Italian Beginner Intensive (MLT944)

• University credits: 20
• University levels: 1-4
• Pre-requisite: No previous learning experience
• Co-requisite: N/A.
• Availability: Undergraduate students undertaking a language degree with the School of Languages and Cultures
• Teaching period: Autumn and Spring semester (academic year), (see timetables & course dates)
• Contact times: Semester 1- 4 hours per week over 11 weeks, starting in Week 1 of the semester, and including both 2 hour and 1 hour seminars and a one-hour tutorial session, Semester 2- 4 hours per week over 12 weeks, starting in week 1 of the semester, and including both 2 hour and 1 hour seminars and a one-hour tutorial session.
• Group size: Maximum of 23 students per seminar group and 10-15 per tutorial group
• Language Co-ordinator:  Alessia Brighi
• Module Leader:  Alessia Brighi
• Pathway:  MLT935

This unit aims to consolidate a general foundation in the language and culture in order to cope with a range of predictable, everyday communicative situations encountered when interacting at a elementary level, orally and in writing, with native speakers during, for instance, a brief visit abroad (CEF level A2+).

By the end of the module the student will be able to…

• Perform at Level A2+ of the CEFR.
• Understand phrases and high frequency vocabulary related to areas of personal relevance (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment), and catch the main point in short, clear messages and announcements.
• Find specific, predictable information in simpler everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables, and understand short simple personal letters.
• Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities, and handle short social exchanges when prompted, describing in simple terms their family and other people, living conditions, their educational background and their present or most recent job.
• Write simple notes, messages and short personal letters or emails relating to matters in areas of immediate need, requesting or providing information as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an insight into the most common aspects of the culture and everyday life in areas where the language is spoken so as to respond appropriately when interacting with native speakers in simple situations.
• Demonstrate a practical understanding of essential grammar terminology and a basic ability to study the language by themselves, using essential tools such as online resources or a dictionary and developing techniques for the acquisition and retention of new language.
• Demonstrate awareness in a number of transferable skills such as IT skills, presenting information, handling unexpected communicative situations, taking intercultural differences and language barriers into account, learning independently, etc.

Set textbook:

• Italian 1 (3rd edition), Benetti, M. et al (Palgrave: 2016), ISBN: 978-1137579218.

This module can be validated as part of the following schemes:

• Undergraduate degree
• MLTC Confirmation of Attendance or Completion

Assessment:

• Speaking assessment: 30%
• Formal written examination (in the examination period): 40%
• Autumn Project: 15%
• Spring Project: 15%

Feedback: In addition to on-going individual and collective feedback during class-activities, learners will receive individual written feedback on the pieces of assessment above.

MLTC Timetables