ITAL20080 Italian Language II b

Academic Year 2022/2023

This is the fourth in a series of modules leading to proficiency in Italian at university level, consolidating European Framework Level B1. It is aimed at students who have successfully completed the second-year module ITAL20010 and are approaching the level B1 of the CEFR. Students who achieve at least a B grade in this module will be deemed to have reached CEFR level B1, approaching level B2 in some skills. Its main objectives is to provide students with the necessary knowledge to 1) develop in-depth comprehension of a range of Italian materials, in written and oral format; 2) communicate opinions on a range of topics, accurately and effectively, in written texts and oral conversation; 3) demonstrate the required proficiency in translation. The course consists of 3 weekly classes: 2 grammar and language skills classes, and 1 translation class. These classes focus on grammatical structures, oral skills, comprehension of written texts, and translation from Italian into English.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Produce grammatically accurate written texts on various topics, demonstrating their ability to express opinions in clear Italian;
2. communicate clearly and effectively in spoken Italian on topics of personal interest and other topics studied during the programme;
3. deliver a short, well-structured oral presentation on a prepared topic in Italian;
4. comprehend, explain, summarise and translate passages of Italian prose at the required level;
5. demonstrate the required mastery of increasingly complex grammatical rules through reflection on the grammatical structure of texts and their subsequent translation.

Indicative Module Content:

The activities of this module will broadly follow the content of 'Al Dente 3' (Casa delle Lingue Edizioni) and five interconnected main topics:

• Food culture, kitchen tools, expressing preferences
• Study and work, talking about skills, desires and future perspectives
• Italian history, Italian classics, describing the life of a historical figure, narrating a past event
• Books, films, talking about cultural products

Grammar topics:
Unit 5: Il gerundio modale e temporale • Gli indicatori temporali • Occorrere e volerci • Per + infinito • Alcuni usi di 'ci' • Alcuni usi della forma riflessiva • Il connettivo 'perché' • Da + infinito
Unit 6: Il congiuntivo imperfetto • Il periodo ipotetico della 
possibilità • Esprimere desideri (condizionale+ infinito o congiuntivo) • Esprimere obbligo e necessità (bisogna che, è necessario che…)
Unit 7: Il passato remoto • Gli indicatori temporali • Il condizionale composto • Il discorso indiretto • 'Prima di' / 'prima che'
Unit 8: La forma impersonale dei verbi pronominali • La costruzione passiva con 'essere', 'venire' e 'andare' • La preposizione 'da' (complemento d’agente, DA+ infinito, DA + nome) • L’aggettivo 'proprio'
Unit 9: Il condizionale composto (desiderio irrealizzato) • I pronomi relativi 'il quale', 'la quale', 'i quali', 'le quali' • I nomi e gli aggettivi alterati • 'Secondo me', 'a mio avviso...' • Le frasi consecutive

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

24
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

26
Total

112
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Tuition takes place in groups. Each week of tuition has three classes.
Students are expected to attend and participate actively to all classes.
The grammar points learned will feature in translation and composition exercises and assignments.
The topics provide a broad coherence to the vocabulary introduced in the various stages of the module, and they will feed in to exercises and assignments 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

This is part 2 of an intermediate language course. It presupposes that students have passed ITAL 10030 (Italian Language Ib) or equivalent, and completed ITAL 20010 (Italian Language IIa) or equivalent. They should not take this module if they do not have the required standard. If in doubt they should contact the module coordinator.

Learning Exclusions:

This is part 2 of an intermediate language course. It presupposes that students have passed ITAL 10030 (Italian Language Ib) or equivalent, and completed ITAL 20010 (Italian Language IIa) or equivalent. They should not take this module if they do not have the required standard. If in doubt they should contact the module coordinator.

Learning Recommendations:

This is part 2 of an intermediate language course. It presupposes that students have passed ITAL 10030 (Italian Language Ib) or equivalent, and completed ITAL 20010 (Italian Language IIa) or equivalent. They should not take this module if they do not have the required standard. If in doubt they should contact the module coordinator.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
ITAL10030 - Italian Language I b, ITAL10100 - Italian Language I NonBeginner

Co-requisite:
ITAL20010 - Italian Language II a

Incompatibles:
LANG10010 - Italian Gen Purp 1, LANG10070 - Italian Gen Purp 2, LANG20180 - Italian Gen Purp 3


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Oral Examination: Individual interview in Italian (week 13) Unspecified n/a Graded No

20
Examination: Two-hour written paper 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

50
Class Test: 2 tests during class time Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Continuous assessment is scheduled throughout the course. Students will be asked to complete 2 Class tests which will be individually graded and group feedback will be given to students the week after each test has been completed. Student sit an oral exam in week 13 and a final two-hour exam in May.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Paolo Acquaviva Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sarah Culhane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Bianca Rita Cataldi Tutor
Ms Mina Ricci Tutor