3rd Year - Aims & Objectives

Aims & Objectives | Practical Details | Requirements | Study in Italy | Work in Italy

Aims and Objectives

The Department considers the Year Abroad to be a fundamental part of the degree scheme in Italian. It is designed to enable students to use, reinforce and expand the language structures learnt in the first two years of the degree scheme; to develop their knowledge of Italian culture and society through first-hand experience; to develop a range of transferable skills.

The year abroad provides students with opportunities for contact with native speakers of Italian on a daily basis. In addition to using Italian in everyday circumstances and improving the fluency and accuracy of their spoken language, students have the opportunity to encounter different registers of Italian in academic, social and workplace environments. Students on Socrates placements develop their receptive language skills through following courses in Italian, taking notes and in doing the required coursework and exams. Students on work placements also have the opportunity to develop their understanding of spoken Italian and to develop a range of translating and mediating skills. In working on their year abroad essay (see below) students develop further their writing skills in Italian.

The experience of studying or working in Italy provides students with an excellent opportunity to develop their knowledge of contemporary Italian life and culture. Students on Socrates placements will have the opportunity of studying courses on Italian politics, history and literature while students who choose a work placement will have a direct experience of Italian working environments. Through the reading of newspapers and magazines, through watching documentaries and news programmes and through exchanging ideas with Italians either at university or at the workplace, all students should further their understanding of the social, cultural and political reality of Italy. The year abroad essay is designed to enable students to pursue research that will lead to a wider understanding of an aspect of contemporary Italian culture or society and bring them into contact with people affected by a particular issue.

In addition to expanding their knowledge and understanding both of the Italian language and of contemporary Italian culture and society the year abroad should enable students to develop a range of transferable skills. All students will have to cope with new and sometimes challenging situations in a foreign country and in the course of their time in Italy they will develop experience in working to deadlines, working in a team with Italians, adapting to different working/ educational methods.

Language learning in Italy:

During your period of residence in Italy you are encouraged to keep a written record of your language learning. A record or logbook could include details of your reading of Italian books, newspapers and magazines, of the Italian films that you have seen, the television programmes that you watch on a regular basis and the Internet sites that you consult. The exercise would ensure that you are a self-aware, independent language learner.

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