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Libera Università di Bolzano

English for Computer Scientists

Semestre 1 · 76206 · Corso di laurea in Informatica · 3CFU · EN


This course belongs to the type "Prova finale e conoscienza della lingua straniera" and the subject area is "Lingua straniera".

The objectives of this course are to provide students with some of the specific language and skills that they are likely to need studying Computer Science in English. As such, the course will focus on language acquisition and skills work so students are required to participate actively in class throughout the course. The course will also focus on English language appropriacy in different contexts, with an emphasis on formal, academic contexts. Therefore, the course aims to provide some of the language and skills that will be useful for students following undergraduate courses taught in English and will help them to sit exams that are held in English.

The course will also provide focused practice in areas that are also tested in international English exams so students who subsequently decide to sit an international exam will already be familiar with some of the skills and language tested.

Specific educational objectives include the following: to improve writing skills through the practice of coherent academic discourse to produce subject-specific texts, to improve speaking skills: the improvement of spoken interaction and production through the practice and production of academically and professionally acceptable presentations and other domain-specific speaking activities.

Docenti: Jemma F. Prior

Ore didattica frontale: 30
Ore di laboratorio: -
Obbligo di frequenza: Attendance of this course is extremely important so as to benefit from the language practice in class and be fully prepared for the final exam. Non-attending students should contact the lecturers at the start of the course.

Argomenti dell'insegnamento
– Specialised grammar, syntax and lexis at C1 level: complex sentences; lexicogrammar; – Development of productive skills through the exposure to and analysis of various types of written and spoken discourse typical in Computer Science and development of grammatical and lexical range and accuracy so that written and spoken communication is fluent and spontaneous; – Audience and effects on language register and style.

Modalità di insegnamento
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.

Obiettivi formativi
Knowledge and Understanding - D1.18: Have professional knowledge in German, Italian and English Applying knowledge and understanding - D2.17: Being able to communicate professionally in written and oral form in English, Italian and German to customers

Obiettivi formativi e risultati di apprendimento (ulteriori info.)
Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of advanced grammatical structures and subject-specific academic and professional lexis at the C1 level, understanding of authentic (general and subject-specific) longer spoken and written texts including specialised texts and other texts produced for various purposes and representing different varieties of English, as well as different registers and styles. Applying knowledge and understanding: Producing reports on specific topics in computer science providing reasoned interpretations. Presenting clear, detailed descriptions of complex subject-specific subjects, developing points and formulating opinions in short written and oral texts. 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 field of computer science. Communication skills: Communicating (in both speaking and writing) flexibly and effectively with a degree of fluency. Ability to adapt language style to show awareness of both the intended purposes and audience. Learning skills: Ability to pursue autonomous learning based on the input provided in the classes and lectures and the feedback received.

Modalità d'esame
Assessment is the same for both attending and non-attending students. Formative assessment Extra credit exercises: writing practice and exercises - learnign outcomes (LO) assessed: 1,2,3,4,5 Summative assessment Written exam: Part A: grammar and vocabulary exercises within a clear specialised context including open cloze, multiple choice, error detection questions at the C1 level; Part B: academic report of 300-350 words based on subject-specific input. Oral exam: speaking tasks based on discipline-specific input to demonstrate an advanced (C1) command of both spoken production and interaction. 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.

Criteri di valutazione
Formative assessment The course will include Extra Credit Exercises (ECE), which will comprise up to 8 tests administered at regular intervals throughout the course. These tests will be scored for a maximum of 2 points per test, and this score will then be converted to a maximum of an extra 2 marks (out of the total 30 for the exam) that will be added to the final mark (written + oral marks). These tests will solely be for extra credit. If students are not present in class when an ECE is administered, they receive no points, but any total points they may have already accumulated from previous ECEs will be unaffected. Summative assessment Written exam: exercises and writing task (Part A and B are equally weighted. A pass is 60% overall) 60% Part A 4 grammar and vocabulary exercises within a clear specialised context: open cloze, multiple choice, error correction; Part B 1 writing production task of 300 words based on subject-specific input Oral exam: 40% Speaking tasks based on discipline-specific input to demonstrate an advanced (C1) command of both spoken production and interaction. • Students have to pass the written exam in order to present themselves at the oral exam. • Only once the oral has been judged positive (minimum 7.2/12) can the student pass the entire exam for the course.

Bibliografia obbligatoria

The texts for this course can be found in the unibz OLE learning platform for this course and class materials will be distributed in class as well as being available online. 



Bibliografia facoltativa

Further materials include the following:

- Vince, M (2014)* Language Practice for Advanced. Oxford: MacMillan.

- Advanced learners English dictionary, e.g. Longman DCE or Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary or Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners or similar

* or newer edition

 

Reference will be made to further titles during the course. Students should also be familiar with the weekly magazine, The Economist, which will be used from time to time during the course.



Altre informazioni
If the use of specific software is required, it will be communicated during class by the lecturer.


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Obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile
Questa attività didattica contribuisce al raggiungimento dei seguenti Obiettivi di Sviluppo sostenibile.

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