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Intermediate Italian Language and Culture (2025/2026: Semester 2 – Summer)

Cursusdoel

By the end of the course, students can:

Demonstrate competence in the use of the aspects of Italian grammar and vocabulary covered in the course. The Exit level is Intermediate High, IH on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
COMMUNICATE using a variety of Italian expressions and idioms with a growing degree of complexity on a variety of concrete and abstract topics, e.g., university programs, pastimes, jobs, everyday life in Italy, food, entertainment, family life, the arts, history etc.
READ AND UNDERSTAND the main idea and some of the supporting details of both edited and non-edited material (including short narratives, simple poems, advertisements, tourist brochures, and travel information), if highly contextualized.
WRITE sentences, paragraphs, and short compositions on familiar topics, take messages, and write letters that relate to personal interests and practical needs.
Demonstrate deeper understanding of contemporary Italian society and culture, also in the light of historical developments.
Research, critically discuss and present, both individually and in collaboration with others, written, oral and visual materials and sources on cultural topics in both English and Italian.

Relationship between tests and course goals
In this course, the final course grade is based on seven elements: three written exams, a presentation, an individual cultural project (portfolio), a group cultural project (documentary) and an oral assessment.

Language test 1 (15%): this tests your competence in the use of the grammar, syntax and vocabulary discussed in the first part of the semester, that is, units 8,9, 10 and 11 of the coursebook and the linked topics in the grammar book. The test could include completion exercises, translation exercises, and reading and writing assignments (course goals 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Language test 2 (20%): this tests your competence in the use of the grammar, syntax and vocabulary discussed in the second part of the semester, that is, units 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the coursebook and the linked topics in the grammar book. The test could include completion exercises, translation exercises, and reading and writing assignments (course goals 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Language activities (25%): this tests your proficiency in reading, speaking and writing in Italian about topics related to the main thematic areas of the course (course goals 1, 2, 3, 4 5 and 6).
Cultural activities (25%): this tests your ability to collectively and individually research, read, understand, and critically present (in Italian) a specific topic or theme from the topics discussed in class. It also shows your engagement with the cultural topics discussed in class, and how you link those topics with your own knowledge and experiences (course goals 1, 2, 3, 4 5 and 6).
Oral assessment (15%): this tests your ability to put in practice the grammar, syntax and vocabulary that you learned so that you can communicate on a variety of concrete and abstract topics, e.g., university programs, pastimes, jobs, everyday life in Italy, food, entertainment, family life, the arts, history, etc. (course goals 1 and 2).

Vakinhoudelijk

New course code and title from Fall 2025 onward
The level and content of this course remain largely the same as the previous version UCHUMITA11 Italian Language and Culture I.
There are beginner/introduction level entry requirements for this course: UCHUMITA10 taken in 2024-2025 or UCHUMITA11 taken in 2025-2026.
If you want to proceed to a higher level, consider the UU program 'Italiaanse Taal en Cultuur'.

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This course focuses on the language, but also on the history, geography, artistic works, traditions, and current events of Italian society. classroom language is Italian.
Language
The language part of the course helps students to improve and develop skills and strategies necessary to successfully handle most uncomplicated oral and written tasks and social situations students may be confronted within daily life (as a tourist or visitor) in Italy.
Culture
The main purpose of the culture & society classes is to provide a basic understanding of present-day Italian society & culture and understand the inside perspective, in other words the Italian way of approaching and discussing cultural and society issues.
NOTE: the teacher is looking into the possibility of organizing a study trip of 3 or 4 days to Florence in week 3. This will be communicated to pre-registered students asap.

Tasks in various forms related to language and cultural topics will be performed individually and in groups. Language learning constitutes 75% of the course assignments, whereas culture assignments constitute 25% of the final grade.

The students’ linguistic performance will be assessed by the following tasks:

a midterm exam and a final exam, both covering the vocabulary and grammar studied during the course, as well as
an oral test in which the student must hold a conversation with the course instructor about topic of the most immediate relevance
a portfolio with different writing and oral activities related to the main thematic areas of the course, as well as reflections on short stories, poems or essays.

The students’ cultural knowledge will be assessed by:

a cultural (group) project in which the students in groups will in which the students will make a documentary on a cultural topic related to the main thematic areas of the course

Format
Contact hours focus on language practice in line with the textbook chapters. Students will mainly work in pairs and small groups. The main activity is the use of Italian in a variety of oral and written communication tasks. The instructor provides input, instruction and explanations, while students are expected to actively participate during the lessons as well as in group tasks.

All participants must complete obligatory self-study assignments before class. Self-study is an important part of the course and are expected to come to class with their own questions and analyze their own learning problems and learning needs.
The course uses Brigthspace and BlinkLearning (the online learning platform of the course books) to supplement, support, and manage aspects of learning and teaching.

Werkvormen

UCU language course

Toetsing

Cultural activities

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

Language activities

Verplicht | Weging 25% | ECTS 1,88

midterm FEEDBACK

Niet verplicht

Language test 1

Verplicht | Weging 15% | ECTS 1,13

Language test 2

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

Oral assessment

Verplicht | Weging 15% | ECTS 1,13

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er moet voldaan zijn aan minimaal één van de cursussen:

Voorkennis

If you do not satisfy the above requirement you need to apply for course admittance through Osiris Case.

Voorkennis kan worden opgedaan met

If you have previously learned this language another way, you may be able to enroll in this higher level. Speaking and writing entrance level: Intermediate Low, IL., as defined in the ACTFL Guidelines. Read more about language level assessment: https://students.uu.nl/en/university-college-utrecht/language-level-assessment.

Voertalen

Engels
Italiaans

Competenties

Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
Luisteren
Presenteren
Samenwerken
Talen

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

BOEK

Silvia Consonno & Elena Rossin: Piazza Italia 1: agili percorsi per rivisitare la lingua e la civiltà d’Italia. Alma Edizioni, e-book only. You can buy the license for the e-book (€ 19,81) here: https://shop.blinklearning.com/en/plan_escolar21-13564/44749-PiazzaItalia1.html You will have access to the book for 14 months from the digital license activation date on the platform www.blinklearning.com.

Aanbevolen materiaal

BOEK

Grammar book: you are advised to buy the e-book version of this grammar book: Italian Grammar in Practice (again by Alma Edizioni). You can buy the license here: https://shop.blinklearning.com/en/plan_escolar21-13564/55551-ItalianGrammarinpractice.html
DIVERSE

Other materials will be distributed in class or posted on Brightspace by your teacher

Opmerkingen

Counts as L&C requirement. Recoded from ITA11 to ITA21

Coördinator

dr. T. Bruni

T.Bruni@uu.nl

Docenten