IT30130 - ITALIAN LANGUAGE

Module Identifier	IT30130
Module Title	ITALIAN LANGUAGE
Academic Year	2001/2002
Co-ordinator	Mr Adriano Vincentelli
Semester	Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other staff	Giovanni Fanton
Pre-Requisite	(Normally) Eligibility for entry to Level 3 Italian.
Course delivery	Contact Hours	Minimum twenty-five contact hours per semester.
Assessment	Oral examination	Oral exam.	30%
	Continuous assessment	Written assignments (minimum of 8 assignments per semester)	30%
	Continuous assessment	Student contributions and active participation to the oral class.	10%
	Exam	2x2 Hours	30%

Brief description

This module forms part of the core Level 3 programme in Italian and is the main language course in that year. It follows on from the appropriate modules in earlier years (IT10740/IT10120, IT20130).
It is a thin module consisting of two weekly classes and one fortnightly, taught over two semesters and examined at the end of the academic year:

(a) one weekly class is devoted to aural/oral activities
(b) the other weekly class is devoted to a variety of written exercises (translations from and into Italian and essay writing)
(c) the fortnightly class will be used for additional grammar and vocabulary work and tests.

The aim of the written classes is:

to learn how to render accurately the meaning and the register of an original text
to develop and refine linguistic competence by expanding the range of vocabulary and idioms and making active use of the more complex syntactical structures of the Italian language.

The aim of the aural classes is:

to consolidate knowledge of the Italian language by practising the use of vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in the written classes.
to acquire pronunciation and intonation as close as possible to that of a native speaker and further develop fluency and accuracy
to develop general communication skills that will enhance the students' professional profile.

However, students will appreciate that the range of vocabulary and idiomatic structures required at this level goes far beyond what can be learned in class. They must therefore be prepared to consolidate and further expand the active knowledge of language gathered during their year abroad:

a) by random means (such as reading books and newspapers, watching satellite TV or videotapes in the lab, attending the Italian film evenings, or corresponding with Italian friends!);
b) should this be found necessary, by a systematic study of vocabulary, verb forms, etc., and by making use of CALL facilities for the revision of grammar.

The module in Language of Current Affairs (IT30310) is complementary to this module.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, if you have made satisfactory progress, you will be able to:

- quantify your own improvement in Italian vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and spoken language since before going abroad
- translate idiomatically into and out of Italian, using factual or fictional texts
- translate selected unseen passages in class
- prepare passages for translation and discussion in class
- explain and justify your own choice and use of different linguistic registers
- demonstrate active command of stylistic levels of Italian
- demonstrate competence in preparing effectively for essay-writing: structuring work, constructing logical argument and expressing ideas in the appropriate linguistic register
- apply language skills acquired in Italian, and during the year abroad, with particular emphasis on achieving as native-like a pronunciation as possible
- express yourself with confidence using a rich and varied vocabulary
- apply orally the complex vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced in written classes
- present independently prepared material in spoken or written Italian
- analyse and discuss complex Italian texts
- give detailed insight into Italian cultural and political affairs

Language modules have, as an integral part of their structure, regular homework assignments and class tests as well as end of year examinations. All assessment is designed to measure your progress against learning outcomes at the appropriate level.

Reading Lists

Books
A grammar book (preferably with exercises at adv. level and a key at the back).
A verb list.
A vocabulary list (if necessary, more specific indications will be given in class)..