54
English Language, Translation and Linguistics
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 course, 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
Teaching Methods
Students will engage in the reading and analysis of authentic texts related to the English-speaking world, with the aim of developing their linguistic and cultural analytical skills. All teaching materials and classroom activities will be made available on the Moodle platform.
The lecturer's classes will be held during the second semester. Throughout the entire academic year (both the first and second semesters), practical language classes with native speakers (CELs) form an integral part of the learning programme.
The final assessment consists of a written examination. Upon successfully passing the written test, which is administered via the Moodle platform, students will be required to demonstrate their language proficiency during the registration of the written examination through a short oral interview with the course lecturer.
Optional mid-term assessments may be offered during the course and are reserved for attending students who have participated in at least 60% of the practical classes. The assessment format, content, and marking criteria will be explained during the lectures and made available through the course's online learning platform. The result of the mid-term assessment may contribute up to 50% of the final grade. Students who do not take the mid-term assessment, do not meet the minimum attendance requirement, or do not achieve a passing mark will be assessed exclusively through the standard final examination.
Assessment Methods
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
- Pulcini, Virginia (ed.). A Handbook of Present-day English, Roma: Carocci, 2018. [CHAPTERS 2 AND 3]
Further material will be provided during the course.
Contents
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;
10. Elements of pragmatics.
Course Language
English