Objectives and competences
The objective of this course is to get a systematic overview of various aspects of modality in English as an upgrading of the subject English verb. Students should become aware of the fact that modality is not merely a matter of the word or phrase (modal verbs), but also of a wider context, the sentence, the text. Modality (expressed by modal verbs and tenses, conditional sentences and intonation) is to a certain extent culture bound and frequently quite ambiguous. In the case of English it is also much more elaborate than in Slovene. Students need to be aware of this if they are to use the English language skillfully in any speech situation in any sphere of life.
Objectives for Language Awareness:
• Understand a variety of speakers of English and complex texts (both written and listening) at proficiency level,
• systematic building of vocabulary and grammar skills,
• speak English accurately and fluently (at proficiency level), with correct pronunciation and intonation in both academic and non-academic situations,
• produce a variety of complex written texts.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• Semantics and modal mechanisms in language
• Subjunctive mood
• Modal verbs and modalities
• Epistemic modality
• Deontic modality
• Mood: indicative, imperative, subjunctive.
• Modality in direct and indirect speech
• Modal tenses and their meaning.
• Modals in relation to politeness
• Conditionals: present and past, ‘real’ and ‘unreal’
• Sentence intonation and meaning
• Sentence intonation in different speech situations
In Language awareness (vaje) students will consolidate and build upon existing knowledge and skills, bringing them to proficiency through a variety of exercises and tasks based on a communicative approach. The course will focus on the development of complex aspects of grammar and vocabulary, appropriate for proficiency level (e.g. modality, idiom, phrasal verb, tenses review, collocations) with the emphasis on a data-driven approach. The course will improve all four of the language skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking through the use of authentic texts.
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures (method of explanation and clarification with final discussion),
• guided discussion, debates,
• group work,
• individual research work,
• guided analysis and interpretation of issues,
• exercises,
• work with texts,
• problem solving,
• individual homework assignments.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding:
On completion of this course student will be able to
• identify deviations in the “time” v. “tense” relationship resulting from specific characteristics of modal verbs and their context and thus avoid misinterpreting the intended meaning of texts
• identify and use modal structures in different text types in English correctly both in terms of time reference and modal meaning,
• differentiate between deontic and epistemic functions of individual modal verbs
• use the various types of conditional sentences appropriately and efficiently,
• use intonation patterns suiting the atmosphere of the situation and for creating new atmospheres (this is especially useful for rhetoric and negotiations),
Language awareness:
• ability to comprehend complex English written and listening texts at proficiency level,
• ability to produce complex written texts of a variety of genres, and speak English accurately and fluently at proficiency level,
• ability to use dictionaries and other resources.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Transferable/Key Skills and other attributes:
• Ability to produce written and oral texts in English by skillfully and efficiently using modal tools,
• ability to work in groups and pairs,
• ability to use up-to-date resources and technology (e.g. corpus),
• ability to become an autonomous learner/researcher,
• ability to solve linguistic problems,
• ability to think critically, critical analysis, synthesis,
• ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment.
Readings
Facchinetti, R., Krug, M in Palmer, F (ur.). 2003. Modality in contemporary English. Berlin: M. de Gruyter.
Leech, G. N. 2004: Meaning and the English Verb. 3. izd. Longman, London.
Dancygier, B. Anderson, S. R., Bresnan, J., Comrie, B. Dressler, W. 1999. Conditionals and Prediction:
Time, Knowledge and Causation in Conditional Constructions. Cambridge University Press.
Wells, J. C. 2006. English Intonation: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Prerequisits
Attendance of 80% and regular completion of coursework are required for taking the exam.
Additional information on implementation and assessment • class attendance and participation - 10%
• written and oral assignments - 30%
• completion of homework assignments - 10%
• colloquium test - 25%
• written exam - 25%
