ENGLISH LANGUAGE

This is a core course (insegnamento caratterizzante) of the Master's degree in Comparative International Relations and contributes to the language objectives of the degree programme. It consists of a one-semester, 30-hour module on communication in English in diplomacy and international relations, together with year-long language practice classes that are closely integrated with the module and coordinated by the course instructor. The module works on authentic texts produced by international actors (notes verbales, communiqués, resolutions, policy briefs, negotiating texts, press briefings) and on some current cases shared by all curricula. The general aim is to consolidate and strengthen students' English from B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the level required for admission to the degree programme, aiming at C1 in the genres and communicative situations covered. The course provides the tools to communicate effectively, in writing and in speech, in academic settings and in international relations: analysing and drafting institutional texts, presenting a position in public, and negotiating.

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.
Together with the year-long language practice classes, the module aims to take students from B2 towards C1 level of the CEFR. It focuses in particular on written and spoken production and interaction in the genres and situations of diplomatic and institutional communication.
With reference to the Dublin Descriptors (second-cycle degree), students are expected to acquire or consolidate the following competences:
1) *Knowledge and understanding*: know the main genres of diplomatic and institutional discourse in English: note verbale, communiqué, resolution, policy brief, negotiating text, press briefing. Understand the language strategies that characterise them: formal register, euphemism, hedging, strategic ambiguity, the language of obligation. Know the role of English as a lingua franca and of official translations in international relations.
2) *Applying knowledge and understanding*: analyse unseen authentic texts, identifying their genre, purpose and main choices of wording. Draft short institutional texts suited to their reader and purpose, such as a reply note, an executive summary, a counter-proposal or an amendment.
3) *Making judgements*: critically assess how different international actors name and represent the same events. Distinguish diplomatic tact from evasion. Use authentic texts as evidence for their own arguments. Recognise the strengths and weaknesses of their own work.
4) *Communication skills*: communicate in English, in writing and in speech, at a level approaching C1 in the genres covered. In particular: present a position in public and handle difficult questions; make proposals, conditional concessions and formal objections in a negotiation; take part in a multilateral simulation; give a presentation with slides; explain their own choices of wording.
5) *Learning skills*: use professional reference tools independently, such as the United Nations Editorial Manual and the European Commission's English Style Guide. Approach new genres and texts by applying the criteria of analysis they have learnt, and so continue to consolidate their language skills in international relations.

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

The title of the module is: "English Communication in Diplomacy: A Practical Introduction"
The module focuses on communication in English in diplomacy and international relations. It works on authentic texts produced by international actors, organised around some current cases shared by all curricula. Each text is first analysed (genre, purpose, choices of wording) and then used as a model for writing, oral presentation and negotiation activities.
The module is divided into five parts:
1) Diplomatic discourse and strategic ambiguity: formal register, impersonal forms, euphemism, hedging, strategic ambiguity; how different actors name the same event.
2) Institutional drafting: the genres of diplomacy (note verbale, first-person letter, aide-mémoire, non-paper, joint communiqué, resolution) and the policy brief, with executive summary and recommendations.
3) Public speaking and the media: press briefings, public statements, handling difficult questions.
4) Negotiation: proposals, conditional concessions, formal disagreement; treaty language (shall, should, calls for efforts), square brackets, and the move from draft to adopted text.
5) Crisis simulation: rules of procedure and anatomy of a United Nations Security Council resolution; a simulated emergency meeting, from formal statements to the vote.
The language practice classes (esercitazioni) aim to consolidate students' skills in written production and oral presentation in academic English.

MODULE (MACI)
Required texts for the exam (about 90 pages, plus the dossier):
Section 2.6 (pp. 33–36), Unit 3 (pp. 45–66) and Chapter 8 (pp. 157–177) of: Partington, A., & Taylor, C. (2018). The Language of Persuasion in Politics: An Introduction (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Chapter 8 ("Brief, Opinion, Ordinance: Inform Governance") of: Smith, C. F. (2022). Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Communicating in the Policy Making Process (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chapter 3, "'Around-the-Table' Negotiations" (pp. 41–51) of: Berridge, G. R. (2022). Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (6th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
The chapters by Pehar ("Historical Rhetoric and Diplomacy – An Uneasy Cohabitation", pp. 60–71), Kappeler ("Texts in Diplomacy", pp. 107–109) and Pascual ("Pragmatics in Diplomatic Exchanges", pp. 119–123) in: Kurbalija, J., & Slavik, H. (Eds.). (2001). Language and Diplomacy. DiploFoundation (free online at https://www.diplomacy.edu/resource/language-and-diplomacy/ ).
Part 2 ("Communicating in panel discussions") and Part 3 ("Communicating in front of an audience") of the open-access book: Feito, G. Communicating in English in Diplomacy: An Activity Book for Language Practice. Universidad de Buenos Aires (free online at: https://publicaciones.filo.uba.ar/sites/publicaciones.filo.uba.ar/files/Communicating%20in%20English%20interactivo.pdf ).
Dossier of authentic texts and policy brief handout, available on Moodle.

Reference tools
United Nations, Editorial Manual (https://www.un.org/dgacm/en/content/editorial-manual );
United Nations, Model UN Guide (https://www.un.org/en/mun/model-un-guide );
European Commission, DG Translation, English Style Guide (https://knowledge-centre-translation-interpretation.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ckeditor5-files/styleguide_english_dgt_en.pdf );
Berridge, G. R., & Lloyd, L. (2012). The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy (3rd ed.).

Recommended reading:
Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (2011). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In (3rd ed.). Penguin.

Further material will be made available on Moodle during the course.

PRACTICAL CLASSES (ESERCITAZIONI)
The reference text for the language practice classes is: Bailey, S. (2022) Academic Writing for University Students, London, Routledge.

The assessment aims to verify students' knowledge and their ability to apply it, their independent judgement, communication skills and learning skills, in line with the expected learning outcomes. Assessment consists of a written exam and an oral exam on the module, identical for all students. The in-course tests of the language classes (esercitazioni) are optional and earn a bonus on the final mark. The maximum mark, including honours (lode), can be achieved without taking them.


MODULE (MACI)
Written exam (2 hours, in person, on paper, 30 points).
Students receive an authentic, previously unseen text of the same type as those analysed in class: for example, a press statement, a note verbale, a policy brief, a negotiating text or a resolution. The exam has two parts:
A) text analysis (300–350 words, 18 points): genre, purpose, main linguistic choices and what they reveal, with quotations from the text;
B) short writing task (150–200 words, 12 points): a text written in response to the one analysed, in the genre it calls for, for example a reply note, an executive summary, a counterproposal or an amendment.
A monolingual English dictionary is allowed. The pass mark is 18/30.

Oral exam (about 6 minutes, in English).
Only students who have passed the written exam may take it. Students explain and defend the choices made in their written exam, then answer two or three questions; one of these may link the exam to another of the case studies. The pass mark is 18/30.

LANGUAGE CLASSES (optional in-course tests)
The in-course tests consist of:
a) an in-person written test at the end of the first semester: a critical essay on a current issue in politics and international relations;
b) an oral presentation with slides during the second semester, on a historical-political topic agreed with the CEL (language instructor).
Each test is graded by the CEL instructors on a scale from A to D, according to criteria set by the module lecturer together with the CEL instructors and announced at the start of the course. Grades A, B and C carry a bonus of 1.5, 1 and 0.5 points respectively; grade D is a fail and carries no bonus. The maximum bonus is 3 points. The tests take place only on the dates set during the academic year. There are no alternative dates or resit tests, and a failed test cannot be retaken, whatever the reason for absence or failure. The bonus is valid until the last exam session of the 2026/27 academic year [specify the session], after which it expires.

FINAL MARK
Final mark: 60% written exam and 40% oral exam. Any bonus from the language classes is then added. The bonus applies only to students who have passed both module exams, does not count towards passing them, and cannot raise the mark above 30/30. Honours (lode) are awarded on the basis of the module exams alone. Students who fail the oral exam must also retake the written exam. Any bonus earned remains valid until the deadline stated above.

written and oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

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.

The module takes a communicative, hands-on approach. Each lesson combines a short input from the instructor (the language of a genre or communicative situation), guided analysis of authentic texts from the dossier, and practical activities in pairs or small groups. Groups mix students from different curricula, and each student speaks for the international actor closest to their own curriculum. Activities include rewriting texts in different registers, drafting notes verbales, summaries and recommendations, simulated press conferences and negotiations and, in the final module, a simulated emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Class activities are practice and are not marked: they prepare students directly for the exam. Materials (dossier of texts, policy brief handout, slides, sample tests) are available on Moodle.

The language practice classes (esercitazioni), coordinated by the instructor, run throughout the year and focus on written production and oral presentation in academic English.

Teaching language: English

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development