OVERVIEW

This module introduces students to English phonetics and phonology, as well as to translation practice from and into Italian and develops students’ English language skills at level B2.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module aims to: - introduce students to the scientific study of the English language, in particular English phonetics and phonology; - develop students' analytical skills; - bring students to the B2.1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This module aims to

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

- develop students' analytical skills;

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

- introduce students to translation practice from and into Italian also by means of text analysis. 

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of English at least at level B1 and knowledge of Italian at least at level B2.

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 10 weeks in the first semester).

Attendance of the practical module is compulsory. Attendance of the linguistics module is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

English Language I is divided into two parts: a linguistics module ("modulo teorico") and a practical language module ("esercitazioni"), both held in the first semester.

Each component ("modulo pratico" and "modulo teorico") is assessed separately. The practical module is assessed through a written test. The linguistics module is assessed through a written and an oral test.

The linguistics module is an introduction to English phonetics and phonology.

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.

The practical module introduces students to translation practice from and into Italian and text analysis as well as developing their writing and speaking skills at level B2.

The syllabus for theory module attenders and non-attenders is the same.

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]

Pronunciation dictionaries (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.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Theoretical module:

Beginning of the first term. The exact date as well as the timetable for the theoretical and the practical part will be anounced on AulaWeb.

Frazionamento A is for students with last names from A to K.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Each component ("modulo teorico" and "modulo pratico") is assessed separately.

The linguistics module ("modulo teorico") is assessed through a written paper and the first exam session is at the end of the first semester. There are two sittings in each of the three exam sessions. Students can choose only one sitting per session and can't repeat a failed exam in the same session.

The practical module is assessed through a written paper (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and writing) and an oral test. There are sittings in the winter, summer and autumn sessions. When a session has two sittings, students can choose only one sitting per session and can't repeat a failed test in the same session.

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.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The linguistics module is assessed through a written paper lasting 40 minutes. The exam paper is divided into two parts. To pass the whole exam, it is necessary to pass at least its first part. The first part will assess competence in: vowel and consonant description; conversion of phonemic transcriptions into English spelling; weak and strong forms. Words for transcription are taken from a word list provided to students at the beginning of the module. The second part will assess competence in: phonetic transcription; syllable structure analysis in monosyllables; syllable division; divisione into feet; identification of the tonic structure of an utterance; open questions. There are two sittings in each of the three exam sessions.

The practical module is assessed through a written test (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and writing) and an oral test. There are sittings in the winter, summer and autumn sessions. When a session has two sittings, students can choose only one sitting per session and cannot repeat a failed test in the same session.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance is NOT compulsory but highly recommended for both modules. There is no different program for students who do not attend the course. Learning is more efficient if participation to class is engaged more actively. 

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities should refer to the following website for more information: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa

Please also contact your teacher and Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.