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English - level B2

People

Castanera R.

Course director

Description

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to improve all the language skills enabling students to reach an upper-intermediate level (B2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for language learning) in general English.

 

There is a placement test at the beginning of the year to form 4 groups. Students should attend their courses on the days and times set: if anyone needs to change group for any reason, this may be arranged, subject to level. Lessons will be based on course books: students should only buy the books once they know which group they will be in. Students are reminded that language is not merely knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, but also a skill, and as such needs to be practised. Attendance at the lessons cannot therefore be replaced by intensive study just before the exams. Homework, including written work for correction, will be set regularly but it is the student’s own responsibility to read, study and practise sufficiently to reach the level required.

 

Examination Information

The first-year examination is broadly based upon the First Certificate of English with a written paper consisting of Use of English, Writing and Listening, followed by an oral exam. Students may only take the oral if they reach at least 50% in the written paper.  The overall score to pass the exam is 75/125, i.e. 60%. Candidates with a total score below 60% will have to re-take the entire exam at the next session.

 

Students may not enrol for the "English for Economists” exam until they have first passed the exam for the "Lingua inglese" (lettorato) course. It is not possible to "validate" a failing grade for this course in any way.

Exemption

Students who have already taken external certification at this level (Cambridge First Certificate in English and above, IELTS Band 5.5 and above*) are exempted both from attending the course and taking the exam.

*Certificates from private schools (Wall Street, British Institutes, etc.), TOEFL and TOEIC are not recognised.

 

Suggested Readings

It will be necessary to buy the course books and in some cases the workbooks: students will be told which book they will use, depending on their entrance test results.

 

Self-study materials

Simplified readers are available for loan in the library. Further information about multimedia materials available and advice about useful web sites can be found on the moodle platform.

 

Education