Advanced Italian Language Skills
| Module title | Advanced Italian Language Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | MLI3111 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Luciano Parisi (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This module is for students who have successfully completed one of the second-year Italian-language modules (MLI2001 or MLI2051). You are now given the opportunity to further improve your knowledge of, and your communicative competence in, Italian through a wide range of essential activities (writing practice, translation from and into Italian, grammar reviews, conversations and presentations in Italian) and a few recommended activities designed to satisfy more individual needs. You are expected to achieve a high level of grammatical accuracy, to comfortably use idiomatic structures, and to broaden your knowledge of vocabulary across different thematic areas.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to enable you to reach a higher level of proficiency in modern Italian, written and spoken, with emphasis on a variety of styles. When appropriate, classes will be conducted in Italian.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Write various types of original documents in Italian
- 2. Tackle complex translation passages in and out of Italian
- 3. Discuss complex topical and abstract issues in an appropriate register of oral Italian, appropriately using a broad range of vocabulary and idiom
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand linguistic terminology as applied to a variety of Italian texts
- 5. Engage critically with Italian-language media, printed and electronic
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. With guidance from lecturers, take progressively, increasing responsibility for your own language learning
- 7. Improve your oral skills by presenting coherent arguments, and by expressing and defending opinions on a range of topical and abstract issues
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that :
- In one semester, you will focus on translation skills, translating into both English and Italian.
- In the other semester, you will develop their written Italian by continuing to translate into Italian and also by improving your writing skills.
- Throughout the year you will also improve your spoken Italian by engaging with a series of texts on contemporary life in class debates led by native speakers
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 234 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | Writing skills: Exploration of different genres and style of writing through individual, pair and group work. Advanced reflections on employability |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | Translation from Italian into English: Guidance in translation using a variety of texts and genres. Discussion of the difficulties that can emerge from translating into the target language |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Translation from English into Italian: Guidance in translation using a variety of texts and genres. Advanced grammar revision. Extra vocabulary development. Advanced reflections on language learning and intercultural differences |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Conversation classes: Specific tasks and topics for discussion based on stimuli from printed and audiovisual media. |
| Guided Independent Study | 234 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 practice assignments in Translation and Writing | Variable | 1-7 | Written and oral |
| 1 assignment in Oral Work | Variable | 3, 4, 6, 7 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 75 | 25 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January written examination | 25 | Exam | 1, 4, 5, 6 | Written feedback |
| May written examination (Translation and commentary) | 25 | Exam | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 | Written feedback |
| May written examination (writing skills) | 25 | Exam | 1, 4, 5, 6 | Written feedback |
| Oral examination | 25 | 15 minutes | 3, 5, 6, 7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| January written examination | Written examination | 1, 4-6 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination (Translation and Commentary) | Written examination | 1,2,4-6 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination (Writing skills) | Written examination | 1, 4, 5, 6 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination | Oral examination | 3, 5, 6, 7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Set Texts:
- Bank of newspaper articles on biodiversity available on ELE
- Banks of passages from Italian plays and scripts available on ELE
- Bank of passages on contemporary Italy available on ELE
- Selected grammar exercises available on ELE
Recommended books:
- Giacomo Devoto, Giancarlo Oli, Vocabolario della lingua italiana (Milano: Mondadori, any recent edition)
- Giuseppe Ragazzini, Italian Dictionary (Bromley: Harrap, any recent edition)
- The Oxford Italian Dictionary (University of Exeter Digital Library)
- Nicola Zingarelli, Vocabolario della linguta italiana (Bologna: Zanichelli, any recent edition)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1410
http://www.italian-verbs.com/verbi-italiani/coniugazione.php?verbo=studiare
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | MLI2001 or MLI2051 or equivalent |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/07/2013 |
| Last revision date | 12/05/2021 |
