OVERVIEW

This teaching unit aims to enhance the students' level of Maritime English and make it compliant with the SCTW requirements for Deck Officers and Marine Engineers.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

"The aim is for trainees to acquire English language competence towards B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference. They will be able to enhance their communicative competence by developing their grammar, pronunciation, and lexis, together with their language skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Trainees will develop their ability in using specialized Maritime English for Deck Officers, Marine Engineers and Electro-Technical Officers, with specific reference to the standard IMO Model Training teaching unit 3.17. They will be able to demonstrate their acquired language competence in the final oral exam."

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit prepares the student to reach a level of knowledge and understanding of English towards a B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

At the end of the teaching unit, the student will be able to:

• develop the students' competence in the use of English in written and oral form in general maritime communications
• ensure the students possess the knowledge, understanding and proficiency in English as set out in the STCW Code
• enable students to master the use of the IMO standard marine communication phrases
• give wide-ranging opportunities to learn by being actively involved and practising task-based communication in English for maritime and general purposes
• develop the students' ability in using specialised maritime English for Deck Officers to perform effective routine and emergency aural/oral communications
• develop the students' ability in using specialised maritime English for Marine Engineers to understand engineering publications in English and perform their duties
• promote the study skills essential for continuing independent learning

Theoretical knowledge is provided to develop the skills required by Functions 1,2,3,4 of Table A-III/1 and A-III/2 of the STCW Convention (marine engineer).

Theoretical knowledge is provided to develop the skills required by Functions 1,2,3, Table A-II/1 and A-II/2 of the STCW Convention (deck officer).

The teaching unit promotes the development of the following soft skills: literacy competence and learning to learn competence

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific prerequisites but students are expected to have a B1 level of general English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

TEACHING METHODS

The lessons are held in the classroom, synchronous and asynchronous online, webinars, entirely in English, with the aim of developing reading, listening and speaking skills.The methodology is based on the principles of the Communicative Approach in that it promotes practical, content-based, communicative competence in English, according to the requirements of the STCW Convention. The lessons envisage practical exercises, communicative activities and problem-solving through collaborative learning: pairwork, groupwork and individual study, thereby enabling the development of the literacy and functional competence. Lessons are enhanced by the use of multimedia and online resources. The teaching material will be made available on Microsoft Teams and/or aulaweb.

Working students and students with certified SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements so to take into account individual learning patterns, while respecting the teaching objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The syllabus will cover the following content

• recognize and describe types of vessel
• discuss navigational routes and geographic locations
• understand standard helm orders
• name positions onboard and give directions
• describe routine operations on board and watchkeeping duties
• understand standard engine orders
• develop cultural awareness relating to passengers, nationality and food on board
• understand commands in emergency situations on board
• describe weather conditions and understand weather forecasts
• report incidents that occurred at sea. request medical assistance
• understand some technical and legal language of the STCW Convention.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Resources, material and feedback will be provided on Microsoft Teams and/or Aulaweb.

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

JAMES LOGAN REYNOLDS (President)

MAURO GIOVANNINI

MASSIMO FIGARI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

    https://corsi.unige.it/10948/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists of an Oral assessment to ensure that the trainees have met the course objectives. The exam may be taken online in cases provided for by the University Regulations.

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

There will be 2 formative tests during the course and 1 final summative exam at the end: a written test to asses the trainees’ proficiency at the start of the course, a written progress test in the first semester and a final Oral exam at the end of the course.

The oral exam will assess the learning of the theoretical aspects and the ability to reason. The discussion will test the use of specialized vocabulary and the understanding of the limits of the applied methodologies.

The final mark ranges from a minimum of 18 points to a maximum of 30 points "cum laude".

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

In case of certification of specific learning disability, disability or other special educational needs, please contact the lecturer at the beginning of the lessons to agree on teaching and exam methods. In compliance with the teaching objectives, these will take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory/dispensatory tools recognized by the University SLD Student Service.