Italian BA

Program Overview

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The Italian BA program at the University of Leeds provides a comprehensive immersion in the Italian language and culture for both beginners and advanced learners. Through four years of study, students develop a strong command of Italian and gain a deep understanding of its culture, society, and history. With a mandatory year abroad in Italy, this program prepares graduates for a wide range of career paths, including business, journalism, and cultural institutions.

Program Outline

The program welcomes both beginners and advanced learners, offering a tailored learning experience for all levels.

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Objectives:

• Develop a strong command of the Italian language, encompassing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
• Gain a deep understanding of Italian culture and society, encompassing its history, art, literature, cinema, and contemporary trends.
• Explore the diverse regional, social, gender, and ethnic identities within Italy.
• Develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills.
• Enhance intercultural competence and adaptability.
• Prepare for a range of career paths in various fields, including business, finance, marketing, journalism, and cultural institutions.

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Outline:

The program is structured into four years of full-time study, with a mandatory year abroad in Italy during the third year. There are two pathways within the program: one for beginners and one for advanced learners.

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Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Intermediate Italian (B1 of the CEFR)
(for advanced students) - Consolidates intermediate Italian skills, exploring complex structures and vocabulary.
• Beginners Italian (A1 of the CEFR) (for beginners) - Rapidly develops basic Italian language skills to A1 level.
• Lower Intermediate Italian (A2+ of the CEFR) (for beginners) - Builds upon A1 level, reaching A2+ level in Italian.
• Optional Modules:
• Art and Literature in Medieval and Renaissance Italy: An Introduction
- Explores key works of art and literature from the 1300-1600 period.
• Italy from Fascism to the Present - Offers a historical survey of Italy from unification to the present day, focusing on the post-fascist era.
• Introduction to Audio-Visual Culture - Examines various forms of audio-visual culture and their production and consumption across different contexts.
• Language: Structure and Sound - Introduces students to the scientific study of language structure and speech sounds.
• World Histories - Explores diverse perspectives on history from around the world.
• Discourse, Culture and Identity - Examines concepts like culture, nation, identity, and globalization in different cultural contexts.
• Politics, Culture and Society - Analyzes key debates in international politics and their relation to cultural and intercultural perspectives.
• Worlds of Literature - Explores diverse literary cultures and their interactions.
• Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application - Develops intercultural competence through the lens of languages and cultures in business and beyond.

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Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Italian Language A
(for advanced students) - Consolidates and improves grammatical structures and vocabulary in Italian.
• Italian Language B (for post-beginners) - Develops accurate and basic language skills in Italian.
• Optional Modules:
• Linguistic Variety in Modern Italy - Explores the varieties of language used in Italy today, including dialects, regional variations, and specialized language use.
• Screening Italy: Neorealist cinema to Netflix - Examines the representation of Italy on screen, exploring Italian films and TV series across different historical and social contexts.
• Modern Italian Identities Across Cultures - Explores the evolution and representation of modern Italian identities across media and cultures.
• Linguists into Schools - Provides opportunities to work with language learners in primary and secondary schools.
• Black Europe - Examines the presence of Black populations in Europe throughout history and their representation in society.

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Year 3:

• Compulsory Module:
• Italian Residence Abroad
- A year-long immersion in Italy, offering a choice between:
• British Council assistantship
• Study at a partner institution
• Work placement in Italy

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Year 4:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Final Year Project: Students choose one of three options:
• Dissertation
- A research-based dissertation on a topic of choice.
• Extended Translation - A translation project combined with a research essay.
• Digital Documentary (Podcast) - Production of a research-based podcast on a chosen topic.
• ‘Femminismi’.
• Theories and practices of gender in the Italian context - Introduces students to Italian feminist thinking and practices.
• Material Cultures and Cultures of Consumption - Examines material cultures and their interactions with people across the globe.
• Adventures of the Imagination: Crime and the Fantastic Across Continents - Explores crime fiction and the fantastic in literature and film.
• Decolonial Approaches - Investigates decolonial approaches to research and their application to academic studies.
• Social Movements across Cultures - Examines the emergence, shape, and impact of social movements across different cultures.
• Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present - Investigates attitudes towards minoritised languages and dialects.
• Contemporary World Literature - Analyzes contemporary international works of literature in English translation.

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Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, reflecting the diverse resources used in teaching. Assessment components include:

• Language portfolios
• Essays
• Group projects
• Business reports
• Oral presentations
• Sequence analysis
• Podcasts

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Teaching:

The program employs a range of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Workshops
Teaching is primarily delivered in small-group seminars, allowing students to build strong relationships with their tutors and receive personalized support. The program also incorporates innovative digital technologies to enhance interactive learning.

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Careers:

Graduates of the Italian BA program are well-prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

• Business and finance
• Marketing
• Management
• Publishing
• Journalism
• Tourism
• Law
• Cultural institutions
• Curatorship
• Civil service
• Education
• Translation
• Interpreting
The program provides career support through:
• Employability skills workshops
• Talks and presentations
• Networking opportunities
• Alumni career insights
• Graduate recruiter events

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Other:

• The program offers access to the University of Leeds' Language Zone, providing free learning resources, including language learning software, video, audio, books, and magazines.
• Students have access to translation computer labs equipped with specialist software and interpreter training booths.
• The program emphasizes the importance of independent study and provides support through library training programs.
• The program is taught by expert academics, industry professionals, and trained postgraduate researchers.