Oriental languages and civilizations

The course, which is titled "Understanding English Language Structure, Interaction and Variation in a Global World", aims at achieving two main goals: on the one hand, the acquisition of a linguistic competence - on the merely specific language level, in terms of proficiency and awareness - ranging over the level B2, according to the descriptors of the new version of the Common European Framework; on the other, the founding knowledge regarding the multifaceted sociolinguistic scenario of the present day, where English is used - in our globalized world - with different functions, in diversified domains and sociolinguistic variables. At the same time, students will be introduced to the notion and use of English for Academic Purposes, meeting the specific needs of a scientific form of expression, and will be confronted with the basic notions of Discourse Analysis. These are the three main focuses: 1- acquisition of an overall linguistic competence (receptive and productive) on the level B2 of the Common European Framework: the English language will also be studied in its systemic and structural aspects, together with its pragmatic use in various contexts; 2- acquisition of the basic notions of English for Academic Purposes; 3- a sociolinguistic approach in which English is framed as a tool of intercultural communication among native and non-native speakers of English, choosing the language as content medium in difference contexts, therefore using English in its function of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), as a priority, and English as an International Language (EIL); 3- acquisition of the basic notions of English for Academic Purposes and Discourse Analysis.