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BA Italian and Spanish / Course details

Year of entry: 2021

Course unit details:
Italian Language 5

Unit code ITAL51050
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Offered by Italian Studies
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

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.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Italian Language 3 ITAL51030 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
ITAL20210 Pre & Co-Requisite

Aims

  • 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

Knowledge and understanding

  • 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

Intellectual skills

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

Practical skills

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

Transferable skills and personal qualities

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

Employability skills

Other
Communication skills are developed through presentations and teamwork; self-management skills are promoted through independent work and the production of a portfolio of language activities, and IT skills through web and computer-assisted language learning. Finally, creative skills are fostered through creative writing and a task-orientated approach.

Assessment methods

Composition (Informative text) 10%
Independent language learning portfolio (sem2) 20%
Oral examination 20%
Exam 50%

 

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Individual written feedback on completed and marked assignments plus face-to-face discussion if desired.

Both

In-class comments on homework, presentations and other exercises.

Formative

After each of the scheduled assignments, global feedback on frequent errors or omissions to indicate problem areas and allow questions and discussion (delivered orally in class/posted to Blackboard/as a handout).

Both

 

Recommended reading

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)

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 66
Independent study hours
Independent study 134

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Salvatore Campisi Unit coordinator

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