ENGLISH LANGUAGE

The course guides students in developing integrated language skills, moving from the consolidation of grammatical knowledge towards the confident use of English as a medium of communication in professional and institutional contexts. Particular attention is devoted to global sustainability challenges and the analysis of case studies, providing students with an informed introduction to English for Specific Purposes and laying the foundations for future specialised language skills in Viticulture, Oenology and Oenomarketing.

By the end of the course, in accordance with the Dublin Descriptors, students will have acquired the following:

1. Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge of English corresponding to B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); ability to recognise and use the fundamental morphosyntactic structures of English as applied to scientific and academic discourse; understanding of key concepts relating to English as a Global Language and the conventions of Academic English; ability to understand the content and key concepts of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations; ability to interpret data, graphs and tables drawn from scientific papers and case studies in the agricultural and wine sectors.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Ability to apply acquired language skills to understand, analyse and produce English-language documents for job applications, including CVs, Cover Letters and Professional Emails; ability to use working with data strategies to describe, including in simple terms, phenomena related to agricultural and wine production and sustainability; ability to apply language skills to navigate and critically understand authentic materials.

3. Making Judgements

Ability to select and critically evaluate information sources in English; ability to analyse and understand the linguistic features of a source in order to develop an independent and informed understanding of how the English language functions and of the content conveyed. 

4. Communication Skills

Ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, with accuracy and appropriate use of register; ability to introduce and present oneself effectively in English in academic and professional contexts; ability to present and discuss course-related topics in English, using language appropriate to B1 level of the CEFR and to an academic context.

5. Learning Skills

Ability to consolidate and independently develop the language skills acquired during the course, which are necessary for further study. These include the ability to use a dictionary; manage and organise university study and time effectively; take notes during lectures; independently use lexicographical resources, sources and authentic texts; reflect on one's own language production and identify areas for improvement; and undertake the study of English for Specific Purposes in the fields of Oenology and Viticulture in subsequent years.

The course consists of lectures and practical language exercises.

Should the course be delivered in blended or online mode, the necessary adjustments may be made to the arrangements described above in order to ensure that the syllabus and its intended learning outcomes are fully covered.

Information for students with disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties

In order to ensure equal opportunities and in accordance with current legislation, students concerned may request an individual meeting to discuss and arrange any appropriate compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, taking into account the learning objectives and their specific needs. Students may also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’Inclusione Attiva e Partecipata – Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Difficulties) representatives within the Department.

Students are expected to have English language skills corresponding at least to A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), acquired during secondary education. 

The course nevertheless includes a systematic review of the main basic grammatical structures.

Attendance is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended in order to facilitate the acquisition of the knowledge and skills covered in the course and to encourage interaction with the lecturer and fellow students.

The course is divided into two modules.

Module 1: Linguistic Foundations

This module focuses on reviewing and consolidating the grammatical and syntactic skills required for effective communication, including an initial introduction to English in scientific contexts.

The aim is to provide students with the tools required to master the structures of the English language, from the verbal system to the construction of complex sentences, while developing their ability to understand academic texts and subject-specific articles and to communicate effectively in professional contexts. Particular attention will be paid to writing professional emails and CVs, as well as to describing and interpreting data (data reporting), thus providing students with the foundations for a conscious and practical use of specialised vocabulary.

Module 2: Global Perspectives and the Wine Sector

This module explores the practical and international dimension of English as applied to global perspectives and the wine sector.

Language learning is integrated with specific subject content through the analysis of selected topics from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as through the reading, comprehension and analysis of texts relating to the wine sector. While keeping the objectives of sustainable development firmly in focus, the module provides students with an initial introduction to specialised vocabulary in the wine sector and develops their ability to summarise, present and discuss relevant topics. These include the history of wine, related cultural aspects, the relationship between viticulture and sustainability, the wine trade, and applications of artificial intelligence in the sector.

·         Module 1

Recommended grammar book:

Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, 5th edition. Cambridge University Press, 2019.

·         Module 2

Teaching materials provided by the lecturer and made available on Studium and, where appropriate, on other online platforms shared with the student community.

By way of example, materials will be drawn from sources including Encyclopaedia Britannica; the United Nations (UN); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV); as well as from additional relevant scientific and institutional sources related to the topics covered in the course.

The examination will consist of an oral examination assessing the knowledge and skills acquired in both modules.

The oral examination will begin with a personal introduction in English, during which students' grammatical accuracy, pronunciation and fluency will be assessed. This will be followed by questions on the fundamentals of English grammar (one or two topics and/or short translation tasks). Students will then be asked to read a short passage concerning one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals addressed during the course and to explain and discuss its content in English. The examination will conclude with an oral presentation on a topic selected from Module 2 – The Wine Sector.

The course may also include a written test designed to assess students' knowledge of English grammar through multiple-choice questions, cloze tests and short translation exercises.

The following is a list of possible topics for discussion and reflection during the examination.

The list is intended as a model and should not be regarded as an exhaustive list of examination questions.

Introducing yourself; use of articles; plural forms of nouns; prepositions: types and usage; verb tenses and their contexts of use; adjectives; modal verbs; conditionals; passive voice; aspects of academic writing; writing a professional email or CV; describing and interpreting data; English as a global language; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the United Nations; sustainable development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals; case studies in the wine sector.