The module implements an innovative methodology by which you will be taught exclusively through the medium of Italian from your very first lesson. Whereas you will do most of your reading and writing at home, in each class you will learn a new piece of grammar and spend the rest of the time trying to implement what you learn in small group conversations, with the support of the teacher and Italian exchange students. Therefore, you will not have separate classes for grammar, conversation, translation etc. but key language structures will be presented and practiced by integrating them with strategies for communication. You will also have the opportunity to attend up to 3 extra curriculum conversation classes per week with Italian Erasmus students. This makes for a more authentic experience. The methodology is so effective that by the end of your first year even complete beginners should be perfectly able to survive in Italy.

Reading non-authentic materials up to Upper-Intermediate Level;

Discussing topics related to the readings both in the present and the past tenses;

Having free conversations and being able to narrate events and to describe thoughts and feelings both in the past and present tenses;

Listening to Lower- Intermediate non authentic materials (recordings of on purpose written stories);

Writing descriptive essays on the readings and also expressive some non highly sophisticated opinion about them.

The module will be delivered via 4 hour per week small group seminars and conversation classes with Italian Erasmus students. You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class. We provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. You will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and linguistic structures, and by reading, watching and/or listening to material in Italian. You will also be expected to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies

Students will develop oral, reading, aural and written skills which will allow them to survive and to be able to interact in Italy in an exclusively Italian speaking environment.

Transferable Skills:

• Communication skills
• Personal and interpersonal skills
• Information gathering skills
• Problem solving skills
• Critical thinking and reflection
• Assessment and evaluation skills

The content will cover all those points of Italian grammar and vocabulary which will allow you to describe events and to express needs, feelings and opinion in the presents and in the past tenses.

The following textbooks will be used during the course:

Grammar:

Giuseppe Vatalaro, Parlo Italiano! (Principianti). Copies can be purchased in the Italian Department.

A good Italian-English/English-Italian Dictionary, for example ‘Collins Easy Learning Italian Dictionary’.

Reading

During the year you will be asked to read the booklets listed below according to a prescheduled timetable as set in your Textbook. Please note that both reading and listening are substantial part of the language course:

De Giuli, A., e Naddeo, C.M., Dov’è Yukio?, Alma Edizioni: Firenze

De Giuli, A., Dolomiti, Alma Edizioni: Firenze

Ducci, G., Pasta per due, Alma Edizioni: Firenze

Di Bernardo, M.G., Giallo al  Grand Hotel du Lac, Cideb: Genova

Medaglia, C., Il mistero di Veronica, Cideb: Genova

De Giuli, A., e Naddeo, C.M., Maschere a Venezia, Alma Edizioni: Firenze

Listening

You will be also asked to listen to the following stories provided on Learning Centralaccording to a prescheduled timetable as set in your textbook:

Il Signor Rigoni

Radio Lina