54
English Language and Translation
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES.
The course aims to consolidate metalinguistic competence in English and
enable students to reach intermediate/intermediate-superior level
language proficiency.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
The course aims to develop an understanding of the English language
that combines pragmatic competence with reflection on language as a
specific object of study and research. The focus on the phonological,
morphological, syntactic and lexical components of the language
proposes to develop analytical skills with reference to the basic units of
the English language. The course includes the use of materials and
practical tools in order to develop the ability to analyse different text
types. Students are expected to acquire the specific linguistic knowledge
and skills, theories and tools necessary for understanding and
interpreting English texts, such as long written and oral academic texts,
and for producing written and oral texts appropriate to different
situations. The metalinguistic competence allows for the enhancement of
conscious learning and language proficiency in academic settings.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Autonomy of judgment:
Ability to interpret complex texts critically and personally.
Communication skills:
Advanced oral and written text comprehension and production skills
(intermediate/intermediate-superior level). Students should be able to
express themselves in a clear and structured manner; they should
develop the four language skills (reading, listening, writing, speaking),
and know the main phonological, morphosyntactic and lexical aspects of
the English language. During the module, they will be introduced to
everyday language comprehension and production through exposure to
the different varieties of English.
Learning Skills:
Know how to understand, study and expound academic texts. Students
are expected to acquire skills necessary to use textual materials in
English in the fields of study proper to the Bachelor of Arts in Language
and Cultural Mediation.
Course Prerequisites
The expected entry language proficiency is of intermediate level. At the end of the module, an intermediate/upper-intermediate level of proficiency is expected.
Teaching Methods
Frontal teaching in English, case studies, simulations and exercises. In-depth seminars are also planned. In-class activities will be supplemented with online activities via the Microsoft Teams platform, also accessible to non-attending students.
Face-to-face lectures will take place in the first semester. Throughout the academic year (in both the first and second semesters), practice and exercise sessions with native speakers (CELs) are part of the learning programme.
The final examination is written. Upon passing the written test (carried out on the Moodle platform), language proficiency will be assessed in the registration phase of the exam through an oral interview with the teacher.
Additional verification of written and oral skills during the module are also possible.
Assessment Methods
Language of the exam: English
Evaluation Criteria:
The final grade may range from 18/30 to 30/30 in view of the level of accuracy and completeness of the written test and oral interview, correct use of methodologies and theories, and mastery of the English language.
The minimum grade (18/30) is awarded when the student shows uncertain or partial mastery of the knowledge and methods studied, and has fragmentary knowledge or limited to only the basic fundamentals of the various topics covered in the programme. The highest grade (30/30) is awarded when the student demonstrates complete and thorough mastery in the theoretical knowledge and methods of analysis studied, and is able to answer questions critically and accurately. The student also demonstrates a high command of the English language in arguing and expounding topics without uncertainty, consistent with an intermediate/upper-intermediate level of English language proficiency in situations related to the various specialised domains.
Laude is awarded when the student demonstrates absolute mastery of the theoretical and methodological content, the ability to correlate the various topics in a cross-cutting manner, and when he/she is able to present the topics with remarkable expressive skills.
Texts
- Plag, Ingo, Arndt-Lappe, Sabine, Braun, Maria and Schramm, Mareile. Introduction to English Linguistics, Berlin, München, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, 2015. [CHAPTERS FROM 1 TO 5];
- Pulcini, Virginia (ed.). A Handbook of Present-day English, Roma: Carocci, 2018. [CHAPTERS 2 AND 3].
Further study material will be provided during the course.
Contents
LIST OF TOPICS:
1. Elements of English grammar and linguistics;
2. Phonetics and phonology (places and manners of articulation of
sounds, graphemes/phonemes, homophones/homographs, allophones);
3. Sounds of the English language, and phonemic transcription
(International Phonetic Alphabet);
4. Suprasegmental traits (stress, rhythm, intonation, connected speech);
5. Reading and writing the English language;
6. Morphology: types of morphemes, word formation processes
(inflectional morphology, derivational morphology), word classes;
7. Syntax: structure of constituents (words, phrases, clauses, sentences),
lexical and functional categories, nouns, pronouns, verbs and verb
phrases, adjectives and adverbs;
8. Clause syntax (coordination, subordination, ellipsis), independent and
dependent clauses, relative and complement clauses, premodifiers and
postmodifiers;
9.Elements of semantics.
Course Language
English
More information
Attendance of the course is highly recommended.
The syllabus is the same for attending and non-attending students.