OVERVIEW

The course prepares the student to reach a level of knowledge and understanding of English that is equivalent to the B2.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to develop students’ language proficiency at the B2 level of English according to the CEFR for Languages. The course enables students to acquire lexical, morphosyntactic and phonetic skills, and to enhance their four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate their language competence by taking the final B2 exam.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course prepares the student to reach a level of knowledge and understanding of English that is equivalent to the B2.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

By the end of the course the student will be able to:

• understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions.
• interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
• produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

The course promotes the development of the following soft skills: literacy competence, social competence, personal competence and learning to learn competence.

PREREQUISITES

Being a master's course, students should have acquired, during the three-year-degree course, a B1 English level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons are held face-to-face in the classroom for a total of 72 hours which correspond to 6 University Credits. Lesson attendance is compulsory as per the Education Regulations. The lessons will be given entirely in English with the aim of developing reading, listening, speaking and writing skills. They envisage practical exercises, communicative activities and problem-solving through collaborative learning: pairwork and groupwork. Lessons are enhanced by the use of multimedia and online resources. The teaching material is available on Microsoft Teams and/or Aulaweb. Students are advised to bring a laptop or tablet to the classroom.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Listening: listening activities to develop the ability to understand speech of varying lengths and accents using a wide range of spoken materials, such as news programmes, presentations and everyday conversations.
• Reading: reading activities to develop the ability to understand different types of extracts taken from books, magazines and newspapers and to identify key points, details and text structure.
• Use of English: exercises to develop grammar and lexical competence.
• Speaking: commmunicative activities to develop the degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party and actively participate in  discussions on familiar topics while giving  and supporting opinions.
• Writing: writing activities to develop the ability to write clear well-structured texts which analytically express points of view and  complex arguments (giving advantages and disadvantages of different options) in an appropriate style.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grammar and Vocabulary for FIRST (and First for schools) di Barbara Thomas, Louise Hashemi, Laura Mathews - Cambridge University Press 2015

First Trainer (2nd Edition) di Peter May - Cambridge University Press 2015

Supplementary material is provided at the request of student workers or students with SLD to meet their specific needs.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons begin at the same time as the start of the first semester in Chemical Sciences. They take place in the first and second semsters and the lesson calendar can be consulted at the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written exam at a B2 level. The written exam is passed if the student has obtained an overall mark equal to or over 60% and a Pass, without a mark, will be given.

• Listening: (4 sections, 30 questions) comprehension test with multiple-choice questions, gapped sentences to complete and multiple matching  (40 minuti)
• Reading and Use of English: (7 sections, 52 questions) grammar and vocabulary exercises with multiple-choice questions, gapped sentences to complete and word & sentence transformations. Reading comprehension with multiple-choice questions and multiple matching. (1 ora 15 minuti) 
• Writing: (1 section) an essay of 140-190 words on a wide range of arguments expressing an opinion on a topical issue, giving advantages and disadvantages of different options in an appropriate style. (45 minutes)

There will be 3 exams available for the winter session (end of January-February) and 4 exam exams for the summer session (June, July and September). Extra exam sessions will not be granted outside the periods indicated in the study course regulations, with the exception of students outside the prescribed time.

In case of certification of specific learning disability, disability or other special educational needs, the University legislation and regulations on disability and SLD are applied. See https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa. See also the "Other information" section of this syllabus.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam will test the ability to understand the key arguments of a complex text on concrete and abstract issues, including technical discussions. The exam will assess whether the student has acquired the grammar and lexical competence at B2 level and whether they are able to apply them in producing a clear, detailed text on wide-ranging topical issues.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sergio Di Domizio (sergio.didomizio@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.