MODERN LANGUAGE CENTRE
MODULE SYLLABUS
Title and code number:
ITALIAN Stage 5
(5AALIN05/6AALIN05/7AALIN05)
Credit/Value:
Credit Levels 5 & 6 = 15 credits
Credit Level 7 = 20 credits
Prerequisite for entry:
Italian 4, or A-level Italian with a C or
above, or B1/B2 level of the CEFR or
equivalent
Course delivery
2-hour face-to-face tuition x 20 weeks in
two semesters.
Credit Level 7: as above, plus ten onehour Applied Linguistics seminars.
Students are expected to spend approx.
5-8 hours per week in self study
depending on the credit level, including
homework, speaking practice, and
interactive exercises.
See website for semester dates,
timetable and teachers’ surgery hours:
www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE MODULE
At Credit Levels 5 and 6 this module aims to enable the students to:
 develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in a range of
social, academic and professional situations and contexts, and
adapt/manipulate familiar language for different purposes, situations and
audience.
 express themselves effectively in Italian, engaging in conversations,
providing and obtaining information and exchanging ideas with a degree of
flexibility and spontaneity.
 develop strategies for coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected
responses, such as asking for repetition or clarification, listening or looking
for key words, and using previous knowledge, context and other clues to
interpret meaning of text or discourse.
 use linguistic and analytical skills to identify patterns and clusters in Italian,
e.g. in pronunciation, spelling, collocations, word order and sentence
structure.
 consolidate grammar in the necessary areas.
 research a topic using a variety of sources and present it orally and in
writing.
 acquire linguistics skills, tools and knowledge to become independent lifelong learners by using Italian for target academic activities and personal
enrichment.
 analyze, interpret and evaluate information, concepts and ideas to
listeners/readers on a variety of topics relevant to the language.
 develop an insight into the nature of language, culture and society and a
greater degree of intercultural competence.
 work towards the acquisition of a “fifth language skill”, which will enable
students to reflect on different cultural values and behaviours to help them
develop intercultural sensitivity.
 act with limited autonomy, under direction or supervision, within defined
guidelines.
 take responsibility for the nature and quality of their learning.
In addition to those above, at Credit Level 7, students will:
 evaluate linguistic concepts and aspects of applied linguistics.
 research and analyse linguistics-related topics using a wide range of
sources and present it convincingly, using clearly structured, original text.
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE
This course is between B2 - Independent User, Vantage and C1.1 – Proficient
User, Effective Operational Proficiency level of the Common European
Framework for languages. The students will be able to demonstrate intellectual,
transferable and practical skills appropriate to a level 5 module and in particular
will demonstrate the ability to:
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use and manipulate a comprehensive factual knowledge base and range
of vocabulary and grammatical structures suitable for a variety of social,
academic and professional purposes.
understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and
when relationships are only implied and not signaled explicitly.
present clear, detailed descriptions of some complex subjects integrating
sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an
appropriate conclusion.
deal with unfamiliar language or unexpected responses using a range of
strategies, such as asking for repetition or clarification, listening or looking
for key words, and using previous knowledge, context and other clues to
interpret meaning of text or discourse.
understand the relationship between the practices/products and the
perspectives of culture being studied, as well as critically analyze and
debate issues relating to their own language and culture.
research a topic in the language analyzing, evaluating and synthesizing
key information from a range of written and spoken sources, and
appreciating distinctions of register/style be able to analyse and critically
assess complex texts with limited guidance, and infer nuances of
meaning, opinions and cultural allusions.
understand the relationship between the practices/products and the
perspectives of culture being studied, as well as critically analyze and
debate issues relating to their own language and culture.
use TEL as a mean of communication, as an aid to learning generally and
as an aid to collaborative and individual learning.
At Credit Level 6, in addition to the language learning outcomes above, students
will also:
 keep a detailed record of their language learning via an ePortfolio in L2 or
in English recording progress and reviewing strengths and weaknesses in
each skill referring among others to Tips for Learning.
 prepare a presentation reflecting on their own experiences in a foreign
context, reflecting on the intercultural dimension of the experience and
sharing it with the class; the presentation might be in L2. These tasks are
monitored but not formally assessed.
At Credit Level 7, in addition to the language learning outcomes above, students
will also:
 interact creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
 research and analyse a linguistic topic, evaluating and extracting information
for relevancy and validity from a range of complex written and spoken
sources.
 engage in evaluative, analytical thinking and complex problem solving etc.
using their own knowledge and skills.
 work autonomously, with minimal direction from the teacher.
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acquire linguistics skills, tools and knowledge to become independent lifelong learners by using Italian for target academic activities and personal
enrichment.
appreciate linguistic concepts and aspects of applied linguistics.
develop an insight into the nature of language, culture and society and a
greater degree of intercultural competence.
express ideas confidently and spontaneously in formal and informal
discussions on a range of linguistics related topics.
CLASS DELIVERY AND TEACHING METHODS
Although every class is designed taking into consideration the above objectives,
the structure of particular sessions may vary. The general approach to all Modern
Language Centre classes is communicative - the language is dealt with in social
situations and students are encouraged to participate as much as possible.
Italian will be used for communication in class and students will be asked
to participate in classroom activities and to contribute to short role-plays,
games and other language-centred activities.
TOPICS – LEXICAL CONTENT
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Customs and Traditions: inter-cultural perspectives, habits, social
conventions
Universities and Education
Introduction to Film
Introduction to Theatre and Literature
Work and Employment
Writing CVs, job applications, preparing for job interviews
Trends and Current Affairs
New Technologies
Media and Communication
Current Affairs, Politics, Economy and Society
Statistical Information
LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS - PRAGMATICS
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Discussing social, cultural, political and economic matters at an advanced
level
Taking part in complex conversations on different subjects
Communicating very detailed information
Communicating in a work environment
Expressing detailed ideas, opinions and points of view
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Understanding, interpreting and discussing subjective statements
Expressing agreement and disagreement at advanced level
Giving oral presentations on familiar professional topics
Exchanging correspondence using appropriate formal register
Reading and writing complex instructions
GRAMMAR AND USE OF LANGUAGE
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Revision and consolidation of grammar aspects introduced at level 4
Reported speech
Advanced use of subjunctive
Connectors and complex sentence structure
Subordinate clauses
Advanced use of passive structures
Idiomatic use of language
Register and style
Formal and informal text types
CREDIT LEVEL 6 Additional Tasks
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E-Portfolio in English or in the target language
Presentation exercise in class
CREDIT LEVEL 7 Additional Tasks
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Applied Linguistics lectures will be available online
One assessed essay in English (1500 words) based on the lectures
COURSE BOOK(S)
 Nuovo Magari B2, A. De Giuli, C. Guastalla, C.M. Naddeo; 2013 Alma
Edizioni.
Various materials taken from other sources (i.e. other course books,
newspapers, authentic handouts) will be supplied by the teacher during the
course.
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RECOMMENDED MATERIAL FOR SELF-STUDY
 A. Chiucchiù, G. Chiucchiù, Grammatica E Comunicazione, Guerra, 2005
 S. Nocchi, R. Tartaglione, Grammatica Avanzata Della Lingua Italiana, Alma,
2006
 A. Proudfoot, F. Cardo, Modern Italian Grammar, 2 nd Edition, Routledge, 2005
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D. Bartalesi-Graf, L’italia Dal Fascismo Ad Oggi: Percorsi Paralleli Nella
Storia, Nella Letteratura E Nel Cinema, Guerra, 2005
D. Forgacs, Italian Cultural Studies: An Introduction, Oxford University Press,
1996
D.Gilmour, The Pursuit Of Italy, Penguin, 2012 (First Published By Allen Lane
2011)
E. Lebano, F.S. Mirri, Italia Allo Specchio, Guerra, 2007
Collins Zanichelli Il Ragazzini Italian Dictionary, Collins 2010
IT resources for independent learning:
 KEATS material + MLC resources on-line
LANGUAGE RESOURCES CENTRE
In order to support independent learning and the contact with the culture of the
language(s) they are learning, students are encouraged to use the resources in
the Language Resources Centre – LRC (K-1.072, first basement), which
provides a friendly learning environment with state of the art facilities.
During the first weeks of the course, the module teacher will arrange an induction
session for the class in the LRC so that students can familiarize themselves with
the facilities. During term time the LRC will facilitate free speaking practice
sessions as well as a range of workshops on language learning. For a list of
topics and all dates and times, including the opening hours of the LRC, please go
to the website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/olc/index.aspx
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is compulsory for all language modules. If a student’s attendance
falls to unsatisfactory levels s/he may be removed from the module or prevented
from taking the assessment.
For further information on the attendance requirements of the module please see
the website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/compuls.aspx
If students miss a class because of illness or urgent personal matters, it is their
responsibility to catch up on the contents of the missed class by checking the
KEATS module and/or contacting the teacher.
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ASSESSMENT
For all details regarding deadlines and dates for assessment see the website
www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/assess/bymod/index.aspx
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment takes place during the Reading Week in Term 2. It does
not count towards the final mark, but failure to submit the work may result in the
student being withdrawn from the module or prevented from sitting the
examinations. It is strongly recommended to complete the formative assessment
as it will provide viable feedback on the student’s progress.
Test: 2 hours
0%
Feedback
All pieces of formative assessment are normally returned to students within 2
weeks, and the teacher will provide feedback in groups and/or individually. In
addition students can book themselves for individual feedback during surgery
hours. Contact details and applicable surgery hours can be found here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/people/index.aspx
Final (Summative) Assessment
Oral exam: 20-25 min
Exam period: During Revision week, immediately
before the start of Exam Period 2 (May)
40% - if UG student
30% - if PG student
Written exam: 2 hours
Exam period: Period 2
60% - if UG student
40% - if PG student
Credit Level 7h: Linguistics essay: 1500 words
Submission period: Period 2
30% - PG students
only
Dictionaries or notes are not allowed during the final examination. Past papers
are available on KEATS.
For more details on the final examinations for this module, including dates,
please see:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/assess/bymod/index.aspx
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WEEK BY WEEK SYLLABUS
Semester 1
WEEK
1st week
2nd week
LEARNING RESOURCES
CONTENT/TOPICS
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 1
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Handouts
MAGARI, Unit 1
Introduction to the
OLC
Internet resources
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GRAMMAR
Discussing course
aims/objectives, syllabus and
learning strategies
Introducing oneself
Getting to know Italy
Italian geography: regions and
main cities
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Italian cuisine
Making plans about a trip to
Italy
Speaking about contemporary
Italy and its regions
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3rd week
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Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 2
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4th week
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 2
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5th week
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Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 3
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Speaking about art
Speaking about classic and
modern art in Italy
A definition of art
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More on Italian art
Discussing different art
movements
Speaking about one’s favourite
artist
Reading about contemporary
Italian art
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Italian emigration: an overview
Italian cinema and emigration
“Nuovomondo” by Emanuele
Crialese
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6th week
7th week
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General revision
Vocabulary to
describe oneself
Use of different past
tenses (Passato
Prossimo/Imperfetto)
General revision
Vocabulary to
describe places and
cities
Revision of definite
and indefinite articles
Revision of future
tense
Revision of the
present and past
conditional
Subordinate clauses
Sentence
construction
Revision of Present
and Past Conditional
Use of different past
tenses
Sentence
construction: è uno di
quei…
Passato Remoto and
its use
Some idiomatic
expressions
The language of
cinema
READING WEEK
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Handouts
Feedback on
Reading Week Task
MAGARI, Unit 3
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Immigration in Italy
Changes in Italian society
More on Italian cinema on
emigration/immigration
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Sentence
construction
Future in the Past:
Past Conditional
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8th week
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9th week
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 4
Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 4
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10th week
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 5
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11th week
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 5
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12th week
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Italian history: the Renaissance
Florence and the blossoming of
the Renaissance.
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The Italian Renaissance:
Lorenzo il Magnifico.
The birth of banks and
economy
Other important historical
figures of the Italian
Renaissance
“Home sweet home”
Describing houses
Italian design
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Types of adjectives
Adjectives’ position
Revision of special
preposition
Talking about your home
Interior design: how to furnish a
house
The ideal house
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“Accrescitivi e
diminutivi” adjective
Revision of Informal
and Formal
Imperative
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Revision of Passato
Prossimo and
Imperfetto
Punctuation and
intonation
Revision of Passato
Remoto, Passato
Prossimo and
Imperfetto
General revision
Revision/catch-up classes or one-to-one tutorial support
as agreed with your teacher
Semester 2
WEEK
1st week
2nd week
3rd week
LEARNING RESOURCES
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 6
CONTENT/TOPICS
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Contemporary Italian art
Maurizio Cattelan
The role of art in our society
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 6
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Short history of Italian art
Italian proverbs
Expressing your own opinions
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Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 7
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Talking about somebody’s
personality
Psychology, psychiatry and
psychoanalysis
Describe oneself
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GRAMMAR
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Lexical analysis: “I
segnali discorsivi”:
Insomma, dunque
etc...
Use of adverbs
General revision
Sentence
construction: “le
frasi scisse”
Revision of Passato
Remoto
Revision of Present
Subjunctive
Sentence
construction: main
and subordinate
sentences
4th week
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Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 7
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5th week
 Online resources
Release of Compulsory
Formative Assessment
6th week
7th week
8th week
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10th week
11th week
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Revision of
subjunctive tenses
Present Subjunctive
as Formal
Imperative
Analyzing movies:
contemporary Italian cinema
How to write a short essay
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General revision
Writing activity
READING WEEK: Formative Assessment
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Handouts
Online resources
Discussing the
Formative Assessment
MAGARI, Unit 8
Italian language and society
Different registers for writing in
Italian
Summarizing texts
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 8
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Italian women and
professional life
Contemporary Italian authors:
reading extracts
Feedback on FA
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Literature: genres and
preferences
Intercultural activity
Talking about detective stories
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9th week
Modern society: psychological
problems
Graphology and handwriting
analysis
Expressing opinions about
different psychological
theories
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Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 9
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Revision of
Imperfect
Subjunctive
Hypothetical
sentences II: Se +
Imperfect
Subjunctive
The gender of
nouns referring to
professions
Revision
Hypothetical
sentences
Revision of direct
and indirect
pronouns
Indefinite clauses
Sentence
construction
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Handouts
Online resources
MAGARI, Unit 9
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Contemporary authors
Writing a short crime story
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Compound
pronouns
The language of
literature
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Handouts
Online resources
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Discussing the final exam
Mock exam
Q&A session
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General revision
The syllabus may vary according to students’ needs. Term times and teaching dates
can be found here:
(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/dates.aspx)
ASR 07/2016
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