Course 2011-2012 a.y.

Course Objectives

Students whose mother tongue is not English, enrolled in a program taught in Italian, have to take an English exam as first or second foreign language.
Students whose mother tongue is not English, enrolled in a program taught in English may choose English as first or second language.
The course takes place over one year:

• second semester of the 1st year (code 20365, lessons only),
• first semester of the 2nd year (code 20371 lessons and final exam).

The level of the course depends on the relative exam chosen by the student:
first language
Exit level C1 - Module C1 business
Exit level B2 - Module B2 business 
second language
Exit level B2 - Module  B2 business
Exit level B1 - Module B1 business

For those students who are attending a class taught in English the exit level must be C1, as a first and as a second foreign language as well.
The course takes into account the fact that the students are learning the language for use in professional situations (business English).

Course Content Summary

For further information, please consult the single learning path:   
Module B1 business
Module B2 business
Module C1 business.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Per le prove d'esame, consultare i singoli Programmi.

Textbooks

Per i libri adottati, consultare i singoli Programmi.

Prerequisites

Recommended entrance requirements

• B1, for programmes taught in Italian
• B2, for programmes taught in English.

The University has identified some recommended entrance requirements to ensure that students have an adequate preparation to follow the language courses. Students can find detailed information on the internet site at www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico, Utilities > Minimum level required > Master of Science

Course Objectives

Module B1 business 
The module is designed for those students who already have a general B1 proficiency level. The objective of the course is to help students acquire the language skills defined by the Council of Europe in the business B1 proficiency level of the Common European Framework. The objects for the students can be summarized in the following way:

• understand the main points in current affairs or personal interest topics
• can follow with ease a discussion in his/her field of specialization
• understand texts written in business language
• produce a simple text about professional situations
• convey information, describe experiences and events and briefly explain the reasons for personal opinions.

The course takes place over one year: second semester of the 1st year (code 20365, lessons only), first semester of the 2nd year (code 20371 lessons and final exam). The course takes into account the fact that students are learning the language for use in professional situations.

Course Content Summary

In the classroom, instruction  focuses on giving the students experience working with, and working in, English. Special attention is given to strengthening the students' control of the fundamental forms and structures in English, and in particular their ability to form accurate, appropriate sentences. Special attention is also paid to increasing the students' active vocabulary, with a particular focus on general business vocabulary.
In addition, classroom activities  offer the students the opportunity to develop the ability to handle everyday routines at school and in offices. These routines include such diverse tasks as filling out an application, and taking a message. Students get experience with these routines through listening passages, video clips, and oral activities.
Another focus in the classroom is to help students learn to express opinions, thoughts, and ideas. Classroom activities seek also to promote the students' acquisition of effective strategies for dealing with authentic texts, both spoken and written. These activities help students learn to work with unfamiliar vocabulary, conversations between native speakers, etc.
The course ends with a written and oral B1 exam set at the end of the first semester of the 2nd year. A complete curriculum for the B1 level can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico, in "Teaching".

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• HUGHES, Total Business 2 Student’s Book, Summertown Publishing
• DUMMETT, Total Business 2 Work Book, Summertown Publishing
• THOMPSON, Fundamental Writing Skills, Egea
• Business English Self-Study Program
• On-line Classroom Materials
• Materiale fornito dai docenti in aula

Prerequisites

Course Objectives

Module B2 business 
The course is designed for students who already have a proficiency level superior to B1. In terms of linguistic competence, the final objective corresponds to that established by the Council of Europe for level B2. The objects for the students can be summarised in the following way: 

• can follow with ease a discussion in his/her field of specialization, understanding in detail what is specified by the speaker;
• can actively take part in formal discussions on routine or non-familiar topics;
• can write professional material, developing a topic, exposing arguments in favour and against a particular point of view and explaining the pros and cons of the various options;
• can summarize information and arguments from different sources;
• can coherently and thoroughly expose topics linked to his/her field of specialization.

The course takes place over one year: second semester of the 1st year (code 20365, lessons only), first semester of the 2nd year (code 20371 lessons and final exam). The course takes into account the fact that the students are learning the language for use in professional situations (business English).

Course Content Summary

In the classroom, instruction  focuses on giving the students exposure to the vocabulary they need to operate in English in the business world. This exposure  comes from a variety of sources: listening passages; video clips; reading passages taken from authentic sources; and from the students themselves.
The use of carefully examined case-studies, helps to learn a language for special purposes in a natural and cohesive way, leading to lexical competence and awareness of the communicative and pragmatic aspects of the language. The listening comprehension activities are designed to further improve the listening skills of the students and to develop their ability to understand and scan for specific information and work with it.
In addition, classroom activities  offer the students the opportunity to work with the forms and structures of English, giving them the experience which is necessary for developing the control and range needed for effective communication in a foreign language.
Classroom activities seek also to promote the students' fluency in English, through oral activities and written assignments. All these activities are based on topics and situations found in a business environment.
The course ends with a written and oral B2 exam set at the end of the first semester of the 2nd year.
A complete curriculum for the B2 level can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico, "Teaching".

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• TRAPPE & TULLIS, Intelligent Business Intermediate, Course Book Pack, Longman
• THOMPSON, Fundamental Writing Skills, Egea
• Business English Self-Study Program
• On-line Classroom Materials
• Materiale fornito dal docente in aula.

Prerequisites

Course Objectives

Module C1 business 
The module is designed for those students who already have a strong B2 proficiency level. In terms of linguistic competence, the final objective corresponds to that established by the Council of Europe for level C1. The objectives for the students can be summarized in the following way:

• can produce a clear and well-structured explanation of a complex subject, expanding on the various points of view and supporting them with additional information, reasons and relevant examples;
• can follow with ease an extended discussion, understanding in detail what is specified by the speaker;
• can summarize information and arguments from various sources, including extended conversations;
• can thoroughly express his/her ideas, present complex arguments and convincingly reply to those presented by others;
• can write professional material showing the ability to produce coherent and cohesive texts, highlighting relevant points and supporting them;
• can evaluate different ideas and solutions to a problem;
• can produce written material in accordance with conventional paging and paragraphing standards.

The course takes place over one year: second semester of the 1st year (code 20365, lessons only), first semester of the 2nd year (code 20371 lessons and final exam). The course takes into account the fact that the students are learning the language for use in professional situations.

Course Content Summary

The activities aimed at developing language competence are all approached from a professional perspective.  Students are given the opportunity to reinforce the various micro-languages, especially through situations based on professional life and relevant economic and social themes.
The use of carefully examined case-studies, helps to learn a language for special purposes in a natural and cohesive way, leading to lexical competence and awareness of the communicative and pragmatic aspects of the language.
The listening comprehension activities are designed to further improve the listening skills of the students, also in case of complex and long texts, and to develop their ability to understand and scan for specific  information and work with it. Writing activities place particular emphasis on the ability to organize texts according to the conventions of various textual genres, especially in the professional field, encouraging the ability to manage elaborate topics in a clear and detailed way.
Speaking  activities are mainly concerned with developing interactive (discussions, role-playing, simulated negotiations and talks) and monological (presentations with audio-visual aids such as: OHP, transparencies, slides, PC, etc.) skills. As regards the strictly linguistic competence, time is spent in the classroom to reinforce the structures that students already know by means of activities which focus on language use and functions.
At the end of the course there is a final examination (C1 level) set at the end of the first semester of the 2nd year.
Students can find detailed information on the internet www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico, in "Teaching".

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• TRAPPE & TULLIS, Intelligent Business Upper-Intermediate Course Book, Longman
• Business English Self-Study Program
• On-line Classroom Materials
• Materiale fornito dal docente in aula

Prerequisites