The course consists of two equally important parts: a grammar/vocabulary section and a section containing cultural content.

The grammar/vocabulary section aims at providing students the appropriate tools to understand principal grammar concepts at B1 level, and comprehend vocabulary linked to communication, media and publicity within the grammar context.

The section regarding culture will deal with the history of the English language, the reasons for its development on a global scale, who the native and non-native speakers are, and what are the social, political and economic reasons for needing to speak English.

The grammatical/vocabulary section will deal with essential items necessary to reach a B1/B1+ level:

1) Present tenses - present simple, present continuous, stative verbs + vocabulary related to sector

2) Past tenses - past simple, past continuous, used to + vocabulary related to sector

3) Past and present tenses - present perfect simple vs past simple, + vocabulary related to sector

4) Future tenses – will, to be going to, present continuous, prepositions of time and place  + vocabulary related to sector

5) Some/any and determinate and indeterminate articles and  vocabulary related to sector

6) Modal verbs + vocabulary related to sector

7) Comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs  + vocabulary related to sector

8) Zero, first and second conditionals + vocabulary related to sector

9) Revision and progress test

The cultural content section deals with the following topics:

1 - The story of English;

2 - The spread of English worldwide;

3 - The state of English today: who is speaking it, who is learning it, and what they can do with it;

4 - The most important international domains of English;

5 - The educational revolution that deals with English on a global scale;

6 - The evolution of English;

7 - The impact of English today.

Knowledge and understanding.

Knowledge of B1 grammar and vocabulary as well as an understanding of brief reading texts which contain a vocabulary related to communication and media. Students will acquire a general understanding of the sociolinguistic aspects of the English language and its most important varieties.

Applying knowledge and understanding.

Students will be able to apply their grammatical, vocabulary and content skills at an intermediate level of English in all the four language skills. They will also be able to apply the concepts acquired in order to describe and analyse sociolinguistic situations of the English language in its global aspect.

Making judgments.

Students will be able to judge and assess the appropriate use of English in the context of international relations.

Communication skills.

By the end of the course students will be able to use the language at an intermediate level to talk about familiar and personal topics, or those regarding everyday life such as hobbies and work. They will also be able to understand culturally related topics.

Learning skills.

By the end of the course students will have acquired a good degree of autonomy in handling reading and study materials related to the course. Furthermore, they will be helped to explore learning strategies which best suit their learning needs.

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

In addition to the lessons on culture held by the professor of the course, there will be lessons focusing on grammar and vocabulary held by the supporting teacher of the course.

It is strongly recommended that all students not having at least an  A2 level of English attend the free language courses offered by the Centro Linguistico d'Ateneo (the university Language Center).

Course books

In addition to material uploaded to Blended concerning culture, students should use the following course book to consolidate the grammar and vocabulary in self-study: English Grammar in Use Fifth Edition 2019, by Raymond Murphy, published by Cambridge University Press with KEY. The version with the key is strongly recommended to allow students to study alone.

Assessment

The final exam will assess language ability at B1 level as well as the knowledge of the cultural content of the course.

The exam will be in the form of a computer based test which will take place at Centro Linguistico d'Ateneo (CLA) - Via Budassi 28. - and which will consist in True/False or multiple choice questions.

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.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: ONLY STUDENTS WHO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE EXAM ON THE OFFICIAL EXAM LIST, WHICH WILL CLOSE 5 DAYS BEFORE THE EXAM, WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE EXAM.