54
English Language and Translation
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course consists of a one-semester theoretical/methodological module and year-long language practice sessions. It is presented to first-year students as a moment of assessment and diagnosis of their prior competencies and knowledge, with the aim of providing them with the tools needed for the analysis and description of the English language. It aims to consolidate students’ metalinguistic competence and to help them reach upper-intermediate language proficiency.
The main objective of the course is the acquisition and consolidation of phonological, morphological, lexical, and syntactic skills in English. It aims to provide the descriptive and metalinguistic tools essential for developing critical and conscious reflection on English through the study of authentic materials, allowing students to progress in a balanced and consistent manner in the development of the four language skills (writing, reading, listening, and speaking). The course also allows students to become familiar with different registers of English, including formal, informal, and academic ones, and to develop the ability to adapt their communication to different contexts and audiences. Critical reflection on the texts will also be encouraged from an intercultural perspective, to foster awareness of the mechanisms through which language constructs meaning, identity, and social relationships.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course adopts both an analytical-descriptive and practical approach to the English language in its various varieties and authentic contexts of use. The focus on phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical components aims to strengthen students’ ability to analyse English. The course provides declarative knowledge of the English language in its various aspects, with particular attention to diastratic and diatopic varieties, as well as to the role of English as an international language. Authentic materials and applied tools will be used to foster the development of linguistic and cultural analysis skills across different textual types. Students will also acquire the language and communication skills, and the necessary tools to interpret texts and documents in English independently; such skills are essential for understanding long academic texts, both written and oral, and for producing written and oral texts appropriate to different contexts. The expected metalinguistic competence aims to improve students’ conscious learning of English.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE
Students will be guided in the autonomous application of the tools acquired to the analysis of literary, journalistic, informative, and digital texts, in order to promote an advanced and conscious understanding of language in its various forms and functions. The course also provides a foundation for the critical use of knowledge in contexts of mediation and intercultural communication.
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Independent judgment:
The course aims to foster autonomous learning, interpretation, and synthesis of various and complex texts in English in a personal and effective manner. From the perspective of independent judgment, students are required to carry out metalinguistic analysis of specific features of the English language.
Communication skills:
Upper-intermediate listening and speaking skills are expected. Students should be able to express themselves clearly and in a well-structured way with few errors. They are expected to have developed the four language skills (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) in an integrated manner, as well as knowledge of the main phonological, morphosyntactic, and lexical aspects of English. Furthermore, students will be introduced to everyday English through printed, audio, and video materials that expose them to a range of linguistic varieties. The course aims to develop written and spoken fluency in English so that students can communicate effectively even in academic and professional contexts, with particular attention to terminological accuracy and argumentative coherence.
Learning skills:
Students will develop autonomy in the comprehension and production of oral and written texts in English across a variety of contexts and text types. The course is designed to enhance self-directed learning and critical knowledge-building, in order to support further study and the application of acquired knowledge in research, teaching, and multilingual communication.
Course Prerequisites
The student must have a solid ability to read and understand English language texts. The initial language proficiency of the course is at the intermediate level and aims to achieve an upper-intermediate level of English.
Prerequisites: none.
Teaching Methods
The course is structured in a semester-long module of 54 hours of face-to-face teaching in the first semester and in annual English practice for communicative purposes by native English-speaking CELs. The programme is valid for attending and non-attending students. Being interactive in nature, lessons require active and continuous participation in oral discussion. Students unable to attend are invited to contact the teacher. All students, whether attending or not, are invited to register to the University's elearning platform Moodle (CLAOR), through which study materials will be made available and information on the course will be shared.
In conjunction with the methodological course, communication skills will be developed through language exercises with the University Language Collaborators (CELs), which are essential for the achievement of the course objectives.
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of both a written and an oral component.
Written test: multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
Language of examination: English
Mid-term assessments: may be provided during the course.
Assessment criteria:
The written test is a prerequisite for the oral exam. The oral exam consists of a discussion, in English, of the topics covered during the methodological course. Evaluation is based on language skills (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) as well as on the ability to analyse authentic texts.
The minimum passing grade (18/30) is awarded when the student demonstrates uncertain or partial command in applying the knowledge and methods studied, and shows a fragmented or basic understanding of the topics covered. The student also shows minimal competence in English when arguing and presenting their points, only partially aligned with an intermediate/upper-intermediate level of English proficiency.
The highest grade (30/30) is awarded when the student demonstrates thorough and complete command in applying theoretical knowledge and analytical methods, and is able to solve problems critically and accurately. The student also demonstrates strong English language skills when presenting arguments clearly and fluently, in line with an intermediate/upper-intermediate level of proficiency.
Honours ("lode") are awarded when the student shows absolute mastery of the theoretical and methodological content, the ability to make cross-cutting connections between the various topics, and presents arguments with excellent expressive abilities. Independent judgment is also assessed, particularly in the selection of alternative texts beyond those assigned by the instructor for further exploration.
Texts
- Crystal, David, 2018, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 3rd Edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Part 1 [CH 7] Part II [CH 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12]; Part III [CH 13, 14, 15 and 16]; Part IV [CH 17 and 18]), Part V [CH 19, 20, 21]
- A monolingual dictionary.
- Additional material will be made available in the elearning platform (please contact the docente for the link and password).
Contents
The English language: structure, variation and context
1. Spoken and written language
2. Phonetics
3. Phonology
4. Morphology
5. Syntax
6. Semantics
7. Pragmatics
8. Text and discourse
9. World Englishes
10. Sociolinguistics
Course Language
English