BA German and Italian / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Italian Language 3

Course unit fact file
Unit code ITAL51030
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This is a course unit for intermediate students who possess an A-Level qualification or equivalent competence in Italian. It aims to revise, consolidate and extend students’ prior knowledge of Italian through a structured programme of taught classes and assessed coursework with a strong focus on a programme of independent language learning made available through Blackboard. The course also comprises discussions and on-line surgeries as well as a complementary series of oral classes to enhance listening and speaking skills as part of the preparation for the period of compulsory residence in Italy.

Pre/co-requisites

ITAL A-level Pre-Requisites. Students with an A-level (or equivalent) in Italian can take ITAL10210, otherwsie they must take ITAL10200.

Pre-requisite: ITAL51022, A-Level in Italian or equivalent competency in the language

Aims

Through this course, students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate a sound understanding of the aspects of Italian grammar covered in class;
  2. write compositions and summaries in Italian of Italian texts of an appropriate level of difficulty;
  3. demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the sounds and structures of Italian;
  4. reflect upon and improve their language-learning capabilities;
  5. use spoken Italian to cope with real-life situations and to discuss a variety of topics;
  6. take responsibility for their own learning of Italian;
  7. make use of the resources of the Language Centre, of the Internet and of the Blackboard virtual learning environment

Knowledge and understanding

The course will develop:

  • An active knowledge of the topics covered in the grammar classes
  • An 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 real-life situations
  • Knowledge of aspects of the culture, communities and languages of Italy
  • An awareness of, and responsiveness to, the nature and extent of cultural diversity
  • An active knowledge of Italian linguistic diversity and some key linguistic features of the language

Intellectual skills

This course develops abilities to:

  • Use language creatively and precisely for purposes and audiences at an intermediate level
  • Extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources
  • Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured 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 individual 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

Semester 1

Assessment task Formative or Summative Weighting within unit
One piece of ACW (reading & writing)  Summative 10%
Oral presentations Summative 10%
Linguistics exercise Formative N/A
Weekly take-home activities Formative N/A

 

Semester 2

Assessment task Formative or Summative Weighting within unit
Weekly take-home activities Formative N/A
One piece of ACW (listening & writing) Summative 10%
Linguistics exercise Summative 10%
An Oral examination Summative 15%
A written examination with a grammar section Summative 45%

 

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 identify problem areas and allow questions and discussion (delivered orally in class/posted to blackboard/as a handout).

Both

 

Recommended reading

  • CORE: Racconti italiani / Italian Short Stories, Parallel Text, ed. N. Roberts, (Penguin: 1999)  

  • RECOMMENDED: A. Proudfoot and F. Cardo, Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide (London: Routledge, 2012, 3rd Edition)  

  • 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) 

  • S. Nocchi, Gnuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana (Firenze, Alma, 2015 2009) 

  • Dizionario inglese-italiano, italiano-inglese, 3rd ed. (Turin: Paravia and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, ebook 2001) 

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

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 22
Seminars 22
Tutorials 44
Independent study hours
Independent study 112

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Monica Boria Unit coordinator

Additional notes

In order to meet the learning outcomes students are required to engage in regular independent language learning devoting an average of 3 hours per week to work on the various language skills. 

Free Choice only in agreement with Programme Director for Italian and Language Tutor

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