modalities of English for specialized purposes and academic English.
- knowledge of the relationship between language and culture, and language and society.
- sound language skills for the analysis and discussion of written and spoken texts from various sources (websites, newspapers, magazines, etc.) in the field of academic studies.
Notice
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with SEN must be agreed with the professor, after contacting the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours