English Language 2

Objectives

The students upgrade the previously acquired good knowledge of general English and the basic ESP vocabulary, as well as the use of more or less common grammatical and syntactic structures used in their professional fields to be able to successfully communicate in more complex professional situations and academic settings.

The students acquire the B2+/C1 level of the English language competence (according to CEFR – the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Competences

The students will further develop all four types of their ESP language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. They will also be able to present a more complex ESP topic in an oral form and adapt the presentation to various target groups of audiences. Moreover, they upgrade their critical thinking skills to the extent that they are able to critically evaluate and argument also more complex professional issues. When producing written texts, they use the appopriate register and writing style. They also further develop their cross-cultural communication skills needed in a multicultural environment.

Good knowledge of general English equivalent to the level of the general matura/vocational matura examination in the English language. Prerequisite knowledge acquired at the course English Languge 1 is desired.

• Learning more complex grammatical and syntactic structures used in ESP* texts and oral presentations (including videos etc.).
• Upgrading the existing ESP vocabulary through analysing various more complex authentic texts and other sources, including digital/online sources.
• Composing more complex essays and more specialised ESP texts. Composing texts to promote the relevant ESP field through various media, including the social media.
• Larning how to cite sources in one own's works and observe the legislation concerning the protection of intellectual property.
• Presenting more complex ESP topics in the form of an oral presentation and appropriate argumenting one own's findings.
• Successful cross-cultural communication in more complex professional circumstances.

*ESP = English for Specific Purposes

Knowledge and understanding:

The students will be able to appropriately use more complex grammatical and syntactic structures, as well as more complex ESP terminology to successfully communicate in more challenging circumstances related to their professional fields. They will be able to compose essays on more challenging ESP topics and other more complex ESP texts by taking into account the appropriate register and writing style. They will be able to present more complex professional topics in the form of oral presentations, and present their arguments and opinions concerning more challenging professional issues. They will upgrade their cross-cultural commnication skills to successfully communicate in more challenging circumstances within a multicultural environment.

• Carter, R. and M. McCarthy (2006). Cambridge Grammar of English. A Comprehensive Guide – Spoken and Written English Grammar and Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (selected topics/pages) Catalogue E-version
• McCarthy M. and F. O'Deal (1997). Collocations in Use. How words work together for fluent and natural English. Self-study and classroom use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (selected topics/pages) Catalogue E-version
• Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Advanced Learners of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (selected pages). Catalogue E-version

• Šabec, N. and D. Limon (2001). Across cultures: slovensko-britansko-ameriško medkulturno sporazumevanje/Slovene-British-American Intercultural Communication. Maribor: Obzorja. (selected chapters) E-version Catalogue

• selected professional texts

Type (examination, oral, coursework, project): • written examination (70 % of the overall grade) • individual presentation/seminar assignment (30 % of the overall grade) Examination condition: a successfully delivered presentation/seminar assignment.

Veronika Piccinini, English language lecturer, holds a BA (Hons) in English Language in Literature. Since 2005, she has been working at the University of Nova Gorica, where she has been teaching ESP – English for Specific Purposes at various study programmes. She has also been teaching EAP – English for Academic Purposes as a branch of ESP as part of the courses Introduction into Project Work and Group Project at the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Nova Gorica.

She has gained her professional experience by teaching at various institutions on different levels of the educational system. She has received further professional training also in the U.K. and Austria (ECML – European Centre for Modern Languages, part of the European Council). She is particularly interested in the research of the methodology of teaching English as a foreign language, especially in creative language teaching. She has been presenting her work at conferences and published articles in Slovenia and abroad.

PICCININI, Veronika. Project work as a tool for enhancing the transfer of ESP knowledge into practice. Humanising language teaching, Jun. 2012, year 14, iss. 3.
[COBISS.SI-ID 2416379]

PICCININI, Veronika. Extending ESP knowledge into Practice. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Language Conference on the Importance of Learning Professional Foreign Languages for Communication Between Cultures, 22 and 23 September 2011. Maribor: University of Maribor, Faculty of Logistics, pp. 190–192.
[COBISS.SI-ID 2165499]

PICCININI, Veronika et al. The linking verb be in English technical and literary texts and its equivalents in the Slovene translations. Vestnik, 2006, vol. 40, no. 1/2, pp. 109–120.
[COBISS.SI-ID 618747]

PICCININI, Veronika et al. The Cambridge grammar of English in the ELT classroom: teaching selected features of spoken English. Humanising language teaching, Apr. 2012, year 14, iss. 1.
[COBISS.SI-ID 2153979]

PICCININI, Veronika. Exercise book for English practice sessions: English for undergraduate students of viticulture and enology. Nova Gorica: Založba Univerze, 2013.
[COBISS.SI-ID 265623296]

PICCININI, Veronika. The importance of giving oral presentations in English. Proceedings of the International Language Conference on the Importance of Learning Professional Foreign Languages for Communication Between Cultures 2010, Faculty of Logistics, Celje, 23 and 24 September 2010.
[COBISS.SI-ID 1677563]