Economics

The programme to be delivered will therefore cover the linguistic competence areas outlined above. With regard to the normative aspect of the English language, reference will be made to the fundamental concepts of parts of grammar, parts of speech, and standard language. From a sociolinguistic perspective, attention will be given to the notion of contact language, represented by English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), which exemplifies English as a global means of communication. As for English used in disciplinary and academic contexts, the course will draw inspiration from the principles and pedagogical benefits of the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach. Particular emphasis will also be placed on English as the preferred medium of communication within the international community, serving as an indispensable linguistic tool across social media and, more broadly, the Internet. The language will be explored in both its receptive (listening and reading) and productive (speaking and writing) dimensions; therefore, all four skills will be developed and consolidated, encompassing both oral and written communication. Regarding grammar, the course will address both the simple and complex aspects of verb forms and their appropriate usage in sentences, discourse, conversation, and written texts. Topics will range from the distinction between present simple and present continuous, to future forms, the use of modal verbs, phrasal verbs, reported speech, and the passive voice, among others. From a sociolinguistic standpoint, the course will introduce the concept of World Englishes, examining phenomena such as code-switching and translanguaging, together with their contexts of use (mass media, multimodal, and multidisciplinary environments). For the communicative component, the course will include video viewing activities, such as BBC documentary series on the history of English and TED Talks related to topics pertinent to the degree programme. By the end of the course, participants will have developed greater proficiency in the English language—within the desirable B2 level range—both as a means of interpersonal communication and as a cognitive tool applicable across diverse contexts and fields of knowledge.