116-410 Italian Honours Language Seminar 1

Formerly available as 116-068. Students who have completed 116-068 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in Italian.

This subject focuses on a variety of authentic materials ranging from literary and non-literary texts to audio-visual activities as a stimulus for discussion and conversation practice. Each student will present an assessable class paper on a topic to be agreed with the lecturer. On completion of this subject, students should have acquired the ability to comprehend, analyse and interpret complex texts, both literary and non-literary, and the ability to use actively a variety of registers and styles in contemporary Italian.

• gain an understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

• be capable of communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;

• gain skills in public speaking and confidence in self-expression through tutorial participation and class presentations.

Four take-home assignments of 300 words each 20% (due throughout the semester), a 20-minute class presentation 20% (commencing at the start of semester and finishing at the end of semester), a 15-minute oral examination 20% (due at the end of semester) and a written test 40% (due at the end of semester).