Role and Characteristics of English Language Teaching
The English language as well as being widely used for the international sharing of scientific results, is essential for many course activities, such as access to scientific literature and online resources. For these reasons, the teaching of English has always been included in the course curriculum and for several years English language courses taught by lecturers have taken advantage of the collaboration with the University Language Centre (CLA), which made mother tongue teachers available for integrative activities, especially practical ones.
How activities are conducted
Since the academic year (2012/2013), the CLA has been committed to looking after English learning activities for students of our degree program, for a period of one semester during the first year with the following information:
- activities will aim to reach a level of knowledge appropriate to obtain the above specified B1 certification;
- activities will consist in lectures, but also in discussions, movie projection and more, and will be mostly held in the premises of the Biotechnology Department and in compliance with the other activities established in the time schedule provided for by the degree program;
- the organization of activities may include an evaluation of the entrance English language knowledge level through a "placement test" organized by the CLA; students who already have a knowledge of the English language above B1 level could be encouraged to attend different educational activities, more appropriate to their level of proficiency.
- Moreover, the 5 credits related to the English language course are considered obtained if the student can provide a statement of success in their activities described by the same CLA
- In addition to this, as a result of the study course activities or where they deem the conditions suitable, the CLA could independently certify the achievement of B1 level or a higher one.
For these reasons, the procedures for the acquisition of credits related to the English language varies according to the enrolment year on the first year of courses. For more details you can refer to the list of procedures for the acquisition of credits.
Finally, students can be exempted from the acquisition of credits related to the English language examination in presence of appropriate certificates of courses attended outside the study course, as indicated in the following document: