Sussex Centre for Language Studies
Open courses in modern languages
Italian Language and Culture – Stage 4/5 (Advanced)
20 weekly meetings, 1.5 hours each
This course is designed for confident and experienced learners who have completed
at least four years of part-time study before joining the class or have an AS or A
level qualification. The language element will include speaking, listening, reading
and writing skills developed through the study of authentic materials. Particular
emphasis will be placed on oral communication. Practical advice on grammar will be
integrated as appropriate. The cultural part of the course will explore the literature,
current affairs, art, history, geography and institutions of the country. The personal
interests of students will be given space in an oral presentation by the students on a
subject of their choice to do with Italy.
The course aims to encourage you to work out your own strategy for learning and,
within the framework of the syllabus, develop language structures and functions for
your own perceived needs and interests. The syllabus develops structures and
topics taught on the Upper Intermediate course and adds the following:
Topic areas:
personal interests • tastes • the media (press) • socializing /
relationships • travel and language • regions • work • current
affairs • social problems • introduction to politics…
Grammar
functions &
skills:
Consolidation of complex sentence structures, more literary
tenses • passives • subjunctive forms • simple indirect discourse•
idea of register • expressing opinions and views • describing
feelings and reactions • simple note-taking • skimming/scanning
techniques • letter/ email writing • etc.
There will be a strong cultural element in this course which may include the
literature, song, art, history, geography and institutions of the country.
A broadening of vocabulary and the study of a wide variety of topic areas and
literature will allow you to be able to debate and present at a high level of
competence.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to express yourself well in a variety of
situations and in an appropriate register. You will be able to react to criticism,
humour, and different opinions. The depth of linguistic knowledge will enable you to
debate, discuss and write competently on a wide variety of topics. Through the study
of literary and topical texts you will be at ease with the culture and society of the
country. You will be able to direct your own language learning both within the group
and independently.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Authentic audio-visual and written stimuli will be used to give you the opportunity to
progress your competence in all four skills and to perfect your knowledge of the
grammatical constructions. The course is more student centred with debate,
discussion and presentation led by the learners themselves. There is an opportunity
here to study both literary and socio-political texts. Written work set could involve
analysis and personal opinion.
Built into the course will be a number of assignments to allow you and your tutor to
gauge progress made. These assignments naturally form part of the course and will
usually be multi-skilled, involving some reading, writing, speaking and listening. It
will be important to complete a learning/study plan and take an active part in the
classes by completing the assignments set. You will be given an opportunity to
pursue your own personal research into a topic of cultural interest which contains
some analysis or debate.
Certificate of Completion
At the end of the course you will receive an individual Record of Learning, on
request, giving details of the course and your achievement of the aims and
objectives. If the tutor considers that you have gained as much as possible from the
course, have achieved the learning outcomes and have participated in the assessed
activities, a Certificate of Completion of the course will subsequently be issued, on
request.
Bibliography
Course books, reference books and materials to be recommended by tutor.