ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Main contents of the English Language Course for IT/ Computer Science students:
Introduction and/or revision of English for Computer Science students (BSc in Computer Science).
Consolidation and build-up of specific vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation through the exposure, reading and analysis of authentic texts.
Study and development of academic public speaking skills through presentation activities, discussions and debates related to the professional and academic profiles of EAP Computer Science students.
Detailed study and improvement of EAP reading and writing skills.
By the use and application of different languages, the course consequently aims at developing transdisciplinary skills meant to promote the intercultural and international profile of IT/Computer Science students.

The course aims at reaching B2 level, that is the fourth level according to the CEFR. In everyday speech, this level might be called “confident”, as in “I am a confident English speaker”. The official level descriptor is “upper intermediate”. At this level, students can function independently in a variety of academic and professional environments in English, although with a limited range of nuance and precision. At this level the students can understand the main ideas of complex texts and standard spoken language, live or broadcast.
The course aims at:
A. developing specific skills in English for Computer Science, focusing on explaining scientific concepts to an audience and on detailed editing of multimedia presentations (abstracts, key words, etc.);
B. developing of presentation and discussion skills within professional and academic situations;
C. identifying and using correct register and style for academic writing;
D. developing transdisciplinary and intercultural skills.

In order to take the exam, students are required to possess a B1 level, which corresponds to the third level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), a definition of different language levels written by the Council of Europe. In everyday speech, this level would be called “intermediate.” At this level, students are beyond the basics or elementary level (A2) but they are still not able to work or study exclusively in English.

The course is structured as follows:
A) the language classes examine methodologies and tools, and provide examples aiming at developing and/or enhancing strategies for designing and delivering professional oral (and written) presentations, and detailed understanding of academic/non-academic CS texts;
More specifically, the course aims at:
1. describing processes: how things work (language for describing sequences);
2. writing e presenting clear and complete definitions of specific language;
3. describing methods used in your work: language for describing method and purpose (IMRaD, academic writing, public speaking);
4. classifications: language for comparing and contrasting different types (interaction and partecipation in class debates);
5. describing tables/figures, describing trends, and speculating about data;
6. Making a presentation in English: the dos and don’ts of good presentations, structuring a presentation, using discourse markers and signposting language, and engaging an audience with
visual aids and body language;
7. Integrating symbols and acronyms into grammar;
8. Reading scientific English (strategies for deep reading).

B) the language tutoring aims at reviewing and improving specialistic vocabulary and syntax; it also provides support for practicing orals skills before the exam.
The grammar revision includes the use of: relative clauses, indirect questions, participle clauses, position of adverbs and adjectives, principal tenses (active & passive) in technical writing (present tenses, past simple, present perfect), articles, quantifiers, countable/ uncountable nouns, abstract nouns, gerund vs infinitive, compound nouns, collocations, punctuation.
As for short texts and the organization of oral presentations: 'This’ cohesion, linkers and conjunctions, paragraphing, pronoun reference, lexical cohesion.

The language classes and tutoring are held in the II semester: two weekly lessons with Prof. Pagliarusco for the Course CT0414 (monografico) from February to March (first lesson February 7, h.15:00); one weekly lesson with either Dr. Frederika Gebhardt and Dr. Massimo Mangilli Climpson for the language tutoring from February to May (first lesson on Friday, February 11). Students are asked to check the assigned teacher's group according to their surname initials.

The teacher of the course and the linguistic experts will provide the texts and materials of the lessons, which will be available on their Moodle platforms. The course includes the reading of some excerpts from Bjarne Stroustrup's book, "Programming Principles and Practice Using C ++" (2014); texts related to Computational Thinking will be addressed through short stories such as "Robot: a short story" by Ruth Aylett, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence by AM Turing, et at.; short essays, academic and mainstream articles will be examined from journals such as CS4FN, or from Conference Proceedings.
The suggested vision of IT-related videos aims at deepening and improving the students' oral comprehension.

Articles, essays, excerpts from books and other educational material will be available on the MOODLE platform. An updated list of useful links and a detailed bibliography of the texts examined will also be provided.
Materials and exercises from the previous academic year will remain temporarily available.

It is fundamental to download and print Dr. Gebhardt's English for ICT handout available on her Moodle page.

Other TEXTS will be recommended during the lessons and according to the needs of the students for individual study or revision needs.

The exam is in two parts: written and oral.
Students must pass the written exam to be eligible to take the oral.
Written and oral exams must be taken during the same session.
If students fail the oral exam, they must sit for the written exam once again.

Teacher-centered lessons
Language tutoring practice
Group and/or pair work
Tips and strategies for preparing and editing oral multimedia presentations
Mock presentations
Students' podcasts
Developing Skimming, Scanning, Intensive and Extensive Readings Skills

Italian

In compliance with the specific course of study in Computer Science and the present global health emergency situation caused by Covid-19, the course aims to stimulate the production, responsibility and motivation of students (and teachers) about the use of online learning. For this reason, the language course for specific uses includes tasks aimed at improving the academic and professional skills of students, promoting an attitude capable of making autonomous decisions that facilitate constant learning. Thanks to the authenticity of the materials (realia) provided by the network and trusting in the autonomy promised by online learning, the lessons are intended to encourage students to learn while maintaining their own pace and self-control, responsibility and self-reflection on their individual study paths and goals. The strategy of the course focuses on the construction of a linguistic background that also derives from the personal selection of materials, activities and online resources to be kept for written and oral productions.
The exercises and activities assigned by the teachers on the platform must be understood as an opportunity to enhance and consolidate one's language skills, and not as an obligation.

written and oral

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