English 3
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is aimed at third-year BA students. It consists of lectures (Corso monografico) and practical language classes (Esercitazioni), held by language experts. The lectures aim to provide students with the theoretical tools to study a variety of text types and consolidate their knowledge of English through the analysis of rhetorical strategies, rhetorical and linguistic variation across texts and their linguistic forms. Practical language classes aim to develop students' receptive and productive skills in English at an advanced level.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the fundamental notions of text and text varieties, registers, genres, and discourse; text, register and genre variation in different communicative situations, with different functions, in oral/written interaction; the rhetorical strategies which determine the linguistic choices in the construction of texts and discourse.
Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to identify the main features of text types, registers, and genres; apply the tools and methods of linguistic analysis to different types of texts and interactions; identify the linguistic features relevant for discussion; interpret their functional and textual significance.
Practical language classes: students will be able to write academic essays on a given topic.
Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to identify the main features of text types, registers, and genres; apply the tools and methods of linguistic analysis to different types of texts and interactions; identify the linguistic features relevant for discussion; interpret their functional and textual significance.
Practical language classes: students will be able to write academic essays on a given topic.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The course "Texts and text functions: knowledge and use of English" is made up of three parts:
(A) The notion of text
(B) Texts and text functions
(C) English usage in a dynamic medium
Part A will introduce the key concepts and theoretical frameworks for text analysis; part B will focus on the analysis of textual features in relation to the communicative function of texts; part C will explore the uses of language and texts online, with particular attention to the discursive construction of persuasion.
The course aims to support students with a minimum proficiency level of B2+ in developing the communicative competence required for CEFR level C1, which includes understanding a wide range of complex and extended texts, as well as recognising their implicit meanings.
(A) The notion of text
(B) Texts and text functions
(C) English usage in a dynamic medium
Part A will introduce the key concepts and theoretical frameworks for text analysis; part B will focus on the analysis of textual features in relation to the communicative function of texts; part C will explore the uses of language and texts online, with particular attention to the discursive construction of persuasion.
The course aims to support students with a minimum proficiency level of B2+ in developing the communicative competence required for CEFR level C1, which includes understanding a wide range of complex and extended texts, as well as recognising their implicit meanings.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held entirely in English. Students are expected to have a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2+ proficiency level in English to be able to take part in the teaching activities and to complete the assignments. Students must have completed their English Language 2 and English Literature 2 exams.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following learning and teaching methods:
- lectures
- individual and group activities (text analysis, oral presentations)
The course also features practical language classes, please refer to the 'esercitazioni' syllabus https://www.unimi.it/en/education/degree-programme-courses/2026/practical-language-classes-esercitazioni-english.
- lectures
- individual and group activities (text analysis, oral presentations)
The course also features practical language classes, please refer to the 'esercitazioni' syllabus https://www.unimi.it/en/education/degree-programme-courses/2026/practical-language-classes-esercitazioni-english.
Teaching Resources
Carter, Ronald and Angela Goddard. 2016. How to Analyse Texts. A toolkit for Students of English. Routledge.
The course has a dedicated site on the MyAriel online teaching platform, which students are advised to consult regularly. Lesson notes and other materials will be made available there.
Additional reference materials will be provided in due time.
The course has a dedicated site on the MyAriel online teaching platform, which students are advised to consult regularly. Lesson notes and other materials will be made available there.
Additional reference materials will be provided in due time.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a language proficiency assessment (based on the practical language component) and a written/oral exam on the contents of the course:
1. Language Proficiency Assessment (Practical language classes)
The written language proficiency assessment is held three times a year (May, September, and January) and evaluates the written skills developed through the practical language classes. The exam consists of a 500-word expository/argumentative essay and may also include a section with open- and/or closed-ended questions. Assessment criteria include grammatical accuracy, lexical range, coherence and clarity of ideas, textual cohesion, and the appropriate structure of expository/argumentative texts in relation to the the language proficiency level C1. The mark is ou of 30, with minimum passing grade 18/30. Students may choose to reject the mark. Results will be published on the course's MyAriel platform. The written assessment is valid for one year.
2. Written Examination (Monographic Course)
The written exam on the content of the monographic course follows the official exam sessions. It consists of a written test based on the course syllabus (Parts A, B, and C), including closed-ended questions, open-ended questions, and multiple-choice items. Students may choose between a final evaluation at the end of the course or a continuous assessment during the course. In the latter case, the final test will be fully or partially replaced by interim assessment.
3. Oral Examination (Monographic Course)
The oral exam consists of the analysis and commentary of a short text provided by the lecturer. The oral examination may be replaced by an in-class presentation of a project prepared independently by the student.
The written and oral components of the monographic course must be taken in the same exam session. Only students who pass the written test may proceed to the oral part. If the language proficiency assessment has already been passed, the oral exam of the monographic course completes the exam, and the final grade—calculated as the average of the proficiency assessment and the monographic course exams—is recorded (verbalizzato). If the language proficiency assessment has not yet been passed, the final grade will only be recorded after the student successfully completes it. In this case, the student must register for a future exam session for the sole purpose of recording the exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the course lecturers as soon as possible. Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the course lecturers and the University Disability Office.
1. Language Proficiency Assessment (Practical language classes)
The written language proficiency assessment is held three times a year (May, September, and January) and evaluates the written skills developed through the practical language classes. The exam consists of a 500-word expository/argumentative essay and may also include a section with open- and/or closed-ended questions. Assessment criteria include grammatical accuracy, lexical range, coherence and clarity of ideas, textual cohesion, and the appropriate structure of expository/argumentative texts in relation to the the language proficiency level C1. The mark is ou of 30, with minimum passing grade 18/30. Students may choose to reject the mark. Results will be published on the course's MyAriel platform. The written assessment is valid for one year.
2. Written Examination (Monographic Course)
The written exam on the content of the monographic course follows the official exam sessions. It consists of a written test based on the course syllabus (Parts A, B, and C), including closed-ended questions, open-ended questions, and multiple-choice items. Students may choose between a final evaluation at the end of the course or a continuous assessment during the course. In the latter case, the final test will be fully or partially replaced by interim assessment.
3. Oral Examination (Monographic Course)
The oral exam consists of the analysis and commentary of a short text provided by the lecturer. The oral examination may be replaced by an in-class presentation of a project prepared independently by the student.
The written and oral components of the monographic course must be taken in the same exam session. Only students who pass the written test may proceed to the oral part. If the language proficiency assessment has already been passed, the oral exam of the monographic course completes the exam, and the final grade—calculated as the average of the proficiency assessment and the monographic course exams—is recorded (verbalizzato). If the language proficiency assessment has not yet been passed, the final grade will only be recorded after the student successfully completes it. In this case, the student must register for a future exam session for the sole purpose of recording the exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the course lecturers as soon as possible. Alternative assessment methods for SEN and disabled students will have to be arranged with the course lecturers and the University Disability Office.
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Andreani Angela
Professor(s)
Reception:
Tuesdays 14.00-17.00. Please get in touch via email to make an appointment.
Piazza S. Alessandro (Anglistica) / Teams