In today's global economy, businesses are called upon to prepare not just business letters but also a wide range of promotional materials in foreign languages.In this workshop, students will examine the language of advertising and the rules for preparing various types of texts (including instructions, press releases, mission and vision statements, direct mail, signs, etc) and will learn the specific terminology used in marketing.The project work assigned will give students the chance to try their hand at applying their knowledge to the preparation of a portfolio of effective promotional materials.

Students will review the use of English for business and advertising,  examining rhetorical strategies used by copywriters and the norms for various text types.   Authentic texts will be examined, including a range of typical media resources and other materials ranging from signs to print ads to brochures, direct mail packages, etc.  Finally, students will  prepare a portfolio of advertising and promotional materials, including press releases, mission statements, brochures/leaflets, newsletters, instructions, catalog copy and more.

Students will need to have AT LEAST B1+/B2-  level English skills (European Framework) to cope with classroom activities.  

Students will need to take a language evaluation pre-test before the beginning of the course (or for exchange students from abroad, immediately at the beginning of the semester), and those with insufficient language skills will be required to do remedial work using the online platform of the following text:

--Diane Hall & Mark Foley, My Grammar Lab B1/B2  Intermediate (con espansione online) WITH KEY, Pearson Longman (2012)

Students will:-- learn to apply grammar and syntax rules alongside norms for different text types to successfully prepare promotional and advertising materials-- students will learn the specific terminology of marketing-- students will improve their overall English language skills  

Students will learn:

1. New knowledge and understanding: the specific vocabulary of marketing and communication for businesses and institutions in the Eglish language

1.1 These skills will be acquired through classroom attendance and using materials provided during workshop activities and guided individual practice

2. The ability to apply acquired knowledge :  Students will apply  new knowledge of text types, stylistic conventions, vocabulary and language skills

2.1  The students will acquire this ability during workshop activities in class and through guided homework activities, culminating  in the preparation of an individual portfolio of  project work

3.  Ability to make evaluations :   Students will improve their ability to analyse and evaluate the appropriateness of language strategies used in English for business and advertising

3.1  Using authentic texts, students will examine, analyse and learn to recognise appropriate language strategies and to identify errors in format or style

4.  Communication skills:   students will improve their English language skills

4.1 Students' language skills will be improved through classroom participation and speaking and writing practice as well as through a review ofd grammar and stylistic norms, which will contribute to improving confidence and fluency

5. Learning skills:  students will learn to examine materials in English from an intercultural standpoint as they examine different ways of expressing ideas and reasoning 

5.1 Through the use of authentic texts that present real cases of the use of English in business communication by multinational, British and American corporations, a window will be opened on the different ways of  communicating across cultures in presenting themselves and their products to potential users and buyers of products and services.  In that sense, the workshop will provide intercultural and not only linguistic tools.

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

Students will be able to find course materials (including files, PowerPoint presentations, useful links, etc) on the Blended Learning page of the university website.  There they will also find a 'Forum' for questions and on which they will be able to receive student feedback.

Students may also speak personally with their professor at the university language centre ('CLA') during weekly 'office hours', should they need feedback on their work or have questions about the coursework.

Teaching

Classroom lessons and workshop activities.

Attendance

Attendance of the classes foreseen for the course is compulsory (at least ¾ of the total lesson time) as is the  preparation of a portfolio of student projects in English.

Course books

Handout materials to be printd out and brought to class will be made available online on the Blended Learning site.

Students with difficulties with the English language (lower than B1+ level in the European Framework) will also be required to use the following text and online platform for remedial work:

--Diane Hall & Mark Foley, My Grammar Lab B1/B2  Intermediate (con espansione online), Pearson Longman (2012)

Assessment

Written exam with multiple choice or short answer questions and oral examination with discussion of project work portfolio

The exam is an 'idoneità': a PASS or FAIL mark is given.  The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested and discussion of a portfolio of  individual project work on a topic agreed with the teache.  The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. 

A passing mark will be given  in presence of: knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language; good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language; the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps.

A failing grade will be given in the presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of inappropriate language for the text types studied; insufficient language skills.

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.

Teaching

Study of the course books.

Non-attending students must contact the professor at the beginning of the course to agree upon a work plan that will allow them to complete the course objectives. Only students who have received permission prior to exams and reached an agreement as to a study plan and syllabus work will be admitted to exams.

Attendance

Attendance of the classes foreseen for the course is compulsory (at least ¾ of the total lesson time).  Non-attending students will need to contact the professor and receive formal permission in writing.

Course books

Farrall, Cate & Lindsley, Marianne.  Professional English in Use: Marketing.  Cambridge University Press (2008)for those students who still need to reach European Framework level B2 language skills, the following text and online platform will be required for remedial work:

Foley, Mark & Hall, Diane.  My Grammar Lab (level B1/B2). Pearson Education Limited. (2012) 

Students who want to continue to work on improving their English with good basic skills should instead use the C1/C2 level of the text.

Assessment

Written exam with multiple choice or short answer questions and oral examination with discussion of project work portfolio

The exam is an 'idoneità': a PASS or FAIL mark is given.  The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested and discussion of a portfolio of  individual project work on a topic agreed with the teache.  The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. 

A passing mark will be given  in presence of: knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language; good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language; the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps.

A failing grade will be given in the presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of inappropriate language for the text types studied; serious linguistic problems.

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.

AS THIS COURSE HAS A WORKSHOP FORMAT, STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A PORTFOLIO OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WHICH MUST BE THEIR OWN ORIGINAL WORK.

For part-time students attendance of the lectures is not mandatory. Students who do not attend at least 75 % of the workshop classes must contact the teacher to receive formal permission to sit for the exam.