In order to successfully take part in this course, the students must possess an overall knowledge of English that corresponds at least to the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), along with an excellent knowledge of Italian language in a wide range of registers.

In the specific field of business communication, students will: strengthen the four language skills to raise the level of language proficiency from B1 to B2/upper-intermediate; acquire sociolinguistic skills and translating skills; learn how to use dictionaries effectively and efficiently.

The course aims to study and analyse the relationship between language and culture in the field of business communication, as well as the social and cultural factors which lie behind English's current status as a "global language". The course focuses on:

• the linguistic and communicative performance students will need to decode and understand written and oral texts in English, laying constant emphasis on how to be clear when setting the goals, the objectives, and the specifications for business communication;

• a range of techniques used to achieve a consistent, effective, and appropriate style as well as the linguistic strategies adopted to communicate with (remote) teams and partners, deal with conflict resolution and manage to come to an agreement in a diplomatic way;

• the key linguistic and discourse resources in both successful and unsuccessful business communication so that students are encouraged to evaluate it critically and with increased awareness in order to gain a deeper knowledge about the linguistic characteristics of successful business communication;

• the linguistic and communicative performance students will need to tailor the register and the vocabulary to the reader/listener in an international context and produce clear, concrete, and significant texts when giving presentations, chairing a meeting, creating a company profile and describing a project, among others.

The language used will be adapted to be relevant to the students’ area of study and the proposed activities will include role-play, case studies, and the use of video and audio materials. lectures.

(A); Crystal, D.; The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language; Cambridge University Press; 2019 (third edition); Chapters: 19-20-21-22-23; 9781108423595.

(C); Crystal, D.; English as a Global Language; Cambridge University Press; 2003 (second edition); Chapters: 3-4-5; 9780521823470.

(C); Flowers Arhlene, A.; Global Writing for Public Relations. Connecting in English with Stakeholders and Publics Worldwide; Routledge; 2015; Chapters: 21-22-23; 9781315774251;

Lectures include a significant practical component based on case studies, group activities and role play methods. Simulation of projects (individual or to be completed in small groups) based on real professional situations that require the use of language for business communication.

Teaching is conducted at least 70% in a foreign language (English).

• In addition to theoretical explanations, the lectures include a significant practical component with the students’ active participation. The theoretical notions are presented during the lectures and then further explored autonomously by the students through readings and guided exercises, that are then discussed and corrected together.

• The assessment will be in the form of:

  • oral test (50%): in English, covering the theoretical notions presented in the lectures and their practical applications, with a critical analysis of their implementation techniques and actual potential in the filed of business communication;
  • written test (50%): open-ended question, in English, aimed at testing writing, processing, and analytical skills in the filed of business communication and covering the notions presented in the lectures with language experts. The test will last one hour and no dictionary will be allowed.

  
  

  
  

  Evaluation and percentages:

  • relevance of the answers (20%);
  • ability to demonstrate the correct understanding of theoretical principles (20%);
  • awareness of theoretical principles in their valid concrete application (20%);
  • critical ability to deal with the topics under consideration (evaluation of pros and cons of specific operational choices, advantages and disadvantages, potential and problems) (20%);
  • clarity, technical correctness and completeness of the answers (20%).

English and Italian

English