Lingua inglese

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. Students who already demonstrate a B2 level or above in English, either in the placement test or by presenting a Cambridge (FCE, CAE, CPE) or an IELTS certificate (5.5 or above), do not need to follow this course.
Those who do will be allotted to a group on the basis of the placement test, and should attend their courses on the days and times set; changes may be made to the groups during the year.
Lessons will be based on course books: students should only buy the books once they know which group they will be in.

Course Description
Development of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, as well as grammar and vocabulary knowledge, pronunciation and functional language.

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 60% in the written paper. The oral exam must be passed separately (60%), and if a student fails the oral exam, the whole exam (including the written paper) has to be retaken.

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. The same applies to those students who, having taken the placement test at the beginning of the first semester, already prove to be above B2 level.
*Certificates from private schools (Wall Street, British Institutes, etc.), TOEFL and TOEIC are not recognised.

Required Material
It will be necessary to buy the course books and in some cases the workbooks: students will be told which 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.