ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION

Course objectives

The course is aimed at CEFR B2 level and is designed around the consolidation and development of the main English as a L2 learning skills: listening, reading, written and speaking. The course is divided into two components: a monographic part delivered by the course lead and a part of language activities delivered by native speaker readers. Students are required to attend both components. The monographic compnent of this course focuses on the use of language in specific politics and international relations contexts.Throughout the course, specific examples on the use of English in political, institutional, diplomatic and mass communication contexts will be analyzed from linguistic and pragmatic-discursive points of view. The monographic course is accompanied by lettorati, a set of language activities aimed at developing the students' main linguistic skills (reading, writing, speaking) and focusing on consolidating English syntax, phonetics, and pragmatics.

Channel 1
FRANCO ZAPPETTINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The monographic part of the course is delivered in English by the course lead and comprises lectures and seminars where the interactive participation of the students is required. The course focuses on the use of language in the specific contexts of politics and international relations and takes inspiration from authentic documents such as newspaper articles and videos produced in the English-speaking political world, in order to analyze various political discourses and to reflect on their linguistic and discursive forms. The course materials are made available on the Classroom platform which, however, is to be considered supplementary and not a substitute for the lessons. For lettorati materials, please refer to the relevant Classroom pages.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to have a B1 language level at the start of the course. Possession of this level is tested with an entry test (placement test) at the beginning of the year. Students who do not meet this requirement are required to attend classes regularly.
Books
Per il corso monografico non sono richiesti testi specifici; i materiali delle attivita vengono caricati su Classroom. Per i lettorati fare riferimento ad eventuali testi consigliati dai lettori.
Frequency
Recommended for monographic course and lettorati. Mandatory for lettorati for those students who do not meet the minimum entry requirement on the placement test.
Exam mode
The exam will test students on the contents of the course and is divided into a written and an oral component. Both components contribute to the assessment of the learning outcome (final grade). To enter the oral exam, students must pass the written exam in the same appello. The written test is administered on the Classroom platform and requires students to bring their own laptop or tablet and earphones (phones are not suitable ). The written test consists of listening and reading exercises on the basis of which students will have to carry out some comprehension activities (true/false; choice between multiple answers; gap filling; spelling). The oral test involves students discussing three items: 1 from the monografico classes + 1 from the lettorati classes + 1 of choice (on a political subject).
Lesson mode
The monographic part of the course is delivered in English by the course lead and comprises lectures and seminars where the interactive participation of the students is required.
  • Lesson code10606730
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePolitical science and international relations
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDL-LIN/12
  • CFU6