ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERMEDIATE - PRACTICE

This is a core course for all students enrolled in the Foundation Year and is intended for those students who are required to reach or consolidate an upper-intermediate level in English (Level B2 of the European Common Framework or above). Students are enrolled in the intermediate course following a placement interview held at the start of the semester. Since English is the sole language of instruction at the Ca’ Foscari School for International Education, the course can also provide support to students who are still struggling with English-language material or assignments for other classes.

The course is designed to help students progress towards or consolidate an upper-intermediate level in English (Level B2 of the European Common Framework or above). By reaching this level of competence in English, students will be fully equipped to enrol in academic programmes or attend university-level courses in which English is the primary or only language of instruction.

According to the CEFR descriptors, the B2 level defines an independent English Language user that can:
• understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation;
• interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party;
• produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Specific Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• accurately use grammatical structures and syntax;
• understand, analyse and engage with a variety of academic and non-academic texts (including literary texts, newspaper articles, and short essays) that might or might not be related to their study option;
• read a text with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading according to the text format and purpose of a given task (including scanning and looking for specific information);
• describe, summarise and report on the content of a text or video;
• identify the stances, viewpoints and supportive statements expressed in a given text or video;
• identify and clearly express the advantages and disadvantages of a given issue;
• produce clearly written texts on a wide range of subjects, especially in essay format;
• master the use of a wide range of connectors to give reasons in support of or against a particular point of view in both oral and written form;
• fluently and spontaneously interact in English with other speakers on a wide range of topics that might or might not be related to their fields of interest;
• independently manage discourse in individual or group presentations with a clear pronunciation and skilful use of structure;
• selectively use and understand general and specialised vocabulary with a focus on those lexical items that are commonly used in academic speaking and writing, and in the main fields of their study options;
• independently use monolingual dictionaries to find the meaning of unknown words, expand their lexical range and use synonyms or specific terms when needed.

Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference.

The contents used in class activities and assignments are especially selected from a range of varied authentic texts to allow students to practise and consolidate their language skills so as to reach the expected learning outcomes listed above.

ebook

Roberts, R., Krantz C.
Navigate B2 Upper-intermediate coursebook and workbook
Oxford University Press
ISBN 9780194521772 Navigate B2: SB + WB C/C + eBK + OOSP
https://elt.oup.com/

The final grade will be based on four separate assessments:

• a mid-term in-class presentation delivered by students working in pairs. The presentation will be on a topic chosen by the course instructor out of two proposals made by each pair of students (20% of the final grade);
• 2 mid-term exams made up of 3 parts: Part 1 testing Grammar and Use of English; Part 2 testing Reading Comprehension skills and Part 3 testing Listening skills (25% of the final grade each);
• a final exam made up of 3 parts: Part 1 testing Grammar and Use of English; Part 2 testing Reading Comprehension skills and Part 3 testing Writing skills (20% of the final grade).

Each of the tests above will be scored on a 1-100 scale; each student is required to score at least 60/100 to pass each test.

Students can also earn an extra 10% by regularly attending classes (at least 80% of the total amount).

The final grade will be converted to the Italian grading scale (1-30): outstanding students may be awarded the “30 e lode” grade (equivalent to A+ or A*). The minimum grade required to pass the exam is 18/30 (corresponding to 60/100 in a 1-100 scale).

written and oral

The course will follow a task-based approach requiring students to actively engage with the texts provided through in-class debates, presentations, short essays, and other assignments.
The class will also be divided into smaller subgroups that will attend one-hour-long sessions designed to encourage debate and reinforce students’ speaking skills.

Further Information
Office Hours: Friday 8:00-9:00 CET
Zoom 6276794195
https://unipd.zoom.us/my/elisabettapavan
Please e-mail the instructor in advance to schedule a meeting. Students who cannot arrange a meeting during office hours due to time difference can schedule a meeting at a different date and time

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development