Globalization has had a considerable impact on all aspects of modern society including education and the knowledge of the English language now essential for mobility in working environments and academic circles. The present process of internationalizing knowledge prompted our degree course to come up to educational standards which allow the spread of knowledge in an international context. The knowledge of scientific terminology in English and a greater familiarity with the written and spoken forms of the language are encouraged in several Italian universities which provide courses in English. This optional course held in English on the degree course in Psychology Sciences and Techniques aims at both helping students to overcome any reluctance they have with the use of English and improving their skills in understanding written scientific texts in English and in using scientific English orally.

The Course aims at meeting Urbino University’s increasing need to internationalize courses and is the first of its kind at Urbino. It is offered as an optional course to 3rd year students enrolled on the degree course of Psychology Sciences and Techniques.

The Course uses the CLIL approach (Content and Language Integrated Learning). This approach has two objectives – English is used to teach and learn both language and content. CLIL is based on valid methodological principles established by foreign language teaching research.

By using this approach, which is adopted commonly in other European countries, the Course will allow Italian students to learn the contents of a specific subject and at the same time improve their knowledge of English. The Council of Europe’s 2004-6 Action Plan for the Implementation of Language Learning and Multilingual Education proposes CLIL as one of the preferential strategies to promote community languages. CLIL allows students to gain greater confidence in their communication abilities and to acquire competences valid for work placements.

English language teachers in the Department of Human Studies will take an active part on the course. The same teachers teach English in the 1st year and run the Laboratory in English in the 2nd  year of the degree course in Psychology Sciences and Techniques. This guarantees that the language skills required to pass the Course examination are those taught previously on the same degree course. Students who select  this Course are recommended to have already passed the 1st year examination in English and completed the 2nd year Laboratory in English.

The course takes up some issues on the groups addressed in the teaching of Social Psychology deepening theoretical aspects and research and analyzes their applications in real life and in everyday social behavior. The topics covered in the course include the structure and the formation of groups and the roles that individuals play within them in different areas,: cooperation and social conflict, teamwork, leadership and decision-making processes within groups.

Tuesday afternoon theoretical lessons.

Wednesday morning exercises with active student participation.

First and second week. Presentation of the course and examination procedure. Presentation of the CLIL course and insights on cultural differences and English culture. Group work to practice understanding and exposure in English.

Third and fourth week. Dynamics of small groups and informal groups, and exercises on the groups of one's life.

Fifth week. Network of communication and exercise on interpersonal communications.

Sixth week. Film on leadership and group discussion.

Seventh week. Deepening of role on leadership styles and conflict; group exercise.

Eighth week. Participation in the Erasmus week lessons. The schedule of these lessons will vary depending on when the Erasmus week of the Department is activated.

Ninth week. Stages of group formation and exam simulation. General review and exam examples.

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In relation to the student discipline you will have to show possession:
- The mastery of basic skills;
- Understanding of the basic concepts of the discipline;
- The ability to use knowledge and concepts to reason according to the logic of the discipline.
 

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

Slides of the lectures, articles, examples of exercises.

A linguistc support will be provided to students during lessons.

Teaching

Teaching methods: lectures and interactive lessons in English (with clarification in  Italian if necessary), group discussion, analysis of research and real-life applications.

Language support will be provided to students by the English language teachers who will work in close cooperation with the Course lecturer.

Lecture attendance is highly recommended in order to acquire both the scientific and the language contents.

Attendance

 No. Lecture attendance is highly recommended in order to acquire both the scientific and the language contents.

Course books

1.Norris, M. (2012) Group Dynamics: Basics and Pragmatics for Practitioners, University Press of America, Lanham, Maryland.

2.Catani E., Coles R., A Companion to Scientific English, QuattroVenti, Urbino, 2006. (only Part I Working on the grammar pp.11-57)

Assessment

The exam, which will be held in English, includes a written test and an oral test.

Simulations and exercise will be kept during lessons and an example of questions will be provided on website.

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

There are no differences with respect to the requirements for attending students.