Italian

Prerequisite for entry

For complete beginners or those who have had only very little contact with the language.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to function at a basic everyday survival level. Students should be able to communicate in and understand Italian on a number of practical everyday matters. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to approach some authentic material will be enhanced.

Functions

• Greetings, introducing yourself and others.
• Asking about pronunciation and spelling.
• Meeting Italian people formally and informally.
• Talking about your country/nationality and other people’s country/nationalities.
• Asking for someone’s profession.
• Talking about someone's free time
• Likes/Dislikes.
• Buying and ordering food and drinks.
• Talking about free time and leisure activities.
• Asking for the time.
• Organizing a holiday: booking a hotel, asking for information, raising a complaint.
• Giving one’s phone number

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Introducing yourself. Greetings. The alphabet.
• First contact around nationalities.
• Job and professions.
• Numbers 1-100. Days of week, month, year.
• Hobbies and free time.
• Food & drinks – bar, restaurant – money
• Hotel.

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken Italian: (/k/ versus /tʃ/ and /g/ versus /dʒ/gli

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Gender and number of Italian nouns/some adjectives.
• Personal pronouns: subject pronouns.
• Negative and interrogative structures.
• Definite and indefinite articles.
• Present tense of regular verbs.
• Present tense of some irregular verbs (essere, avere, dare, fare, andare, bere, venire, potere, uscire, volere etc).
• Some prepositions (di, a, da, in…).
• Adverbs.
• Indirect pronouns with like/dislike (mi / a me…).
• Present tense of modal verbs (potere, volere, dovere).

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 1. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 1, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to function at a basic everyday survival level. Students should be able to understand and communicate in Italian on a number of practical everyday matters. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to approach some authentic material will be enhanced.

Functions

• Describing a city: asking for and giving directions.
• Talking about events in the past.
• Shopping for food: talking about different habits and tastes.
• Talking about the daily routine.
• Describing a family tree and talking and writing about one’s family.

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Getting by in a new city
• Travelling
• Shopping for food
• Daily routine.
• The family.

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken Italian.

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Revision of the main grammatical points seen in level 1.
• Present tense of dovere, sapere and other irregular verbs.
• Compound prepositions (DI, IN, A + definite articles)
• The past: “passato prossimo”.
• Past participle of regular and some irregular verbs.
• Prarticle CI as an adverb of place (Vai a Roma oggi? No ci vado domani.)
• Impersonal “SI” as in “In Italia si beve vino a mezzogiorno”.
• Direct pronouns.
• DI as partitive article.
• Reflexive verbs.
• Possessive adjectives and pronouns.
• Relative superlative.

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 1. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 1+, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to improve students’ elementary knowledge of Italian, to expand their vocabulary range, to learn new grammar structures and to enable them to communicate more confidently in everyday situations.

Functions

• Talking about the family
• Talking about the childhood and describing habits in the past
• Giving an accurate physical description of a person and talking about his character
• Organizing/proposing/expressing wish/making supposition/giving suggestions

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• The Family
• Childhood
• Animals
• Biography
• Physical description and description of the character
• The holiday: choosing the ideal partner, solving problems

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken Italian.

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Revision the main grammatical points seen in level 1+ Presente e Passato Prossimo.
• Possessive adjectives.
• Past (passato prossimo) of reflexive verbs.
• “Imperfetto”.
• “Imperfetto” and “passato prossimo” the contrast.
• Comparative “come” and “quanto” (Carla è simpatica come/quanto Elena).
• Verb “farcela”.
• Transitive and intransitive use of “cominciare” and “finire”.
• Verb “sapere”.
• Verb “andarsene”.
• Present conditional.
• “Qualcuno” and “nessuno”.
• Mentre + “imperfetto” in conjunction with “passato prossimo”

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 2. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi.

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 2, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students with a knowledge of basic Italian to reach an intermediate level and to understand and communicate in Italian on many practical everyday matters related to various aspects of Italian culture.

Functions

• Arranging appointments (time and place).
• Talking about events in the past
• Giving advice and expressing opinions about food and restaurants
• Talking about health: giving advice and describing symptoms

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Appointments
• Travelling
• Italian food
• Health and fitness

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken Italian.

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Revision of the main grammatical points seen in level 2 (part 1)
• “stare + gerundio” the –ing form.
• Direct pronouns with the “passato prossimo”.
• Position of pronouns with the Infinitive tense: “devi comprarlo/ lo devi comprare”
• Relative pronouns “che” and “chi” (“cui”)
• Revision of conditional
• Revision of contrast “imperfetto” and “Passato prossimo”
• Imperative – formal and informal with pronouns
• Imperative – negative form
• Verb “servire”
• Comparative and superlative of “buono” and “bene”

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 2. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi.

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 2+, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to:

• Develop the four skills (speaking, understanding, reading and writing) to an intermediate level;
• Communicate in Italian in most common situations. Cultural awareness will be developed;
• Develop of accuracy in grammar structures and communication.

Functions

• Talking about jobs/careers
• Writing your CV
• Writing a formal letter
• Working environment: men/women
• Looking for accommodation
• Express opinions: penso che+ congiuntivo…
• Express agreement/disagreement

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Jobs/careers/CVs/Job’s interview/Letters
• Italians at work / Italians abroad
• House and accommodation
• Meeting people

Phonetics

Basic rules of the pronunciation of spoken Italian.

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Revision: contrasted use of past tenses (passato prossimo e imperfetto)
• Future tense
• Pronoun NE and revision of direct and indirect pronouns
• Verb BISOGNA + INFINITIVE TENSE
• If clauses (IF + Present Tense/future tense): “se piove non andremo in vacanza”
• Present subjunctive used after verbs and phrases which express opinion and feelings: “credo che tu abbia ragione”; “Mi dispiace che Maria non possa venire alla festa”
• Revision of Gerund
• Comparative “più…che”
• Stare per + INFINITIVE TENSE

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 2. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi.

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 3, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to:

• Develop of accuracy in grammar structures and communication.
• Acquire a better fluency to be able to follow discussion and debates on current issues;
• Discuss personal, social and current issues using appropriate structures and range of vocabulary

Functions

• Express opinions, worries, agreements/disagreements, doubts
• Asking for permissions
• Dos and don’ts in public places
• Asking for help
• Describing an object
• Complaints

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Italian language/words versus English ones
• The city & Italian regions
• Shapes and materials
• Buying items
• Adverts

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Revision of present subjunctive
• Revision: direct and indirect pronouns
• Combined pronouns (glielo, gliene…)
• Relative pronouns: che, cui. Il quale, la quale
• Trapassato prossimo: “Ero appena uscita quando è iniziato a piovere”
• The past conditional
• Recognize the “Passato Remoto”
• Possessive Pronouns: “è tua questa macchina? No è sua.”
• Introduction of past subjunctive
• La particella CI
• Futuro anteriore “ti chiamerò quando sarò arrivato”

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 3. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi.

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 3+, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students to:

• Acquire a better fluency
• Express correctly and develop a level of sophistication in grammar structure and vocabulary
• To communicate in all situations using more accurate structures
• Discuss personal, social and current issues using appropriate structures and range of vocabulary.

Functions

• Language of media: leaving messages, writing texts and emails
• Telephone calls and Skype conversations
• Talking about books
• Reading and writing reviews
• Expressing opinions
• Hypothesis

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Means of communication (emails, mobiles, FB, twitter)
• Italian literature
• Changes in the Italian family
• Celebrations and traditional festivities

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Subjunctive imperfect and different uses
• Introduction to indirect speech
• Passive form
• Comparative and superlative of BUONO, CATTIVO, GRANDE and PICCOLO
• If clauses (IF + Subjunctive Imperfect Tense/conditional): “se dormissi di più saresti meno stressato”
• Past conditional

Learning resources

Course book

• Nuovo Espresso Plus 3. Corso di Italiano. Libro per la classe e esercizi

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4, a high A-level grade, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this course is to strengthen students’ communication skills. Students will be able to communicate with high degree of accuracy and expand vocabulary mainly used in social context.  

Functions

• State opinions and expressing  feelings
• making comparisons
• convince and dissuade people
• offering help

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

• Environment
• Saving the planet
• Describing people - habits and personalities
• Discovering Italy
• Describing places

Phoenetics

• Recognising/understanding various register/accents
• Recognising/understanding/ reproducing any kind of discourse

Grammar and linguistic structures

• Congiuntivo trapassato.
• If clauses (IF+ Congiuntivo trapassato/Condizionale passato).
• Gerundio passato.
• DOPO + infinito passato.
• Altri usi del congiuntivo.
• Discorso indiretto.
• Forma passiva

Learning resources

Course book

• Course Book: Nuovo Espresso 3. Libro dello studente ed esercizi. Chapters 8-10. ISBN 9788861823396

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 4+, a high A-level grade, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students who already posses a sound knowledge of the language to gain more fluency and confidence. In addition, the course will focus on developing a deeper understanding of Italian culture and society using authentic material (i.e. TV news, newspapers, films).

Functions

Discussing future events and making assumptions, models of speculations, giving advice, expressing probability.

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

The content of this course will be based around a reflection on the nature of contemporary society and current affairs. Since the students in this course are expected to be nearly fluent in Italian and in order to encourage active and meaningful communication, some topics will be agreed between students and tutor at the beginning of the course.

Phoenetics

• Recognising/understanding various register/accents
• Recognising/understanding/ reproducing any kind of discourse

Grammar and linguistic structures

The course aims at consolidating most complex grammatical structures focusing  particularly on the following:

• future and conditional
• past tenses
• subjunctive
• pronouns ( relative, direct, indirect )

Learning resources

• Authentic material from various sources

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Level 5, a high A-level grade, or equivalent experience.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this course is to consolidate students’ advanced level of proficiency.  Grammar issues will also be revised mainly through authentic texts.

Functions

In this course students will have the chance to practice and reinforce the following:

• Expressing opinions
• giving advise
• talking about (im)possibility and (im)probability
• pass on information given by others.

Course content

Main topics/themes to be covered

The content of this course will be based around a reflection on the nature of contemporary society and current affairs. Since the students in this course are expected to be fluent (or nearly fluent) in Italian and in order to encourage active and meaningful communication, the topics will be agreed between students and tutor at the beginning of the course.

Phoenetics

• Recognising/understanding various register/accents
• Recognising/understanding/ reproducing any kind of discourse

Grammar and linguistic structures

The course aims at consolidating most complex grammatical structures focusing particularly on the following:

• past tenses
• subjunctive
• combined pronouns
• passive form
• indirect speech

Learning resources

• Authentic material from various sources

Dictionaries

• Bilingual Italian/English Dictionary (Collins)

Grammar references

• New Italian grammar in practice. Ean: 9788861824287
• Nuova grammatica pratica della lingua italiana. Ean: 9788861822474

Please note that the syllabus might vary according to class progress and availability of materials.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor for further information.

In addition, there is a range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre (SAC).