LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module aims to

- develop students' analytical skills;

- introduce students to the scientific study of the English language, in particular English phonetics and phonology;

-  help students to describe English vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs and consonants; 

-  help students to trascribe single words using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA);

- help students to distinguish between weak and strong syllables and weak and strong forms; 

- help students to locate stress in simple and complex words;

- help students to recognise and analyse the structure of suprasegmental units /syllables, feet, tonic structures);

- help students to recognise and analyse forms and fuctions of intonation and reproduce them.

As for the practical module, that is, the 'lettorato' lessons, the module aims to  bring students to the B2.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages by offeing them opportunities to strengthen and improve their receptive and productive skills  as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.The course also aims at providing students with language learning methodological tools that will hopefully make them independent language learners in the future.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module students will be able to:

- analyse and describe vowels;

- 

- develop students' analytical skills;

- bring students to the B2.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

PREREQUISITES

Students who intend to study English at the Department of Modern Languages need to hold a B1 certificate. If they do not possess a B1 certificate they will need to take an entry test (see instructions here: http://www.lingue.unige.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2018-19-test-ingl…)

TEACHING METHODS

The linguistics module is made up of weekly lectures (3 hours a week over 10 weeks in the first semester).

The practical module is made up of weekly classes (4 hours a week over 20 weeks, i.e. 10 weeks per semester).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

English Language I is divided into two parts: a one-semester linguistics module ("modulo teorico"), which is held in the first semester and is described in more detail below, and a two-semester practical language module ("modulo pratico" or "esercitazioni" or "lettorato").

Each component ("modulo pratico" and "modulo teorico") is assessed separately. The practical module is assessed at the end of the second semester through a written exam paper (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and writing) and an oral exam. The linguistics module is assessed through a written exam paper at the end of the first semester.

The linguistics module is an introduction to English phonetics and phonology. The practical language module aims to bring students to the B2.1 level (lower end of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages B2 level). More information about the practical component will be available on Prof. Broccias’s webpage on the Lingue website (see the "2016-17 Rules & Regulations, Lettorati list, etc." folder in the "documenti" folder) from September.

The final mark is calculated as follows:

35% (of the overall mark) is the written practical part (70% of which a the computer-based test assessing grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading, and 30% of which is the writing task),

15% (of the overall mark) is the oral practical part,

50% (of the overall mark) is the linguistics component.

The linguistics module aims to enable students to

- to learn to describe English vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs, consonants,

- to learn to transcribe English words using the IPA (International Phonetics Alphabet),

- to learn about English strong and weak syllables and weak forms,

- to learn about stress in simple and complex words,

- to learn about the structure of suprasegmental units (syllables, feet, tonic structure),

- to learn about the form and functions of intonation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Roach, Peter. 2009 (4th ed.). English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (see syllabus for details) [textbook!]

Wells, J. C. 2006. English Intonation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Section 1.6; Chapter 3; Sections 5.13, 5.13, 5.14; these are the sections the intonation part is based on]

Pronunciation dictionaries (you need either, not both!):

Jones, Daniel. 2011 (18th ed.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (edited by Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Wells, J. C. 2008 (3rd ed.). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

Additional (OBLIGATORY) material:

Lecture slides and wordlist (available on Aulaweb by the beginning of the course)

For the practical part (i.e. lettorato/esercitazioni):

Murphy, Raymond. 2012 (4th ed.). English Grammar in Use (with Answers). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Redman, Stuart. 2012 (3rd ed.). English Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Also useful is:

Swan, Michael. 2016 (4th ed.). Practical English Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press.