Overall objectives:

1 - The UC promotes communication skills at advanced level of learning English as a foreign language: level C1.1, autonomy (CEFRL).
2 - The UC aims at familiarizing students with the different registers of English in various discursive practices and communities, based on a diversified corpus characteristic of academic and interpersonal communication.
3 - In order to develop production and reception skills, in oral and written in English, students are encouraged to produce different kinds of texts and genres, in various formats (print and non-print, digital), namely: curricula, letters, abstracts, activity reports and essays.
4 - In addition, the intensive and extensive reading of fictional and non-fiction texts in English in several media aims to promote language, pragmatic and discursive, socio-cultural and documentation competences.
5 - Only then, can speakers become proficient users of oral and written English, in areas of academic interest either for students or for future professionals.

Syllabus:

1 - LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION ? The model of communication. ? Language, communication and semiotics: the linguistic sign. ? Functional language and discourse markers. ? Language and creativity: norm and deviation; language varieties ? The visual/technological turn: blending media; multimodality
2 - GENRE AND ORGANISATION OF TEXTS ? Types of texts: structure and characteristics (letters, emails, summaries, reports, articles and academic papers); selecting adequate linguistic structures and semantic fields; coherence and cohesion; developing themes.
3 - SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY ? style manuals; format; quotations; end-notes and footnotes; references and bibliography.
4 - INTERPRETING DISCOURSE ? modes of discourse; rhetoric; metaphor and irony; adverts, association and inference.
5 - SPOKEN INTERACTION AND PRODUCTION ? Spoken interaction and production: communicative techniques and strategies; preparing conferences, seminars, round-tables, workshops and debates.

Literature/Sources:

Haddon, M , 2003 , The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time , Vintage,
Smith, Z , 2008 , The Book of Other People , Penguin,
Bhatia, K , 1998 , Analysing Genre ? Language Use in Professional Settings , Longman,
Manning, A. & A. O?Cain , 2007 , Research and Referencing, University of Reading , Garnet education
Manning, A. & E. Wilding , 2007 , Presentations, University of Reading , Garnet education
Pallant, A , 2007 , English for Academic Study (Course book), University of Reading , Garnet education
Fava-Verdé, A. & A. Manning , 2007 , Essay Writing, University of Reading , Garnet education
Hargie, O., & D. Dickson, , 2004 , Skilled Interpersonal Communication ? Research, Theory and Practice , Routledge,
Seely, J , 2005 , Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking , O.U.P.

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
Classes are of the expositive, theoret.-pract. type. The presentation of the Syll. material is achieved through ongoing lecturer-student-lecturer interaction. During class-meetings students will develop their oral and written production in Eng., both through individual, pair/peer and group work, as follows: i) theoret. approaches to subject matters with students? participation (lect./seminars); ii) different ways of addressing audiences by taking part in debates, outlining and delivering oral presentations, commenting on news ... iii) the production of texts on an individual and group work basis ; iv) individual projects; v) filling in questionnaires; vi) peer-evaluations and students? self-critiques. Assessment :Type A was chosen from the Ass. Regulation of UMa. Hence, students are assessed during the semester in 2 written partial exams (1: 40% + 2: 40%) and in an oral component (20%), in which their communicative (linguistic, discursive) competence will be tested at advanced level.