1/93 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE II

The course provides a theoretical and methodological introduction to the study of English as a global language and to intercultural communication, with particular focus on Asian and African contexts. The aim of the course is to enhance the students’ language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) through contemporary and authentic texts centered on communication in multicultural and multiethnic environments. Students are expected to have good reading and comprehension skills in English. The course begins at an intermediate/upper-intermediate level and aims to consolidate upper-intermediate proficiency by the end.

Knowledge and Understanding

Development of critical and analytical skills applied to the linguistic field, with particular reference to the morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the languages studied, including a contrastive perspective with Italian. The goal is to foster autonomy in study and independent exploration. Students will acquire the necessary competences to design, in a methodologically sound and informed way, further learning or specialization paths, both in terms of content and linguistic approaches.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate operative language skills, enabling them to understand and use both everyday and specialized expressions in a foreign language to meet concrete communicative needs. Building on theoretical knowledge and practical exercises carried out in class, students will be able to produce written texts and interact orally with fluency and appropriateness, adjusting their language use to various communicative contexts. They should also be able to apply, in a conscious and effective way, their acquired knowledge in the fields of translation, cultural and sociolinguistic mediation, including through the analysis of authentic texts, with particular attention to professional uses of the language in both academic and workplace settings.

Other Expected Learning Outcomes

Autonomy of Judgment

Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyze complex texts in English, offering personal and well-supported arguments on cultural, linguistic, and thematic issues discussed in the course. They will be able to independently collect, select, and interpret data and sources relevant to their field of study through the proficient use of specialized tools such as bibliographic databases, academic journals, digital corpora, and field-specific online resources. Students will also develop the ability to form autonomous and articulated judgments, grounded in strong historical and cultural foundations and a rigorous linguistic approach, while critically addressing complex topics such as East-West relations, North-South global dynamics, and the interactions between regional and global identities. Particular emphasis will be placed on ethical and social dimensions, critical reflection on multilingualism and multiculturalism, and the production of coherent, well-argued, stereotype-free academic texts.

Communication Skills

Students will be expected to present the results of their research clearly, coherently, and effectively in English. They should be able to use acquired communicative tools to discuss contemporary cultural, social, and political issues with precision, demonstrating awareness of the socio-pragmatic, intercultural, and contextual aspects of interaction. Moreover, they will be capable of producing structured and hierarchically organized written texts, multimedia presentations, and other digital materials, applying appropriate digital tools for the handling and visualization of texts, including those written in non-European languages and scripts. Both written and oral communication must reflect not only linguistic accuracy, but also cultural sensitivity and contextual appropriateness.

Learning Skills

Students must demonstrate autonomy in the learning and accurate application of the linguistic structures covered in the course, with specific attention to the use of English in the academic and disciplinary contexts of the Bachelor's Degree in Oriental and African Languages and Cultures. They will be able to employ linguistic analysis tools effectively and appropriately in order to comprehend and produce texts within academic and professional contexts. Furthermore, they will acquire solid critical and analytical skills necessary for continuing their studies independently and for planning further learning or professional development paths, both in methodological and content-related terms, in the broader perspective of lifelong learning.

The final exam will be conducted in English.