English language and culture

This course explores the diverse ways in which history is narrated across various media and dissemination contexts. Domain-specific communication is examined in terms of both the characteristics of specialized academic texts and the key linguistic strategies employed to make expert knowledge accessible to a non-specialist audience.

While focusing on specialized texts, the course explores the distinctive features of academic discourse and introduces students to the core principles of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Its aim is to develop and strengthen both oral and written communication skills essential for engaging with specialized historical and cultural content. In addition, the course supports the enhancement of students' English proficiency at the intermediate to advanced level (CEFR B1/B2), placing particular emphasis on academic vocabulary, grammatical accuracy, and effective language use in scholarly contexts.
Subsequently, students are encouraged to reflect on popularization discourse, i.e., on how historical knowledge is communicated to broader, non-academic audiences. Through the analysis of various case studies, students will acquire both linguistic and methodological tools to engage critically with historical narratives.

At the end of the course, students will:
- have acquired the language skills necessary to critically understand a variety of text types;
- be able to demonstrate an awareness of different forms of historical storytelling, including their purposes, structures, organization, and impact;
- have gained familiarity with key concepts and theories related to English for Specific Purposes (ESP), with a particular focus on English for Academic Purposes (EAP);
- have developed an understanding of the tools and codes commonly used in the popularization of history, and how these can be effectively employed to achieve specific communication goals;
- be able to assimilate and interpret information, express themselves, and communicate in English—both orally and in writing—at an intermediate to advanced level (B1/B2), while making independent critical evaluations;
- have enhanced their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical case studies.