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.

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).
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; European Commission, DG Translation, English Style Guide; United Nations, Model UN Guide; 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.
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 test and an oral test on the module, identical for attending and non-attending students, preceded by the two tests of the language practice classes (esercitazioni).

Language practice classes (esercitazioni).
Students must pass a written test and an oral test, in one of two ways: continuous assessment (recommended) or final assessment.
Continuous assessment consists of:
an in-person written test at the end of the first semester: a critical essay on a topic of current political affairs and international relations;
an oral presentation with slides during the second semester, on a historical-political topic agreed with the language instructor (CEL).
For the presentation, they must contact the CEL and agree how it will take place, online in special circumstances. Students may not take the written test of the module without having completed both tests of the practice classes.

Module exam
Written test of the module (2 hours, in person, on paper, 30 points).
Students receive an unseen authentic text of the same type as those analysed in class: for example a communiqué, a note verbale, a policy brief, a negotiating text or a resolution.
The test has two parts:
A) analysis of the text (300–350 words, 18 points): genre, purpose, the main choices of wording and what they reveal, with quotations from the text;
B) short production (150–200 words, 12 points): a short text written from the analysed text, in the genre it calls for, for example a reply note, an executive summary, a counter-proposal or an amendment.
A monolingual English dictionary is allowed. The pass mark is 18/30.

Oral test of the module (about 6 minutes, in English, on a later day).
Only students who pass the written test of the module may take the oral. Students explain and defend the choices made in their own written test, then answer two or three follow-up questions; one of these may link the test to another of the cases studied. The pass mark is 18/30.

Final mark: written test of the module 60%, oral test of the module 40%. Students who fail the oral test must also retake the written test of the module. The tests of the practice classes, once passed, remain valid.

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