ENGLISH LANGUAGE

This is a fundamental course for the two-year master's level programme in Comparative International Relations and contributes to the achievement of the linguistic objectives of the course of study. The aim of the module, which focuses on the analysis of competing media narratives on international events, backed up by the ‘esercitazioni’, is to bring students to a level of communicative competence in the productive skills of speaking and writing at B2+ level (at least) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). For those students who have already reached this level, the aim will be to maintain and develop their spoken and written competence, and to enhance their communicative skills (both production and interaction). The main learning goal is to provide students with the tools needed to communicate effectively in an academic and international relations context with reference to written and oral production and interaction.

The professor’s module, in cooperation with the annual ‘esercitazioni’ aims to help students advance from level B2 toward level C1 (as per CEFR), with particular reference to oral and written production, in a field of research of interest to the student.
The expected outcomes of the course, referring to the Dublin Descriptors (2nd level degree courses) are as follows:
1) Knowledge and understanding of politico-cultural, social and economic phenomena within the context of globalization and international relations, and the news media, with special reference to the role of English language and translation.
2) Ability to plan and present original research in the field of international relations.
3) Critical awareness and independent judgement, including the ability to identify and use reliable sources in global media networks, and the ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses in one's own work.
4) Communicative skills in English, both in written and oral production, and in particular oral skills on topics relevant to international relations.
5) Learning skills, related to the development of language competence in the field of international relations, through the evaluation and production of written and oral texts.

Level B2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment)

The title of the module is: Language, translation, international relations and the news media
The module focuses on the analysis of journalistic texts concerning international political events in English and in translation. After a general introduction to the field of journalistic translation, the course will examine in more detail the language used by the media to report the news, with particular attention given to headlines and to comparing how the same news story is reported by different media outlets, including in translation.
The practical sessions (lettorato) aim to strengthen students’ skills in written production and oral presentation (academic English).

Students are required to read:
Zanettin, F. (2021) News media translation, Cambridge University Press.
Further study materials will be made available on Moodle during the course. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to consult online news outlets (newspapers, news agencies, tv networks, social media, etc.) which provide extensive updated coverage relating to International issues.
For the 'esercitazioni' the recommended text is:
Bailey, S. (2022) Academic Writing for University Students, London: Routledge.

The exams aim to assess knowledge and understanding, as well as autonomy of judgement and autonomous learning capacity by the students. The expected learning outcomes are assessed through written and oral exams and will take into account students’ active participation in class. Assessment concerns both the module and the esercitazioni (lettorato).
As far as the module is concerned, all students are required to sit an oral exam at an exam session (appello). This will consist of

a) a short interview, on the contents of the main referral text and of one academic article selected from a list provided by the professor
b) presentation and discussion of a take-home essay (about 1500 words). The essay will compare the headlines of news reports in English (and possibly in translation) chosen by the student after consultation with the professor, on a topic pertaining to current affairs. The take-home assignment will only be assessed as pass or fail.

In order to access the oral exam students must have done the following:
a) uploaded on Moodle the take-home exam at least one week before the exam session
b) completed the assessment for the esercitazioni (lettorato).

As for the ‘esercitazioni’, students will have to take a written and an oral test. A continuous assessment option (preferred format) is available to students, who will sit the written test (a critical essay on a current affairs topic) at the end of the first semester, and an oral presentation (on a topic agreed with the CEL in the area of political history) during the second semester.
Students who opt out of continuous assessment will take the written essay during an exam session, before the oral exam. In order to be assessed on the presentation students will need to contact the CEL in advance to schedule a meeting, which under special circumstances can be held online. With no exception, students must complete both the written test and the oral presentation (lettorato) before sitting the oral exam with the professor (modulo).

written and oral

Evaluation grid:
28-30L: excellent knowledge of notions presented in class and in reference texts; excellent oral and writtin communicative skills; use of appropriate technical terminology;
26-27: good knowledge of notions presented in class and, to a lesser extent, in reference texts; fair oral and writtin communicative skills; familiarity with technical terminology;
24-25: not always thorough knowledge of notions presented in class and in reference texts; orderly oral and written exposition but with not always correct use of technical terminology;
22-23: often superficial knowledge of notions presented in class and in reference texts; oral and written exposition unclear and lacking in technical terminology;
18-21: knowledge of notions presented in class and in reference texts at times lacking; oral and written exposition confused, with little use of technical terminology.

Module: Lectures, class discussion, writing activities.
Esercitazioni: Students should attend both classes for language practice of the lettorato: Academic writing skills and Presentation skills.

Teaching language: English