English
Level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages – CEFR
Learning will be tested by means of a final examination divided into two parts, to be held on the same day:
1. written grammar-lexical test (60 questions in 30 minutes) with multiple choice and open questions (0.5 pts for each correct answer);
2. oral presentation on a subject of your choice related to the subjects of study according to the instructions given in class (maximum 10 minutes), which will be assessed on grammatical correctness (25%), pronunciation (25%), lexical property (25%), coherence of discourse structure (25%).
Both tests will be graded in thirtieths, the average of which will constitute the final grade. Students must receive a pass mark (18/30) in both tests.
The course aims at developing receptive and productive skills in English
at an upper-intermediate level (B2 – Independent user according to the
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR) and
to introduce students to the use of English for Computer Science.
In particular, students are required to develop the following skills:
1. using the main morpho-syntactic structures of English at an intermediate level across linguistic registers;
2. identifying and using the basic specialized lexicon of and for Computer
Science (i.e. hardware, software, programming, web) to read and
understand manuals, articles, etc.;
3. talking about everyday issues or computer-related topics.
The course is divided into three modules:
A) Upper Intermediate language practice (24 hrs, objectives 1 and 3).
This module focuses on the lexico-grammatical competences of English at an
upper intermediate level. Listening, speaking, reading and writing will therefore be practiced. Special attention will be paid to speaking and listening. The following topics will be covered:
Time and Tense
- The simple present
- The present continuous
- The past simple
- The past continuous
- Used to and would
- The present perfect simple
- The present perfect continuous
- The past perfect
- Going to and will
- Present tenses for talking about the future
- Modals
Sentences
- Word order
- Reported speech and reporting verbs
- Relative clauses
Other verb forms
- Verbs followed by the infinitive or the –ing form
- First, second and zero conditional sentences - The third conditional,
wishes and regrets
- The passive
- Get/have something done
- Phrasal verbs
Naming and describing
- Articles
- Personal, possessive, reflexive and demonstrative pronouns
- Countable and uncountable nouns and expressions of quantity
Functional Areas
- Ways of comparing
- Possibility in the present and in the past
- Present, past and future obligation and necessity
B) ICT Language (16 hrs, objectives 2 and 3). In this module,
through an analysis of authentic texts and participation in oral (i.e.
role plays) and written (i.e. functional exercises of English for special
purposes – ESP) activities, students will be introduced to the use of English for Computer Science based on the following main
topics:
- Hardware, input/output devices, storage devices;
- Software, graphic software, desktop publishing;
- Internet, websites, email, web applications;
- Programming
- Gaming
C) Presentation workshop (8 hrs, objective 3). This module will address the linguistic
and communicative strategies to prepare a presentation on an IT-related
topic with a visual support (e.g. PowerPoint, Prezi).
The activities will take place in the form of lectures, in which the lecturer will explain the course content, asking for the interactive participation of the students, through exercises (reading, listening, speaking and writing) to develop the morphosyntactic and lexical objectives of the course.
The course also includes a compulsory online English practice on the MEC - Macmillan Online Campus platform in order to reinforce the grammatical and lexical aspects. At the beginning of the semester, students will be asked to take a placement test in order to provide them with a course adapted to their starting level.
The essential information about this platform is provided to students by the Segreteria and by the Referente MEC. Please do not contact the teacher for clarifications on the MEC platform.
The teacher is available through Microsoft Teams by e-mail appointment.
e-mail:
patrizia.berretta@uninsubria.it