The course will focus on both general and scientific English.

Regarding general English proficiency, the aim is to bring students to a B2 level as described in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Students who plan to attend the course are expected to have already mastered the general language  skills  that are described in the CEFR for levels A1 through B1.

In addition, the course will expose students to scientific English aiming to provide them with the necessary tools to improve their comprehension of its written and spoken forms, as well as their ability to discuss scientific topics.

The following general English topics will be explored through reading, listening and speaking activities, as well as PowerPoint presentations and grammar exercises:

Grammar

The present simple and continuous, action and non-action verbs; the future forms (present continuous, going to, will); the present perfect and past simple; the present perfect continuous; comparatives and superlatives; articles (a, an, the and no article);  the passive form; modals of obligation: must, have to and should; modals of deduction: may/might/can’t/must;  gerunds and infinitives;  the past tenses;  relative clauses; the conditional (first, second and third); reported speech

Vocabulary

Family; adjectives of personality; collocations: verbs+adjectives/prepositions; work; education

 Pronunciation

Sentence stress, word stress, adjective endings; linking; problem sounds

Scientific English

The following aspects of scientific English will be explored through the analysis of scientific articles, PowerPoint presentations, listening (scientific videos/podcasts) and speaking activities:  style/register; specialized lexis; nominal groups;  transition signals;  giving examples and restating; drawing conclusions, speculating, distancing, caution; the linguistic features that distinguish the various sections of a scientific report;  problem structures

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

Course books

It is recommended that students purchase the following course pack: English File Digital Gold Intermediate (B1/B1+), fourth edition by Christina Latham-Koenig, Clive Oxenden and Jerry Lambert (Oxford University Press). The Digital Gold pack includes the student’s book, workbook (with key), e-book and online practice. ISBN 978-0-19-403564-4

The following grammar book, which will not be used in class, is suggested for students who need extra grammar revision and consolidation: Oxford Grammar 360° with key and e-book, Oxford University Press.