INSTITUTIONS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE SECOND LANGUAGE OF CHOICE - ENGLISH LANGUAGE
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
As classes are fully taught in English, students will be expected to possess an adequate knowledge of the language.
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Goals of the course and expected results
The course provides students with notions and tools necessary for the acquisition or enhancement of a thorough diachronic and synchronic knowledge of the linguistic, cultural, political and social instances that characterise the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Students will gain those metalinguistic competences necessary for an effective mediation between Italy and the numerous nations influenced by Anglo-American language, media, and institutions.
Contents and programme
The course consists of two modules. The first module (30 hours) will be characterised by an in-depth analysis of the historical, social and political situation of the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
• English and British people (1 hour)
• History of Britain 1: origins to the Middle Ages (3 hours)
• History of Britain 2: Renaissance to modern times (3 hours)
• British monarchy (3 hours)
• British government (Parliament, PM and Government, Justice) (3 hours)
• British media (2 hours)
• British education (2 hours)
• British Empire and the Commonwealth (4 hours)
• History of U.S.: origins to modern times (4 hours)
• U.S. government (the Congress, the Senate, the President, Justice) (3 hours)
• U.S. media (2 hours)
• U.S. education (2 hours)
The second module (20 hours) will be focused on the history of the English language, form Old English to Present Day English. The main phenomena that have characterised the evolution of English will be investigated, also by means of textual examples. The final part of the course will be devoted to World Englishes, pidgins and creoles.
• The origins of English (2 hours)
• Old English (3 hours)
• Middle English (3 hours)
• Modern English (3 hours)
• Present-Day English (2 hours)
• RP and British dialects (3 hours)
• World Englishes (2 hours)
• Pidgings and Creoles (2 hours)
From Pidgin to Creole: the case of Tok Pisin (2 hours)
Teaching methods
The course will consist of face-to-face lessons, which will alternate with interactive work (videos, reading of texts, etc.) for a total of 50 hours.
Texts and materials
All the texts are COMPULSORY
- J. Oakland, British Civilization. An Introduction, 8th Edition, 2016, Oxford, Routledge, 2016, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12.
- D. Mauk, J. Oakland, American Civilization. An Introduction, 6th Edition, 2014, Oxford, Routledge, 2014, capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14.
- N. Francovich Onesti, M.R. Digilio, Breve storia della lingua inglese, 2a edizione, Roma, Carocci, 2014
Further materials will be uploaded on the E-learning platform http://elearning3.uninsubria.it/, in the section devoted to the course. The study of these materials is compulsory for both attending and non-attending students.
Assessment
Written exam in English concerning all the contents of the course. The exam will include ten multiple choice questions and two open questions and will last 90 minutes. The test will be evaluated in /30.
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Office hours: see Insubria website and the course platform.
Lesson timetable: See hourri e sedi del CdS
Examination dates available at bacheca appelli
Borrowed from
click on the activity card to see more information, such as the teacher and descriptive texts.