Skip to main content

Module

SML2014 : An Introduction to Italian language and culture

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Ms Barbara Guidarelli
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

At the end of the year, students will have acquired basic oral and written communication skills in Italian, consistent with the European Framework of Reference level A2. Furthermore, they will have been acquainted with a range of topics forming a cultural background to the language instruction. These may vary but may include aspects of Italian politics, history, literature, and translation theory.

Outline Of Syllabus

Grammatical structures and lexical material will be introduced and practised in common types of situations of communication. Grammatical categories acquired will include: article, full noun, personal and possessive pronoun, prepositions, present tense and compound past with regular as well as with some irregular verbs, imperfect.

One in four one-hour classes will be a cultural context class, covering aspects like politics, history, literature and cinema.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion301:0030:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching81:008:00Online synchronous
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities361:0036:00Structured online activities. 12 hrs to replace lectures.
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities181:0018:00Structured activities
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching91:009:00Present in person and/or online synchronous
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study981:0098:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00Online synchronous
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Practical language skills and knowledge can best be acquired in an interactive classroom setting. The cultural context classes have the format of a lecture, although will be interactive also. The target language will be used as much as possible in both lectures and seminars.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination902A50Present in Person or take-home paper
Aural Examination402M20Present in Person or take-home paper
Oral Examination102M20Present in Person or online
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Portfolio1M10Portfolio of homework items. Writing task.
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise2MWeekly homework throughout the full year.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

- The written exam includes a variety of reading and writing tasks. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled.

Reading Lists

Timetable