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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : Italian
The study of Italian opens doors to one of the richest cultures in Europe - think only of the Renaissance which produced amazing works of literature, music, visual arts and architecture. Italy has made (and is still making) a singular and profound contribution to our culture. But Italian is also very much a language of the present and future. Italy is now one of the leading industrial powers in the world.
Italian is the native language of some 60 million people, most of whom live in the territory of the Italian Republic. There are also large Italian-speaking communities outside Italy (e.g. in Switzerland, Argentina and Australia) where it is estimated that over 400,000 people regularly use the Italian language or one of its dialects.
Through its links with Spanish, French and the other Romance languages and dialects, Italian can also be a gateway to further enriching linguistic and literary experiences.
The study of a language and its culture at University is a serious discipline and an important factor in intellectual development. The study of Italian at the University involves the acquisition of practical language skills as well as an understanding of Italian culture.
The training acquired in learning a language and the practical competence involved in using it effectively provide skills that are of great value in a variety of occupations and appreciated by many employers. Such skills are increasingly considered essential in a number of professions; for example, in international trade, law, diplomacy, journalism, social and medical services, and many others.
Former students have followed successful and rewarding careers as interpreters, journalists, librarians and teachers. Many have found employment in public relations, the media, the airline industry, travel and tourism, and in business. Italy is now one of the major industrialised nations, and a knowledge of Italian is a valuable asset for those embarking on a business career.
The Italian Section offers subjects for those who have studied Italian at VCE level or equivalent (Italian Part 1), and for beginners with little or no previous knowledge of the language (Italian Part 1A).
The language stream or level in which a student enrols will be determined by the Italian Section. Placement will be based on the student's VCE results, other language study record, or a placement test.
VCE students should have achieved at least a pass grade in Italian; any student in doubt about the standard expected should consult the Italian Section before enrolling.
Students who have not formally studied VCE Italian, but believe they have achieved a competence equivalent to those who have, must receive written permission from the Italian Part 1 coordinator before enrolling. All enrolments will remain provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered in the light of new evidence which may emerge during the first weeks of teaching. As far as possible, changes will be notified in the first two weeks of semester. Changes in weeks 3 and 4 must be reported to the Associate Dean (Arts).
Note:
(i) Beginners Italian is also offered at second and third-year levels: students should enrol in 116-280 /380 Introduction to Italian Part 1A (Sem.1) and 116-286 /386 Italian Part 1A (Sem.2).
Post-beginners Italian is also offered at third-year level: students should enrol in 116-375 Italian Part 2A: Unit 1 (Sem.1) and 116-376 Italian Part 2A: Unit 2 (Sem.2).
(ii) Post-VCE Italian is also offered at second and third-year levels: students should enrol in 116-283/383 and 116-284/384.
(iii) Any student who has ever presented for Year 12 Italian or the equivalent is ineligible to enrol in 116-180 /280/380 Introduction to Italian Part 1A. These students should enrol in 116-183 /283/383 Italian Part 1: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 1 (Sem.1) and 116-184 /284/384: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 2 (Sem.2).
The Italian Section strongly encourages students to join the Honours School, subject to minimum entry requirements. Students who wish to undertake fourth-year Honours must pass 116-318 To Hell with Dante at third-year level or, in exceptional circumstances, take 116-418 To Hell with Dante as a fourth-year subject.
116-180 Introduction to Italian Part 1A 18.75 1st year, 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-186 Italian Part 1A 18.75 1st year, 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-275 Italian Part 2A: Unit 1 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-276 Italian Part 2A: Unit 2 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-372 Italian Part 3A Language 1 (Compulsory) 16.7 3rd year plus at least two other 3rd year 16.7-point subjects.
116-183 Italian Part 1: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 1 18.75 1st year, 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-184 Italian Part 1: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 2 18.75 1st year, 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-295 Italian Part2: Advanced Italian Language and Culture 1 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-296 Italian Part 2: Advanced Italian Language and Culture 2 16.7 2nd and 3rd year 116-310 Italian Part 3 Language 1 (Compulsory) 16.7 3rd year plus at least two other 3rd year 16.7-point subjects.
To be eligible for selection into Italian Honours, students must:
complete all the requirements for the pass degree,
complete a major sequence as above including 116-310 Italian Part 3 Language 1 (16.7 points) or 116-372 Italian Part 3A Language 1 (16.7 points), 116-318 To Hell with Dante (16.7 points), and one other third-year subject (16.7 points),
achieve a result of H2B or better in the Italian major.
The Italian Section offers the possibility for suitably qualified students to gain credit for study in Italy through an exchange scheme with the University of Trieste and other programs. The School of Languages awards a number of travelling scholarships. Interested students should consult the Italian Section handbook for more details.
The Italian Section offers a range of studies for students who already have a degree: the postgraduate diploma in Arts (Italian) by coursework and minor thesis. It is also possible to combine the MA in Applied Linguistics with Italian (Coursework and minor thesis). The Section also offers the MA and PhD by research. Students interested in postgraduate study should consult the departmental Postgraduate Information Booklet and make an appointment to see the Postgraduate Coordinator.
Department of French and Italian Studies
The University of Melbourne
telephone (03) 9344 6919
Objectives: By the end of the academic year, students should have:
increased their linguistic competence through regular practice in the use of the Italian language combined with a systematic approach to linguistic structure. They should have developed their spoken, written and comprehension skills.
acquired the ability to analyse a range of contemporary texts in Italian and to ground the study of the language in an understanding of modern Italian history and literature.
116-183 Italian Part 1: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 1 116-184 Italian Part 1: Contemporary Italian Society and Culture 2
Objectives: By the end of the academic year, students should have:
developed the ability to use Italian effectively for purposes of practical communication by developing proficiency in the following language skills: understanding spoken and written Italian, speaking and writing Italian;
acquired a sound knowledge and understanding of language structures and the grammar of Italian;
acquired an insight into the culture and contemporary literature of Italy;
developed learning skills of a more general application: i) analysis, ii) memorisation, iii) drawing inferences.
116-180 Introduction to Italian Part 1A 116-186 Italian Part 1A
Objectives for Italian Part 2 subjects (Post-VCE stream):
By the end of the academic year, students should have:
developed the ability to comprehend and use linguistic forms and structures of increasing complexity;
developed their spoken skills;
acquired some basic skills in translation practice;
acquired the ability to examine critically some aspects of contemporary Italian culture.
116-295 Italian Part2: Advanced Italian Language and Culture 1 116-296 Italian Part 2: Advanced Italian Language and Culture 2
Objectives for Italian Part 2A subjects (Post-Beginners):
By the end of the academic year, students should have:
consolidate their knowledge of the basic structures of Italian and extended their command of vocabulary;
acquired the knowledge to compare and contrast features of Italian and English vocabulary and syntax;
acquired the ability to examine critically various aspects of postwar Italian history and contemporary culture and literature.
116-275 Italian Part 2A: Unit 1 116-276 Italian Part 2A: Unit 2
Objectives for Third-year language subjects:
By the end of the academic year, students should have:
learnt to identify, and correctly use, the main registers of Italian, spoken and written;
become conversant with the concept of linguistic function;
acquired the skills to translate from and into Italian of texts of some complexity in different registers;
acquired the ability to discuss in Italian, both orally and in writing, extended prose texts, literary and non-literary.
Objectives: By the end of the academic year, students should have:
consolidated and specialised in those areas of Italian studies which were of particular interest to them;
benefited from the experience of researching and writing an independent fourth-year thesis on a topic of their choice;
received rigorous intellectual training which would enable them either to undertake postgraduate studies or to follow a profession of their choice.
116-410 Italian Part 4 (Honours): Language Studies 1 (Compulsory) 116-411 Italian Part 4 (Honours) Language Studies 2 116-412 Italian Honours Thesis
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : Italian
Status: OFFICIAL 1997 Last Modified: Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.