International Relations and Supranational Institutions

FRANCO ZAPPETTINI

The course objective is twofold: on the one hand it aims to consolidate and increase basic English language skills through listening practices, oral and written production and reading. On the other hand, the course intends to equip students with appropriate critical tools for the metalinguistic analysis of specific textual typologies typical of political communication conveyed through traditional and 'social' media.
The monographic course is accompanied by lettorati, a set of language activities delivered by CEL teachers and will be focused on consolidating English syntax, phonetics, and pragmatics.

By the end of the course students should be able to:
- produce and understand written and oral productions in English at level C1/CEFR with specific regards to international politics topics
- critically analyze a political text in English from a meta-linguistic perspective

Students are expected to have a B2 language level at the start of the course.
Possession of this level is tested with an entry test (placement test) at the beginning of the year. Extra classes (lettorati) will be available throughout the year to students who do not meet this requirement.

Classes are delivered in English by the course lead and comprises lectures and seminars where the interactive participation of the students is required. The course focuses on the use of language in the specific contexts of politics and international relations. Taking inspiration from authentic documents such as newspaper articles and videos produced in the English-speaking political world, specific examples relating to the use of the English language in political, institutional, diplomatic, international relations and mass communication will be analysed. Through practical examples and authentic materials, the relationship between language and power will be highlighted with a specific focus on politics as a discursive practice and on the relevant linguistic forms (rhetorical strategies, figures of speech, metaphors, metonymies, etc). The course materials are made available on the Classroom platform which, however, is to be considered supplementary and not a substitute for the lessons.
For lettorati materials, please refer to the relevant Classroom pages.

Per il corso monografico non sono richiesti testi specifici; i materiali delle attivita vengono caricati su Classroom.
Per i lettorati fare riferimento ad eventuali testi consigliati dai lettori.

The monographic part of the course is delivered in English by the course lead and comprises lectures and seminars where the interactive participation of the students is required.

Recommended for monographic course and lettorati for students who meet the entry requirements.
Students who do not meet the minimum entry requirement on the placement test are required to attend the lettorati classes.
Working students or students who do not attend will take ownership of their linguistic abilities and study independently on Classroom materials.

The exam will test students on the contents of the course and is divided into a written and an oral component. Both components contribute to the assessment of the learning outcome (final grade). To enter the oral exam, students must pass the written exam in the same appello.

The written test is administered on the Classroom platform and requires students to bring their own laptop or tablet and earphones (phones are not suitable ). The written test consists of listening and reading exercises on the basis of which students will have to carry out some comprehension activities (true/false; choice between multiple answers; gap filling).

The oral test requires students to discuss texts from the monografico classes + 1 of choice (on a political subject). Students will provide a linguistic analysis of the chosen item demonstrating their ability to apply the theoretical bases received in the monographic course.

Please refer to Classroom where activities and previous exam tests are uploaded.