BA Italian and Spanish / Course details

This course is aimed at students who have an A-level qualification in the Italian language and who have also successfully completed one year of language study in Italian at university level (Italian Language 3).

The course is intended to strengthen competence in the Italian language by consolidating students’ command of a variety of grammatical structures with a focus on cultural aspects of contemporary Italian life.

• develop main language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) as well as cultural awareness in preparation for the period of residence in Italy
• complement classes and tutor-directed learning with a programme of independent language learning available via Blackboard (virtual learning environment), including tasks, discussions and on-line surgeries

• A broad, active knowledge of Italian grammar and basic awareness of the different registers of language
• The ability to communicate with a degree of confidence and accuracy in written and spoken Italian, in a variety of situations
• Knowledge of aspects of the culture, communities and language of Italy
• Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence

This course develops abilities to:

• Use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences
• Contextualise information from a variety of perspectives
• Extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources
• Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument
• Engage in critical and analytical thinking

These include:

• Use and present material in the target language in written and oral forms in a clear and effective manner
• Ability to manage own learning
• Use target language source materials appropriately
• Access electronic resources and use information and communication technologies (ICT) appropriately, including the Internet and  Blackboard

These include:

• Communication and presentation skills: oral, written and IT
• The ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team
• Mediating skills and qualities of empathy
• Self-reliance and adaptability
• Intercultural awareness
• Autonomy and independence
• Time management skills

CORE TEXTBOOK: Proudfoot, F. Cardo, Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd edn (London: Routledge, 2012)

T. Oliver-Federici, Developing Writing Skills in Italian (Oxon: Routledge, 2009)

S. Adorni and K. Primorac, English Grammar for Students of Italian (London: Arnold, 1995)

M. Fernandez-Toro and F. Jones, DIY Techniques for Language Learners (London: Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, 2001)

M. Maiden and C. Robustelli, A Reference Grammar of Modern Italian, 2nd edn (London: Arnold, 2007)

Dizionario inglese-italiano, italiano-inglese (Turin: Paravia; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001)

T. De Mauro, Dizionario della lingua italiana (Turin: Paravia, 2000)