ANGLO-AMERICAN LANGUAGE 1

The course consists of a module held in the second semester and a year-round language practice course (“esercitazioni”) closely integrated with the module and co-ordinated by the Instructor. The general aim is to consolidate the metalinguistic competences needed to describe the English language and to achieve an operational competence of B2+ on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). This semester the module is co-taught with Prof. Filomena Mitrano, who will focus on “Sentence power and language thresholds.” Prof. Mitrano and I will alternate each teaching a cluster of 7 to 8 classes. My part of the course focuses on providing the instruments to achieve a detailed understanding of the English verb system.

The expected learning outcomes are assessed in a structured exam at the end of the course.

1. Knowledge and understanding of verb tenses and aspects, ability to use complex verb structures (modal verbs, passive voice, conditional sentences, direct and indirect discourse, use of the infinitive and participle forms); the ability to understand complex academic texts; awareness of linguistic registers.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: the ability to understand complex and lengthy academic texts, oral presentations and lectures in English, appropriate to the context of the course of study. The metalinguistic awareness acquired in the module should facilitate language learning in an academic context.
3. Making judgments: interpreting and synthesizing complex texts in English in an efficient and personalized way.
.4 Communication skills: Level B2+ of the CEFR, for receptive skills, written production, oral production and oral interaction. Students should be able to express themselves clearly, in a structured way, and with few errors.
5. Learning skills: understanding academic texts and the ability to paraphrase them; note-taking while listening and the ability to summarize texts after listening.

Level B2 of the CEFR and interest in the subject.

Module: The English Verb System:

Expressing time: present, future, past;
Dynamic and stative verbs;
Perfect forms; contrast past simple and present perfect;
Simple and progressive forms and their meaning;
Modal verbs: permission, ability, possibility, necessity, obligation;
Conditional sentences
Passive voice;
Direct and indirect discourse;
Infinitive and –ing form.


Lettorato:

- developing comprehension skills for oral and written texts
- learning to synthesize and paraphrase academic texts
- consolidation of overall level of B2 on CEFR

Module:
Leech, Geoffrey. MEANING AND THE ENGLISH VERB. Routledge, 2004.
or
Lews, Michael. THE ENGLISH VERB: AN EXPLORATION OF STRUCTURE AND MEANING. Cengage, 1986
or
Dowling, Gregory. A STUDY OF THE ENGLISH VERB. Supernova, 2015.

Lettorato:
Oxenden, Clive; Latham-Koening, Cristina. ENGLISH FILE DIGITAL C1. Advanced Student’s book and workbook, third edition. OUP

Hewings, Martin; Thaine, Craig. ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS. Reading, Writing and Study Skills. Level 3. Student’s book , OUP, 2012

Dizionari consigliati:
F. Picchi, GRANDE DIZIONARIO INGLESE-ITALIANO E ITALIANO-INGLESE. Milano: Hoepli.

MACMILLAN ENGLISH DICTIONARY FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS 2ND EDITION WITH CD-ROM: ISBN: 978 1405 025 263 - Macmillan Education.

For the form of assessment, please see the document in the "Announcements" on the Moodle platform. Owing to the new situation post-coronavirus, the form of assessment has had to be modified. The document on the Moodle platform provides all the necessary details.

Traditional ("frontal") with the help of multimedia supports on the university's e-learning platform moodle.unive.it.

written