Globalization has had a considerable impact on all aspects of modern society including education and the knowledge of the English language now essential for mobility in working environments and academic circles. The present process of internationalizing knowledge prompted our degree course to come up to educational standards which allow the spread of knowledge in an international context. The knowledge of scientific terminology in English and a greater familiarity with the written and spoken forms of the language are encouraged in several Italian universities which provide courses in English. This optional course held in English on the degree course in Psychology Sciences and Techniques aims at both helping students to overcome any reluctance they have with the use of English and improving their skills in understanding written scientific texts in English and in using scientific English orally.

The Course aims at meeting Urbino University's increasing need to internationalize courses and is the first of its kind at Urbino. It is offered as an optional course to 3rd year students enrolled on the degree course of Psychology Sciences and Techniques.

The Course uses the CLIL approach (Content and Language Integrated Learning). This approach has two objectives - English is used to teach and learn both language and content. CLIL is based on valid methodological principles established by foreign language teaching research.

By using this approach, which is adopted commonly in other European countries, the Course will allow Italian students to learn the contents of a specific subject and at the same time improve their knowledge of English. The Council of Europe's 2004-6 Action Plan for the Implementation of Language Learning and Multilingual Education proposes CLIL as one of the preferential strategies to promote community languages. CLIL allows students to gain greater confidence in their communication abilities and to acquire competences valid for work placements.

English language teachers in the Education Faculty will take an active part on the course. The same teachers teach English in the 1st year and run the Laboratory in English in the 2nd  year of the degree course in Psychology Sciences and Techniques. This guarantees that the language skills required to pass the Course examination are those taught previously on the same degree course. Students who select  this Course are recommended to have already passed the 1st year examination in English and completed the 2nd year Laboratory in English.

The Course takes up themes on groups which were dealt with during the 2nd year Social Psychology, developing some  theoretical and research aspects and analysing their application in real life and in daily social behaviour. The themes that will be dealt with on the Course include group structure and formation and the roles that individuals play within them in different areas: social cooperation and conflict, group work, leadership and decision-making processes within groups.

Modalità didattiche

Teaching methods: lectures and interactive lessons in English (with clarification in  Italian if necessary), group discussion, analysis of research and real-life applications.

Language support will be provided to students by the English language teachers who will work in close cooperation with the Course lecturer.

Lecture attendance is highly recommended in order to acquire both the scientific and the language contents.

Testi di studio

Pennington D. C. The social psychology of behaviour in small groups, Psychology Press, 2002.

Agreements will be made with bookshops and the Publishing house in order to make the text-book readily available.

Modalità di
accertamento

The assessment will be held in English by means of a written multiple-choice test and an oral exam.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.