Incoming students are subjected to an English language placement test as set out in the UNICA-CLA English Language Project, aimed at establishing their level of English language proficiency.

The required level of knowledge can be attested in different ways:

the student, upon entering the degree course, already possesses a valid certification of the required language level, issued by the University Language Centre or by the certifying bodies indicated by the University Language Centre
the student obtains certification during the course of his/her studies.
All students who do not have an entry-level certificate must take an English assessment test (computerised test + oral test), administered by the Centro Linguistico di Ateneo (CLA). Students who reach the required level obtain recognition of the corresponding number of CFUs for each course of study.

The test takes place at the Sa Duchessa language laboratory in online mode and consists of a progressive test, which tests English language skills from level A1 to level C2, in approximately 30-35 minutes. The skills tested concern only vocabulary, syntax, passive comprehension (reading) and oral comprehension (listening).

Characteristics of the English language test

A Mock test, which simulates the placement test from level A1 to level B2, is available on the University Language Centre website.

Preparation: any textbook of the required level (Oxford, Cambridge, Longman, Heinemann), as long as it also includes audio exercises.

There are similar tests on the net, just type the word PET (Cambridge) or English test in any search engine.

Useful links for self-study
Our university has financed the creation of online basic English language courses, accessible to all students: https://elearning.unica.it, after registering on the platform.

There is a Facebook group that can provide suggestions and help (the only rule is to write in English). It is called English Language for Economics and Languages. The CLA Facebook group can also be helpful.

Links to websites for english language study & practice (various levels)

Dedicated efl/esl websites

• British Council website dedicated to English learners http://www.britishcouncil.org/central.htm
• BBC English – with also listening extracts to be downloaded http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
• Breaking News English http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
• Tower Of English http://towerofenglish.com/a-z.html
• On-Line English Courses http://www.1-language.com/englishcourse/index.htm
• Train Your Accent http://www.trainyouraccent.com/
• Eslgo – speaking, listening, quiz center, etc. http://eslgo.com
• ESL Resource Center http://www.eslus.com/eslcenter.htm
• Slang (meaning colloquial rather than ‘bad’ language. So nobody needs to be embarrassed) http://www.ezslang.com/

Various

• http://www.englishpage.com
• http://www.ego4u.com
• http://a4esl.org
• www.geocities.com
• www.efl.net
• www.nonstopenglish.com
• www.englishforum.com
• www.usingenglish.com
• www.esl.about.com
• www.musicalenglishlessons.org
• www.teflgames.com
• www.manythings.org
• ww.eslcafe.com

Tests

• http://www.english-test.net/
• Topics for oral production http://iteslj.org/questions/
• Cambridge ESOL exam practice (listening practice, word formation etc) www.flo-joe.co.uk

Idioms

• http://eslcafe.com/idioms/id-mngs.html

English Club

• Grammar, Pronunciation, Vocabulary, Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening Lessons. Articles about learning English. Links to information about prepositions, modal verbs, tenses, phrasal verbs, etc. http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm
• Macmillan’s web site http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?catid=59794&docid=154393
• Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab. Includes listening quizzes http://www.tips4students.com/
• Daily ESL: Conversation Starters http://www.dailyesl.com/
• Dave’s ESL Café (various). http://www.eslcafe.com/
• Listening to news http://www.englishclub.com/listening/news.htm

Television and radio

• ‘BBC Learning English’: General and Business English; Grammar, Vocabulary  and Pronunciation; Talking Sport; and a bizarre but interesting range of topics (e.g., ‘health risks in married cousins’ and ‘genetically modified cows’).
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ 
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/index.shtml

Education

• What do kids have to do in UK schools? Here’s the official UK government answer. Information about the ‘national curriculum’, primary vs. secondary schools, academies vs. private schools, etc. https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum
• Here you can check that an(award-giving) higher-educational institution in the UK is an officially ‘recognised body’ and not just a Mickey-Mouse outfit http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/higher-education/recognised-uk-degrees/recognised-bodies

Travel

• Study abroad: tips for ESL Students
• http://www.hikinginutah.com/
• http://www.roughguides.com (e.g., the ten best breakfasts in the world)