The spread of English and its impact on educational and working domains and career trajectories has been well documented. However, the impact of the spread and penetration of English still needs to be investigated in some detail.
This course will present data that suggests that after education and work, areas of lives most influenced by English are access to knowledge and new ways of thinking, as well as social contact and leisure activities.
This couse will also examine the social, economic and political dimensions of the role and impact of English in the world today. It will explore a broad range of issues, from the state of language learning in schools, and the language dimensions of student mobility in Europe and beyond, to the role of English in business and economic growth, as well as the shifts and changes in this global language.

The course is about many things:
1 - it is about the story of English;
2 - it is about the spread of English worldwide;
3 - it is about about the state of English in the 21st century - who is speaking it, who is learning it, and what are they doing with it;
4 - it is about major international domains of English;
5 - it is about the educational revolution that deals with English on a global scale;

It also deals with the way in which English is evolving and with the impact of this global language in the wider economy and how this affects individual choice, opportunities, and policy decisions.

By the end of the course students will:
1. have developed a good ability to interpret information regarding the English language and its world usage;
2. be able to communicate effectively their opinions and ideas regarding the major domains of English worldwide;
3. be able to communicate and interact independently in international contexts;
4. be able to assess their language skills and develop them adequately.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Course books

Detailed information about bibliography will be given during classes. Foreing students are strongly recommended to get in contact with Prof. Rossi

Assessment

Oral exam in English

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.