This course is a practical and theoretical introduction to English pronunciation, concentrating on segmental phonology, syllable structure, word stress, sentence stress and other characteristics of connected speech. Emphasis will be placed on transcription and dictation skills with the aim of improving students' awareness of the English sound system and their intelligibility. Extensive listening and production practice is provided. The variety of British English known as RP (Received Pronunciation) will be the model taken for the course but reference will be made to other varieties of English. 

It is a clear that on a course of this nature - based on emphemeral sound - progress in understanding of the course material can only be achieved by regular attendance (students are required to attend for a minimum of 60% of the 9 lessons of each semester, as according to the regolamento di corso di laurea), active class participation and considerable personal study. 

After the nine semester 1 lessons, students sit a written test, which has to be passed in order to continue into semester 2 and sit the final test written and oral tests at the end of the academic year. The final course result - which represents 50% of the lettorato mark - depends on adequate course attendance and successful completion of both parts of the final tests.