ENGLISH FOR INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA INDUSTRY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Level B1+/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
Learning will be assessed exclusively through a final exam, consisting of a written and an oral component, both to be taken on the same day. Access to the oral exam is conditional upon passing the written exam. 1. Written Exam Duration: 2 hours Part 1 – Multiple-choice test with 10 questions on topics covered during the course (15 minutes, no dictionary allowed) – maximum 10 points Part 2 – Composition of a short text (200–250 words) on a topic and genre discussed during the course (1 hour and 45 minutes, monolingual dictionary allowed) – maximum 20 points The written exam is graded out of 30. It is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30. 2. Oral Exam Duration: approximately 20 minutes Role-play – simulated interview: maximum 15 points Oral presentation of an institutional communication text selected by the student: maximum 15 points The oral exam is also graded out of 30, and is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths and is calculated as the arithmetic average of the two components.
The course introduces students to the theory and practice of the English language as used in institutional and media contexts. It explores the language of international institutions (particularly in Anglo-American settings) and the discourses conveyed through the media. The main aim of the course is to provide students with a solid foundation for understanding and producing institutional texts such as political speeches, press releases, and news articles reporting on institutional discourse. Through the study and application of communicative strategies, persuasive techniques and textual conventions, students will acquire the skills needed to engage critically and confidently with the language of institutional communication and the media industry — also in a professional perspective. By the end of the course, students will be able to: Understand textual genres (form, function, language) in the field of public communication: both institutional (governments, public bodies, international organisations) and media-based (newspapers, radio, TV, news websites, social media); Use English effectively to produce clear and appropriate texts in international communication contexts (e.g. press releases and news articles); Apply communicative and rhetorical strategies in both written and spoken forms; Strengthen their advanced language skills (B2+/C1 level), particularly in the context of institutional and media communication in the Anglo-American world.
The course is structured into three modules: Module 1 – Institutional Communication: Functions and Genres Analysis of institutional texts and their dissemination through the press Specialised vocabulary and idiomatic expressions used in institutional discourse Functions and genres of institutional communication Guided exercises in text production Module 2 – Media Texts and Language Analysis of how institutional discourse is represented and filtered by the media Language of journalism and media (articles, interviews, press conferences, etc.) Writing practice: short news articles Listening activities, note-taking, summarising, and question formulation Role-play and short interview simulations Module 3 – Advanced Language Practice Grammar and syntax revision at an upper-intermediate/advanced level Reading and listening to authentic texts (e.g. articles, press releases) Writing and speaking activities based on current topics in institutional and media communication
The course adopts a participatory approach aimed at actively engaging students in the study of language and institutional and media communication. Lessons combine traditional lectures with practical activities, the analysis of authentic texts, guided exercises, role-plays and short simulations. Audiovisual materials (videos, interviews, institutional campaigns) will also be used to observe institutional language in context and encourage critical reflection. Short written assignments will be given on a weekly basis to help consolidate linguistic and textual skills.
Office hours by appointment. Contact the lecturer via email: alessandra.vicentini@uninsubria.it