Insegnamento a.a. 2016-2017

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 related 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 using in professional situations (Business English).

In addition, 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 all the degree programs
• BEC Vantage preparation course -for degree programs taught in Italian
• 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

Il codice 20365 corrisponde alla prima parte del corso, al termine della quale è prevista una prova parziale. L'esame finale è previsto al termine della seconda parte del corso, codice 20371.
Per i dettagli, consultare i Programmi d’aula e d’esame: www.unibocconi.it/centrolinguistico.

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.

Course Objectives

B1 business 

The aim of the course is to give the student a business B1 level which means they can:

• 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 into account the fact that the students are learning the language for eventual use in academic situations.

The course takes place over two modules: second semester of the 1st year (code 20365, lessons only), first semester of the 2nd year (code 20371 lessons and final exam).

Course Content Summary

• Careers
• Online sales
• Marketing
• People management
• Company structure
• Planning
• Products
• Entertaining
• Conflict
• New business

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• Al II semestre del 1° anno, prima parte del corso (codice 20365) con al termine prova parziale, facoltativa, solo prova scritta.
• Al I semestre del 2° anno, seconda parte del corso (codice 20371) con al termine esame finale, obbligatorio, composto da prova scritta e prova orale.

• Listening: messaggi, annunci, sondaggi, estratti radiofonici.
  Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle; risposte vero/falso; risposte in modalità multiple choice (30 punti).
• Use of language: individuazione e produzione delle forme e strutture principali. Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle, risposte vero/falso, risposte in modalità multiple choice, risposte libere, chiuse e/o aperte, produzione di frasi appropriate.
  Reading: lettura e comprensione di uno o più testi autentici, eventualmente corredati da grafici, tabelle, immagini. Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle, risposte vero/falso, risposte in modalità multiple choice, risposte libere, chiuse e/o aperte (40 punti).
  
• Writing: elaborazione di una lettera commerciale seguendo la traccia fornita (30 punti).
• Il voto è inizialmente espresso in centesimi e quindi convertito in trentesimi.

• L'accesso alla prova orale è subordinato al superamento della prova scritta con valutazione pari o superiore a 18/30.
  
• Presentazione di un dossier, preparato dallo studente, in cui devono essere raccolti 3 articoli collegati con uno o più argomenti d’affari o di ambito aziendale (dal libro di testo adottato Total Business 2). L'orale e i relativi materiali sono obbligatori.
  

• At the end of the 2nd Semester of the first year (May/June), students have the option of taking a written mid-term exam. This is not obligatory.
• At the end of the 1st semester of the second year there is a final written and oral exam (January). This is obligatory.

• Listening: messages, announcements, surveys, radio broadcasts.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers (30 marks).
• Use of language: Identifying and using main forms and structures.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers, open/closed questions, producing appropriate phrases.
  Reading: Comprehension of one or more authentic texts, possibly containing tables, graphs, images.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers, open/closed questions (40 marks).
• Writing: a business letter on the theme assigned (30 marks).
• Marks are initially marked out of a 100 and then converted into thirtieths.

• Access to the oral exam is only possible once a student has passed the written exam (18/30).
  
• Presentation of a dossier, prepared by the student, containing 3 articles relating to one or more business-related topics (see course book Total Business 2). These are obligatory.

Textbooks

• 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.

Prerequisites

In order to attend the B1 business English course it is strongly recommended a B1 as proficiency requirement. A complete curriculum for the B1 level can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter

Course Objectives

B2 business  
The aim of the course is to give the student a business B2 level, meaning they can:

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

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

Course Content Summary

The course is divided into core topics. Around these topics students will practice and develop the appropriate skills expected at this level.

• Styles of learning
• Indications and trends
• Environment
• Ethics
• Information age
• Using Budgets
• Innovation
• IT issues
• Culture Shock
• Advertising and Media
• Applying for an Internship
• Work and Play/Pay
• Customer Service
• Communication
• Company structures
• Start ups

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• Al II semestre del 1° anno, prima parte del corso (codice 20365) con al termine prova parziale, facoltativa, solo prova scritta.
• Al I semestre del 2° anno, seconda parte del corso (codice 20371) con al termine esame finale, obbligatorio, composto da prova scritta e prova orale.

• Listening: messaggi, annunci, sondaggi, estratti radiofonici.
  Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle; risposte vero/falso; risposte in modalità multiple choice, risposte libere, chiuse e/o aperte (30 punti).
• Reading: lettura e comprensione di uno o più testi di una certa complessità. Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle, risposte vero/falso, risposte in modalità multiple choice, risposte libere, chiuse e/o aperte, produzione di frasi appropriate (40 punti).
• Writing: produzione di testi autentici.
  Elaborazione di memo, lettere, brevi report, seguendo la traccia fornita (30 punti).
• Il voto è inizialmente espresso in centesimi e quindi convertito in trentesimi.

• L'accesso alla prova orale è subordinato al superamento della prova scritta con valutazione pari o superiore a 18/30.
• E’ suddivisa in due parti: presentazione e discussione.
  
  • Presentazione di slides basate sugli argomenti del libro di testo (Cambridge Academic English Intermediate and Career Express B2) per un totale di 5-7 minuti. Gli altri studenti assistono alla presentazione.
  • Discussione: gli studenti discutono, in gruppi di 2 o 3 studenti, l’argomento oggetto delle proprie slides.

• At the end of the 2nd Semester of the first year (May/June), students have the option of taking a written mid-term exam. This is not obligatory.
• At the end of the 1st semester of the second year there is a final written and oral exam (January). This is obligatory.

• Listening: messages, announcements, surveys, radio broadcasts.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers, open/closed questions (30 marks).
• Reading: understanding one or more passages of a certain complexity.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers, open/closed questions, producing appropriate sentences (40 marks).
• Writing: writing authentic documents.
  Writing memos, letters or short reports according to instructions (30 marks).
• Marks are initially marked out of 100 and then converted into thirtieths.
  

• Access to the oral exam is only possible once a student has passed the written exam (18/30).
• The oral is divided into 2 parts: presentation and discussion
  
  • Presentation: each student gives a presentation (lasting 5-7 minutes) prepared in advance using slides and based on the topics in the course books, Cambridge Academic English Intermediate and Career Express B2. The other students must follow the speaker's presentation.
  • Discussion: the candidates, in groups of 2 or 3, are asked to discuss the presentations they have selected and prepared.

Textbooks

• THAINE, Cambridge Academic English Intermediate, Cambridge
• FAIRCLOUGH and BUTZPHAL, Career Express Business English B2, Garnet

Prerequisites

In order to attend the B2 business English course a minimum B2 general language level is strongly recommended. A complete curriculum for the B1 and B2 levels can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter

Course Objectives

C1 business

The aim of the course is to give students a business C1 level, meaning they 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;
• follow with ease an extended discussion, understanding in detail what is specified by the speaker;
• summarize information and arguments from various authentic sources, including extended conversations;
• thoroughly express his/her ideas, present complex arguments and convincingly reply to those presented by others;
• write professional material showing the ability to produce coherent and cohesive texts, highlighting relevant points and supporting them;
• evaluate different ideas and solutions to a problem; can produce written material in accordance with conventional paging and paragraphing standards.

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

Course Content Summary

The course is divided into core topics. Around these topics students will practice and develop the appropriate skills expected at this level.

• Advertising and media
• Image and Identity
• Innovation
• Facing challenges
• Harmony
• IT in business
• Culture and society
• Working together
• Marketing and the consumer
• Crime
• Communication
• The future
• Environment and ethics
• Crisis management
• Risk

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

• Al II semestre del 1° anno, prima parte del corso (codice 20365) con al termine prova parziale, facoltativa, solo prova scritta.
• Al I semestre del 2° anno, seconda parte del corso (codice 20371) con al termine esame finale, obbligatorio, composto da prova scritta e prova orale.

• Listening to writing: descrizioni, informazioni, opinioni espresse con una certa ampiezza, a velocità naturale e con rumore di fondo.
  Sintesi del passaggio ed elaborazione di un testo con contenuti attinenti ad esso (15 punti).
• Reading to writing: comprensione di uno o più passaggi di una certa complessità.
  Completamento di frasi e/o tabelle, risposte vero/falso, risposte in modalità multiple choice, risposte libere, chiuse e/o aperte , produzione di frasi appropriate (15 punti).

• L'accesso alla prova orale è subordinato al superamento della prova scritta con valutazione pari o superiore a 18/30.
• E’ suddivisa in due parti: presentazione e discussione.
  
  • Presentazione di slides basate sugli argomenti dei libri di testo (Cambridge Academic English Advanced / Keynote Advanced) per un totale di 5-7 minuti. Gli altri studenti assistono alla presentazione.
  • Discussione: gli studenti discutono, in gruppo di 2 o 3 studenti, l’argomento oggetto delle proprie slides.

• At the end of the 2nd Semester of the first year (May/June), students have the option of taking a written mid-term exam. This is not obligatory.
• At the end of the 1st semester of the second year (January) there is a final written and oral exam. This is obligatory.

• Listening to writing: descriptions, information and opinions expressed at some length at natural speed given by native speakers.
  Summary of the passage, and a written task deriving from the information it contains (15 marks).
• Reading to writing: Understanding one or more passages of a certain complexity.
  Sentence and/or table completion, true/false questions, multiple choice answers, open/closed questions, producing appropriate sentences (15 marks).

• Access to the oral exam is only possible once a student has passed the written exam (18/30).
• The oral is divided into 2 parts: presentation and discussion.
  
  • Presentation: each student gives a presentation (lasting 5-7 minutes) prepared in advance using slides and based on the topics in the course books, Cambridge Academic English Advanced / Keynote Advanced. The other students must follow the speaker's presentation.
  • Discussion: the candidates, in groups of 2 or 3, are asked to discuss the presentation they have selected and prepared.

Textbooks

• M. HEWINGS, C. THAINE, Cambridge Academic English Advanced Student’s Book, Cambridge
• LANSFORD, DUMMETT, STEPHENSON, Keynote Advanced Student's Book, Cenage Learning

Prerequisites

To attend the C1 business English course a minimum C1 general language level is strongly recommended. A complete curriculum for the B2  and C1 levels can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter

Course Objectives

Preparation Course for 
Business English Certificate Vantage
Cambridge University ESOL Examinations 

The course is designed for students who already have a B2-general level. In terms of linguistic competence, the final objective corresponds to that established by the Council of Europe for level B2-business. The object 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 emails;
• 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

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

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso le sedi d'esame autorizzate. 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.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

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.

Textbooks

• BROOK-HART, Business Benchmark Upper Intermediate, Cambridge.
  

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

Preparation Course for 
Business English Certificate Higher
Cambridge University ESOL Examinations

The course is designed for students who already have a a strong B2 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

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.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso le sedi d'esame autorizzate. 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.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

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.

Textbooks

• Brook-Hart, Business Benchmark Advanced, Cambridge

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

Preparation course for
IELTS Academic C1
International English Language Testing System 

The aim of the course is to give the student the necessary tools and skills to pass an IELTS certificate at grade 7.0 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/herself clearly and in detail on subjects related to his/her 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 are aimed at developing skills which are required to confront with ease the various activities found in the IELTS test, in order to achieve a mark at a C1 level.
Particular attention is given to reinforcing each of the four linguistic skills tested in IELTS: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Special emphasis is given to:

• drafting, writing and revising full length essays with an appropriate range of vocabulary and terminology;
• interpretation of graphical information;
• complete and detailed description of processes and procedures.

Speaking activities are mainly concerned with developing interactive (discussions, debates) and reporting/presenting skills.
Then the listening activities will be presented in order that the students will be able to gauge the difficulty and complexity of the task and respond without hesitation.
In addition, the activities are based on simulations that are taken from past papers and appropriately selected materials.
Additional information concerning the course can be found on-line at www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Il presente corso prepara al superamento della relativa certificazione di lingua, che si svolge presso le sedi d'esame autorizzate. 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.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

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.

Textbooks

• S.Ò Connell , 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.