Advanced English language 2 and translation
B2+/C1
The final examination consists of three distinct components: A preliminary written test common to both tracks; A separate and specific preliminary exam for the laboratory component, depending on the chosen track; A final oral exam, common to both tracks. The written test is divided into three sections: Reading comprehension Listening comprehension Use of English The written test will remain valid for the entire academic year. The use of paper or online dictionaries, as well as any course-related texts or materials, is not permitted during the written exam. Passing both the written test and the laboratory exam associated with the chosen track (average score – minimum passing grade: 18/30) grants students access to the oral exam. Oral exam: Students will be required to write a brief report on a topic covered during the course and present it during the oral exam, according to the guidelines that will be provided in the second semester.
The course aims to deepen the advanced grammatical and lexical structures required to deal with conversations of various kinds and to draft and consult texts in English and improve comprehension for effective cross-cultural communication, as well as to explore practical dynamics and activities useful to translators and mediators. Specifically, the course aims to acquire knowledge of advanced grammatical structures; vocabulary and collocations; advanced vowel functions; sentence construction and punctuation; text writing; lexical reinforcement; understanding of issues regularly encountered in business, leisure, etc. and production of clear and detailed texts on a wide range of topics while justifying one's opinion. The Legal and Economic Translation Workshop provides a practical application context for the skills acquired in the course and is an integral part of the program. Case studies, problem solving and simulation exercises will enable the student to acquire practical skills in this professional field. The Mediation Workshop is part of the mediation curriculum and is designed to explore the issues of mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution with reference to multicultural contexts and in relation to rights.
The course aims to practice all four macro skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing expected for C1/C2 (CEFR) level by the end of the second year of the program. Precisely, the course covers lexical analysis and study of collocations; intonation and phonetic peculiarities; elements of semantics; grammatical insights; listening; text comprehension and discussion; translations and consultation of online sources. Legal and Economic Translation Workshop The second-year workshop is designed to enhance translation tools and strategies in specific areas, such as - but not limited to - corporate law, trust law and tort law. During the course, print and online resources currently used in this field will be illustrated through assignments to translate English to Italian and Italian to English legal texts of various types. Classes will be held in laboratory mode, providing students with hands-on translation training in the classroom. Mediation Workshop: Mediation, negotiation, conflict management in intercultural context are the focus of the laboratory.
The course objectives will be achieved through lectures supported by bibliographic references and teaching materials indicated by the instructor, as well as through individual and group exercises, and the consultation of online resources for research purposes or linguistic deepening. Regular attendance and active participation are required. The Legal and Economic Translation Workshop will involve translations from Italian into English and from English into Italian, the creation of glossaries and terminological references, and the analysis of dictionaries and online resources for terminology research in legal and commercial contexts. Attention will also be devoted to the use of AI tools and translation technologies integrated with Artificial Intelligence. The Mediation Laboratory – first semester will be conducted through face-to-face lectures, flipped classrooms based on materials provided in advance to the participants, and a project work that students, working in groups, will prepare and present in class. The Mediation Laboratory – second semester will enable students to develop basic skills in mediation and interpreting from English into Italian and vice versa. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of mediation in business and institutional contexts. Specific focus will be placed on the analysis of texts and the simulation of communicative situations such as B2B meetings, company and product presentations, commercial negotiations, and meetings aimed at establishing collaborations. Particular attention will be given to linguistic styles, registers, cultural contexts, and domain-specific vocabulary. Activities will involve memorization, summarization, discourse analysis, and reformulation in both languages, as well as sight translation and dialogue interpreting. The practical component of the course is designed to enhance accuracy and fluency, with an emphasis on pronunciation, intonation, prosody, and relevant cultural features. Course materials will include a variety of British, American, and other native English-speaking sources, allowing students to become familiar with different accents, lexical choices, and cultural backgrounds.
Legal and Commercial Translation Workshop The examination includes translation exercises from English into Italian and from Italian into English, following the guidelines provided by the Laboratory instructor during the academic year. Two assessments are scheduled—one at the end of each semester—during which the following aspects will be evaluated: fluency, accuracy, understanding of the source text, and appropriate use of domain-specific vocabulary, as well as students’ ability to consult online translation tools. Students may use monolingual or bilingual dictionaries during both assessments, which constitute an integral part of the official course examination. Any use of AI tools is permitted only with prior authorization from the Laboratory instructor, and must be accompanied by a detailed report. In such cases, the AI-assisted translation will be additionally assessed and graded out of 30, based on the techniques employed. The grades achieved in these two sessions will remain valid for the entire 2025–2026 academic year. Mediation Laboratory In the second semester, the assessment will consist of sight translation of two texts, each drawn from one of the disciplinary areas addressed during the course. Students will be required to translate the following: one text from English into Italian (no more than 150 words) and one text from Italian into English (no more than 100 words). For the Mediation Laboratory exam, the use of dictionaries is not allowed, as the translations are to be carried out sight unseen and based on topics already covered during the course. All parts of the exam carry equal weight, and students' communicative competence will be assessed according to the following criteria: accuracy, completeness, fluency, and use of domain-specific vocabulary. Although attendance is not compulsory, it is strongly recommended, as the laboratory activities are based on direct and continuous interaction, which is essential for achieving the learning objectives. In addition, weekly assignments are provided to monitor students’ progress throughout the course. Students who are unable to attend at least 60% of the hours of their selected laboratory will be required to complete supplementary readings and study additional materials, as indicated by the laboratory instructor during the semester.