English Iii and Mediation

The entry level required for this course is the B2+ level of the CEFR (general and Business English), certified upon passing the English II and Mediation exam. This course aims to further strengthen English knowledge, by focusing on the textual dimension, an particularly on the structure of complex specialised texts in the technical-scientific field. Students will learn to understand and produce such texts and will study the different registers of scientific communication (in specialised, teaching and dissemination contexts) as well as oral mediation techniques used in specialised contexts. Moreover, this course aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of oral and written academic English, so as to reinforce their command of specialised language with a view to its immediate use in professional contexts, but also to build useful skills for their future academic studies. Students are also expected to develop oral linguistic and intercultural mediation skills with regard to technical-scientific English (particularly in the fields of medicine, pedagogy and some areas of law). By the end of the course, students will have reached proficiency in technical-scientific English at C1 level under the CEFR and acquired theoretical and practical knowledge enabling them to read specialised texts, as well as to serve as cultural and language mediators in different contexts (schools, hospitals, social services, companies, institutions), being fully aware of the communicative dynamics occurring in each of those settings.  

By the end of the course, students will be able to apply the linguistic knowledge acquired during the course to understand and produce specialised texts, with a particular focus on the technical-scientific field. The proficiency level attained is C1 under the CEFR. Students will also be able to identify the different registers (highly specialised, semi-specialised, educational) adopted in the technical-scientific field. Moreover, they will be able to serve as language and cultural mediators in professional, institutional and business contexts, thanks to their liaison interpreting skills (IT>EN and EN>IT) and their ability to manage the communicative dynamics characterising interlinguistic and intercultural communication.