This course offers a focused examination of culturally significant modes of expression beyond literature, with particular emphasis on their sociological impact within contemporary English-speaking societies. Topics explored include visual media such as graphic press, television, and internet, as well as music and political discourse.
The overall aim of this subject is to provide students with oral practice in the English language at an advanced level in order to reach a high proficiency level in the foreign language (C1-C2 proficiency level conforming to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Specific aims include:
1) To be able to understand long speeches even when these are vaguely structured, and involve covert meaning relationships.
2) To be able to understand TV shows and films, as well as conversations by native speakers of the English language.
3) To be able to give descriptions and talk about a given topic in a logically-sequenced, fluent and clear way, using an appropriate register which will depend upon the context.
4) To be able to speak English fluently and efficiently for social and specific/professional purposes, conveying the subtle nuances of meaning of a word or expression.
5) To be able to express opinions, and to convey them successfully to the hearer in a conversation.
6) To take active part in a conversation or debate, using idiomatic expressions and colloquial phrases in English.
7) To be able to use communication strategies to overcome difficulties (comprehension-expression interaction).
8) To be able to handle communication situations by using the theory and practical knowledge about the English language in general, and the oral comprehension and communication skills of the foreign language in particular, which have been already acquired in previous courses.
9) To be able to employ the different communicative functions of the English language in formal/professional and informal contexts.