Course Topics
• Writing academic emails: formal language/making polite requests/format & language of formal emails • Writing academic reports: formal language/discourse markers/structure & organisation • Making academic presentations on a discipline-specific topic • Discipline-specific vocabulary: word formation & collocations • Paragraph writing: topic sentences, discourse markers & other organisational features • Fluency activities for speaking • Grammar incl. gerunds/infinitives; conditionals; passive • Syntax incl. indirect questions; position of adverbs/adverbials Topics covered include a general revision of basic grammatical structures with subsequent consolidation through use of practical applications. Emphasis is placed on improving the four main skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) through practical, communicative tasks.

Teaching format
Teaching format is based on the seminar format which envisages teacher and student co-operation and participation in the classroom through individual, pair and group work. Any student who has specific learning needs that they feel may have an impact on their ability to benefit fully from this course will be offered individual support on request

Educational objectives
An upper-intermediate English-language course based on the B2/B2+ level of the CEFR. This specifically designed course aims to develop some of the language of engineering through use of general and specific texts, both written and spoken. The course aims to facilitate comprehension and participation in the other courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering with emphasis on improving both receptive and productive skills. Specific educational objectives include the following: • to improve written skills through practice of writing emails, paragraphs, reports and other subject-specific texts; • to improve spoken interaction and production through the practice and production of presentations of engineering-related topics; • to improve receptive skills through the exposure to and analysis of various types of written and spoken discourse; • to develop grammatical and lexical range and accuracy so that communication has a degree of fluency. 1. Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of grammatical structures and subject-specific academic and professional lexis at the B2/B2+ level, understanding of authentic (general and subject-specific) short spoken and written texts including a limited number of specialised texts and other general texts, as well as different registers and styles. 2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Producing emails, paragraphs and descriptions about specific engineering-related but also general topics providing opinions and accounting for the views presented. Presenting clear descriptions of engineering projects, developing points and formulating opinions in short written and oral texts. 3. Making judgments: Integrating knowledge and understanding acquired in the course with knowledge and understanding from other courses to achieve academic and professional purposes especially within the fields of engineering. 4. Communication skills: Communicating (in both speaking and writing) with a degree of fluency. Ability to adapt language style to show awareness of both the intended purposes and audience. 5. Learning skills: Ability to pursue autonomous learning both during the course and subsequently based on the input provided in the classes and lectures and the feedback received.

Assessment
Assessment is the same for both attending and non-attending students. - Formative Assessment: In class Exercises: writing practice and exercises; ILOs assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4. Non-attending students should complete all the writing exercises done in class (available on OLE) and they should send them to the lecturer for formative assessment following the submission guidelines posted with each exercise. - Summative Assessment: 60% written exam – exercises and writing task: 5 grammar and vocabulary exercises within a clear specialised context: open cloze, multiple choice, error correction, word and sentence transformation questions; 1 writing production task of 300 words based on subject-specific input; ILOs assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4; 40% oral exam: Discussion and tasks: to demonstrate an upper-intermediate (B2/B2+) command of both spoken production and interaction; ILOs assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4; Non-attending students are expected to contact the lecturer at the beginning of the course to organise an individual learning pathway in order to be prepared for the final exam as detailed above.

Evaluation criteria
60% final written exam, 40% oral exam. Further details concerning the evaluation criteria will be provided during the course and on OLE.

Required readings

•     Vince, M. 2014*. First Certificate Language Practice Oxford: Macmillan (15-Reserve Collection Loanable - Floor 1 ; HD 220 V767) or any other student’s grammar at the B2 level or above.

*or any later edition

•     Advanced learners English dictionary, e.g. Longman DCE, Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Collins COBUILD or Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners.

Supplementary readings

Other texts from English-language publications will be provided by the lecturer in the course’s OLE

Further information
All books are available in the University Library. Subject Librarian: David Gebhardi, David.Gebhardi@unibz.it and Ilaria Miceli, Ilaria.Miceli@unibz.it