- Understand texts of intermediate-advanced complexity in English, particularly those related to professional and academic fields. - Understand the main differences between formal and informal registers in English and be able to identify and apply them to text reception and production. - Learn the main differences between written and spoken English and be able to put them into practice. - Deliver academic and professional oral presentations in English. - Understand the main characteristics of English phonetics and apply them to language use and real communicative situations.
Course Prerequisites
While there are no mandatory prerequisites, a preliminary knowledge of English would maximize the learning experience.
Teaching Methods
Video lessons will illustrate the key concepts of the module in a lecture-style format, supported by practical examples and authentic language use. References to online resources for further study and practice will also be provided.
Assessment Methods
In-person oral presentation: presentation on a topic of the student’s choice within an academic or professional context.
Texts
Course slides. Folders on Kiro (register, oral presentations in English, phonetics). Smakman, D. (2024), Presenting in English, Routledge, New York. Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Contents
Module 1 will present Halliday’s register model. It will then introduce the main contextual and usage differences between formal and informal registers in English. In parallel, the module will highlight the main differences between written and spoken English, with particular attention to formal and professional domains. The second part of the module will illustrate the structural and linguistic features of oral presentations in English, focusing on both oral communication and written components (such as slide design). Basic concepts of English phonetics will also be introduced, to prepare students for oral presentations. Special attention will be given to concepts such as minimal pairs and phonemes, the vowel, consonant, and semivowel systems, and pronunciation within discourse.
