Legal and Academic Discourse in English

The course aims to prepare students to use of English academically first and, later, professionally, with specific reference to the field of international relations, especially in the legal area.
The objectives are therefore both theoretical and applicative in nature. Firstly, students will be provided with a reasoned overview of the linguistic tools typical of academic English, in order to promote greater awareness both of a strictly lexical-grammatical type, and of a textual and discursive type; secondly, it intends to address the subject of legal English, examining its characteristics and offering a reasoned review of the major difficulties and peculiarities found in various types of documents. The ultimate aim is for students to acquire tools and strategies that may allow them to optimally use the English language in academic and professional settings.

The course has a marked practical focus, and aims to consolidate the students' understanding of complex written texts (including about legal topics) in English, as well as the skills necessary to write academic essays.