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PL21024: Introduction to Italian: language in context

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 24 [equivalent to 48 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 480
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CW 20%, ES 20%, EX 40%, OR 20%
Assessment Detail:
  • Grammar Test (CW 10%)
  • Written Test (CW 10%)
  • Essay (ES 20%)
  • Oral Exam (OR 20%)
  • Exam (EX 40%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Students who complete the unit successfully will:
* Have understood all the main grammatical structures of Italian;
* Have broadened their vocabulary in a number of specific areas;
* Be able to translate intermediate-level texts and produce written Italian to an intermediate standard with the aid of a dictionary;
* Be able to understand the gist of a TV news item or documentary;
* Be able to make a presentation and hold a conversation on practical themes.

Aims: To give students practice in expressing themselves in writing with a specific focus on the workplace;
To deepen knowledge of Italian grammar, expand lexis and develop translation skills in several registers;
To improve aural comprehension and to develop fluency in spoken Italian to prepare students for study or work abroad;
To further enhance students' understanding of the historical and political culture of Italy.

Skills:
* Precision and creativity in the use of written and spoken language;
* Effective communication in the target language;
* Independent learning strategies;
* Adaptation to life in the target countries (preparation for year abroad);
* Employability and transferable skills.

Content: This course follows on from Introduction to Italian. Students will study all four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) but the focus in this year will be on studying the language in context. This will enable students to gain employability and transferable skills, such as learning the language they will need for adaptation to life on the year abroad. A range of contemporary materials will be used in class allowing students to engage with different cultural and political practices in these countries.

Programme availability:

PL21024 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB47 : BA(Hons) International Politics and Modern Languages (ab initio Italian) with Year Abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AYB34 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (French and ab initio Italian) with Year Abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AYB38 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (German and ab initio Italian) with Year Abroad (Year 2)
  • UHPL-AYB41 : BA(Hons) Modern Languages (Spanish and ab initio Italian) with Year Abroad (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.