UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Confirmation that this version of the module specification has been approved by the School
Learning and Teaching Committee:
……… A. Stähler, 01 JUN 2015……….(date)
MODULE SPECIFICATION
1.
Title of the module
IT506/IT574 – Learning Italian 5
2.
School or partner institution which will be responsible for management of the
module
School of European Culture and Languages (Italian)
3.
Start date of the module
August 2009 (Revised for September 2015)
4.
The number of students expected to take the module
20
5.
Modules to be withdrawn on the introduction of this proposed module and
consultation with other relevant Schools and Faculties regarding the withdrawal
None
6.
The level of the module (e.g. Level 4, Level 5, Level 6, or Level 7)
Level 6
7.
The number of credits and the ECTS value which the module represents
IT 506: 30 (15 ECTS); IT574: 30 (15 ECTS)
8.
Which term(s) the module is to be taught in (or other teaching pattern)
Autumn and Spring
9.
Prerequisite and co-requisite modules
IT508 or IT563 or equivalent
IT506 is required for students who pursue a degree in Italian. It is open to bilingual students
with secondary education in Italy, and Italian native speakers.
IT574 can only be taken by students who have been dispensed from the Year Abroad
(LA514) or who have failed the Year Abroad. Native speakers of Italian are required to take
IT506. Any bilingual students with secondary education in Italy who have been dispensed
from the Year Abroad (LA514) will be evaluated to determine whether or not the extra work
involved in IT574 is of benefit to them.
10. The programmes of study to which the module contributes
All Italian Single Honours, Joint Honours, and related programmes.
11. The intended subject specific learning outcomes
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On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
11.1 Demonstrate consolidated and extended translation skills, as developed in the
first and second years. This is done via exposure to a selection of texts covering
a range of registers and topic areas, including the journalistic and the literary;
11.2 Demonstrate consolidated and extended ability to accurately recognise and use a
range of registers in Italian, and gained enhanced sensitivity to the equivalent
English registers;
11.3 Demonstrate perfected linguistic skills by means of studying grammatical and
lexical subtleties of the Italian language;
11.4 Analysed and gained a deeper understanding of concepts (both linguistic and
cultural) and the complex relation between such concepts, in both Italian and
English;
11.5 Demonstrate the benefit of having had regular oral practice in Italian on an
extensive range of topics, including academic topics, at an advanced level.
In addition, students registered for IT574 will be able to:
11.6 Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the theoretical and practical
problems involved with translation from English into Italian and vice versa.
12. The intended generic learning outcomes
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
12.1 Demonstrate consolidated and extended ability to identify and analyse concepts,
and the relation between concepts, in both the target language and English.
12.2 Demonstrate the ability to converse in the target language on a range of topics,
including academic topics, at an advanced level.
12.3 Demonstrate enhanced skills of oral as well as written presentation and selfexpression.
12.4 Demonstrate the ability to engage in independent study and research through a
variety of methods (including the use of dictionaries and grammars)
12.5 Demonstrate advanced translation skills
In addition, students registered for IT574 will be able to:
12.6 Demonstrate advanced written compositional skills in the target language.
13. A synopsis of the curriculum
The module develops advanced proficiency in writing, speaking and comprehending Italian.
It concentrates on translation into Italian and English and the development of analytical
skills in the production of written and spoken Italian. Translation exercises confront students
with a variety of advanced texts in different styles and registers, and encourage accuracy
and critical reflection as well as acquisition and consolidation of grammatical structures.
The language skills component combines discursive writing on advanced topics with the
development of proper oral competence through discussion. Conversation classes with a
native speaker develop presentational ability, and enable students to speak fluently and
idiomatically at the advanced level.
Students engage in the following activities throughout the year:
 translation from Italian into English, using a range of registers and topics
 translation from English into Italian, using journalistic and literary texts
 study grammatical and lexical subtleties of the Italian language
 group discussion on specific topics
 preparation for oral examination in small groups
 written composition in Italian
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For students who are studying IT574:
Students of Italian who did not spend a year abroad in Italy are nevertheless expected to
achieve a near-native level of Italian by the end of their degree. Familiarity with the
language, as spoken and written at professional level – for example in journalism or
literature – is expected, together with a well-stocked vocabulary, a reasonable command of
idiom in common use and a sense of linguistic appropriateness to context.
Students engage in the following activities throughout the year:
 translation from Italian into English, using a range of registers and topics
 translation from English into Italian, using journalistic and literary texts
 study of grammatical and lexical subtleties of the Italian language
 group discussion on specific topics
 preparation for oral examination in small groups
 written composition in Italian
14. Indicative Reading List
Dizionario della lingua italiana, De Agostini
M.Baker, (1992) In other words; a coursebook on translation, (London, Routledge, P306)
G. Lepschy and L. Lepschy, (1988) The Italian Language Today, (London, Hutchinson,
PN1073)
M. Sensini, (1997) La grammatica della lingua italiana (Garzanti, Milano, PN1105)
L. Serianni, (1998) Grammatica Italiana (UTET, Torino, PN1105)
M. Zollo and A. Wesson, (2006) Italian grammar made easy (Hodder Arnold, Abingdon)
15. Learning and Teaching Methods, including the nature and number of contact hours
and the total study hours which will be expected of students, and how these relate to
achievement of the intended module learning outcomes
For students who are studying IT506:
There are three contact hours per week, one one-hour Oral Skills seminar (learning
outcomes 11.2, 11.3, 11.5; and 12.2, 12.3), one one-hour seminar on Guided
Comprehension and translation into English, and one one-hour seminar on writing essays
in Italian and translation into Italian (learning outcomes 11.1-5; and 12.1, 3-5).
Total Contact Hours: 60
Total Study hours: 300
For students who are studying IT574:
There are three contact hours per week, one one-hour Oral Skills seminar (learning
outcomes 11.2, 11.4, 11.6; and 12.2, 12.3), one one-hour seminar on Guided
Comprehension and translation into English, and one one-hour seminar on writing essays
in Italian and translation into Italian (learning outcomes 11.1-7; and 12.1, 3-6).
Additional, optional, study material is available in the Multi-Media Labs.
Total Contact Hours: 60
Total Study hours: 300
16. Assessment methods and how these relate to testing achievement of the intended
module learning outcomes
For students who are studying IT506:
30% coursework consisting of:
 4 English to Italian translations (1.875% each)
 4 Italian to English translations (1.875% each)
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 4 Guided Comprehensions (1.875% each)
 4 Essays in Italian (1.875% each)
(Learning outcomes 11.1-6; and 12.1-5)
70% exam, to be sat during the Summer term, composed of two 3-hour written papers
(30% each) and an oral exam (10%).
Paper One will consist of an Italian to English translation and a Guided Comprehension.
The use of a monolingual dictionary will be permitted.
Paper Two will consist of an English to Italian translation and an essay in Italian. The use of
a monolingual dictionary will be permitted.
The oral exam will last for approximately 30 minutes and will consist of:
 Reading aloud a short passage in Italian. The candidate will have 5-10 minutes
before the exam to prepare it.
 Free conversation in Italian which may or may not arise from the passage read.
 A 5-10 minute presentation in Italian of a topic chosen by the candidate and prepared
in advance. Brief notes can be consulted but the reading out of written material is not
permitted in this section of the exam.
(Learning outcomes 11.1-6; and 12.1-5)
For students who are studying IT574:
40% coursework consisting of:
 4 English to Italian translations (1.875% each)
 4 Italian to English translations (1.875% each)
 4 Guided Comprehensions (1.875% each)
 4 Essays in Italian (1.875% each)
 One 1500 word composition in Italian (10%)
(Learning outcomes 11.1-7; and 12.1-6)
60% exam, to be sit during the Summer term, composed of two 3-hour written papers (25%
each) and an oral exam (10%).
Paper One will consist of an Italian to English translation and a Guided Comprehension.
The use of a monolingual dictionary will be permitted.
Paper Two will consist of an English to Italian translation and an essay in Italian. The use of
a monolingual dictionary will be permitted.
The oral exam will last for approximately 30 minutes and will consist of:
 Reading aloud a short passage in Italian. The candidate will have 5-10 minutes
before the exam to prepare it.
 Free conversation in Italian which may or may not arise from the passage read.
 A 5-10 minute presentation in Italian of a topic chosen by the candidate and prepared
in advance. Brief notes can be consulted but the reading out of written material is not
permitted in this section of the exam.
(Learning outcomes 11.1-6; and 12.1-5)
(Learning outcomes 11.1-7; and 12.1-6)
17. Implications for learning resources, including staff, library, IT and space
None
18. The School recognises and has embedded the expectations of current disability
equality legislation, and supports students with a declared disability or special
educational need in its teaching. Within this module we will make reasonable
adjustments wherever necessary, including additional or substitute materials,
teaching modes or assessment methods for students who have declared and
discussed their learning support needs. Arrangements for students with declared
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disabilities will be made on an individual basis, in consultation with the University’s
disability/dyslexia support service, and specialist support will be provided where
needed.
19. Campus(es) or Centre(s) where module will be delivered:
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