Course 2012-2013 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, either as a first foreign language or as a second.
The course takes into account the fact that the students are learning the language for use in professional situations (business English).

Furthermore, the Language Center plans and runs international certificates preparation courses, for a limited number of students who already have an adequate level of language skills:

• IELTS Academic C1 preparation course - for degree programs taught in Italian
• BEC Vantage preparation course - for all the degree programs
• BEC Higher preparation course - for all the degree programs

Course Content Summary

For further information, please consult the single learning path:   
Module B1 business
Module B2 business
Module C1 business
Preparation course for BEC Vantage
Preparation course for BEC Higher
Preparation course for IELTS Academic C1.

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.eu/languagecenter > 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 of personal interest
• 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.
Please note that the course is run only if a minimum number of enrollments is reached.

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-business exam set at the end of the first semester of the 2nd year. Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

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
• On-line Materials
• Materiale fornito dai docenti in aula

Prerequisites

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 B2 business  

The module is designed for those students who have not yet reached a general B2 proficiency level. The objective of the course is to help students acquire the language skills needed for the successful participation in the B2 Business Course. The objects for the students can be summarized in the following way:

• understand brief, authentic texts on familiar topics (including business topics)
• understand main points, important details, and key words when people are speaking slowly and clearly
• appropriately use the common structures of English to produce sentences and brief texts.

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 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. Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• COTTON, FAVLEY, KENT, Market Leader Upper Intermediate 3rd edition, Course Book, Pearson-Longman
• THOMPSON, Fundamental Writing Skills, 2nd edition, Egea 
• On-line Materials
• Materiale fornito dal docente in aula.

Prerequisites

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.eu/languagecenter , Utilities > Minimum level required > Master of Science.

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 authentic 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. The reading comprehension activities are designed to improve critical reading skills of the students, including in the case of complex and long texts. 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-business level) set at the end of the first semester of the 2nd year. Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.  

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• HANDFORD, LISBOA, KOESTER, PITT, Business Advantage Advanced, Student's Book, Cambridge University Press  
• THOMPSON, Writing Skills for Business English, 2nd Edition, EGEA
• Materiali on-line
• Materiale fornito dal docente in aula

Prerequisites

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.eu/languagecenter , Utilities > Minimum level required > Master of Science.

Course Objectives

BEC Vantage preparation course
The course is designed for students who already have a B2-general proficiency level. 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 summarized in the following way:

• can deal confidently with different types of text, such as business publications and correspondence
• can produce different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, proposals and email
• can follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as interviews, discussions and presentations
• can communicate effectively in face-to-face situations.

The course takes into account the fact that the students are preparing solely for the Cambridge external certification Business English Certificate - Vantage (B2 business).

Course Content Summary

In the classroom, instruction focuses on preparing the students to take and pass the Cambridge English: Business Vantage external certification. Students will be introduced to the format of the certification, and all four sections of the certification will be practiced. Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso gli enti erogatori autorizzati.
La certificazione può essere registrata in alternativa all'esame di lingua inglese.
Per maggiori informazioni è possibile consultare i programmi d’aula e d’esame all’indirizzo www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico in > Esami-Certificazioni > Programmi d’esame.

The preparation course is aimed to the relevant external certification, which takes place at the authorized exam centers.
The certification can be converted as an alternative to the Bocconi English exam. Further information concerning the Bocconi learning path and exams: available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI

• WOOD, SANDERSON, WILLIAMS, ROSENBERG, Pass Cambridge BEC Vantage 2nd Edition, Student's Book, Heinle
• CAMBRIDGE ESOL, Cambridge English Business 5 Vantage, Student's Book Pack

Prerequisites

The course is aimed at those students enrolled in degree program taught in Italian who already have an adequate level of knowledge of the language, established by a specific placement test. The course is for a limited number of applicants.
Terms and enrollment procedures will be communicated via the student’s diary yoU@B at the beginning of each semester.
Please note that the course is run only if a minimum number of enrollments is reached.

Course Objectives

BEC Higher preparation course
The course is designed for students who already have a 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 objects for the students can be summarized in the following way:

• can deal confidently with different types of text
• can write a variety of different items such as memos, faxes, emails, reports and proposals
• can follow and understand a range of spoken materials such as conversations, interviews and discussions
• can communicate effectively in face-to-face situations.

The course takes into account the fact that the students are preparing solely for the Cambridge external certification : Business English Certificate Higher (C1 business).

Course Content Summary

In the classroom, instruction focuses on preparing the students to take and pass the Cambridge English: BEC Higher. Students will be introduced to the format of the certification, and all four sections of the certification will be practiced. Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso gli enti erogatori autorizzati.
La certificazione può essere registrata in alternativa all'esame di lingua inglese.
Per maggiori informazioni è possibile consultare i programmi d’aula e d’esame all’indirizzo www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico in > Esami-Certificazioni > Programmi d’esame.

The preparation course is aimed to the relevant external certification, which takes place at the authorized exam centers.
The certification can be converted as an alternative to the English exam. Further information concerning the Bocconi learning path and exams: available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Textbooks

TESTI ADOTTATI 

• Brook-Hart, Business Benchmark Advanced, Cambridge
• CAMBRIDGE ESOL, Cambridge English Business 5 Higher, Student’s Book Pack

Prerequisites

The course is aimed at those students who already have an adequate level of knowledge of the language, established by a specific placement test. The course is for a limited number of applicants.
Terms and enrollment procedures will be communicated via the student’s diary yoU@B at the beginning of each semester.
Please note that the course is run only if a minimum number of enrollments is reached.

Course Objectives

IELTS Academic C1 preparation course   
The aim of the course is to give the student the necessary tools and skills to pass an IELTS certificate at grade 6.5 or higher. The student should then be able to:

• Follow speech at some length on a variety of both concrete and abstract subjects;
• Produce a clear and detailed text on a range of subjects, expressing an opinion and discussing the pros and cons of different points of view;
• Express himself clearly and in detail on subjects related to his studies and to university life in general;
• Discuss the pros and cons of a pre-specified and relatively familiar subject;
• Speak at length (given a short time to prepare) on a question, without noticeable hesitation;
• Interact with a certain degree of fluency and spontaneity.

Course Content Summary

Activities aimed at developing skills are based on questions of current affairs, social and cultural issues. Group work, both written and oral, allows students to learn a language in a natural and practical way, favoring the acquisition of lexical competence and awareness of the communicative and interactional aspects.
Oral comprehension skills are developed to deal with passages of some length and complexity, actively understand them and reproduce the information heard. Writing activities focus on building competence in all the main forms of standard communication, in order to produce autonomous written work using the appropriate form of expression. Speaking activities are mainly concerned with developing interactive (discussions, debates, role plays) and reporting/presenting skills.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso gli enti erogatori autorizzati.
La certificazione può essere registrata in alternativa all'esame di lingua inglese.
Per maggiori informazioni è possibile consultare i programmi d’aula e d’esame all’indirizzo www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico in > Esami-Certificazioni > Programmi d’esame.

The preparation course is aimed to the relevant external certification, which takes place at the authorized exam centers.
The certification can be converted as an alternative to the English exam. Further information concerning the Bocconi learning path and exams: available at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter > Exams-Certificates > Bocconi exams.

Textbooks

TESTO ADOTTATO

• O’Connell S., Focus on IELTS, New Edition. Pearson-Longman

Prerequisites

The course is aimed at those students who already have an adequate level of knowledge of the language, established by a specific placement test. The course is for a limited number of applicants.
Terms and enrollment procedures will be communicated via the student’s diary yoU@B at the beginning of each semester.
Please note that the course is run only if a minimum number of enrollments is reached.