Italian Stage 1

Tuesday 1 October, 6 - 8pm - we are no longer taking enrolments for this course

Overview

This course is for absolute beginners. It is designed for those who wish to attain a basic understanding of the Italian language covering four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It aims to introduce students to the basics of language structure and the basics of Italian grammar. Students will also acquire limited vocabulary to be able to read simple texts and conduct a basic everyday conversation in key areas of everyday communication. The course provides students with a solid foundation for further language learning.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to: 

  • handle some of the basic grammatical structures of Italian; understand and read, some familiar and daily expressions used in common everyday situations and write simple messages;
  • communicate orally at a basic level in a limited number of common everyday situations; have some understanding and knowledge of the ways of Italian life & culture.
  • By the end of the course, students should be able to perform at Level A1/A2 of the Common European Framework.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

  • Introduction to module
  • Getting to know each other.

WEEK 2

  • Lezione 1:
  • Primi contatti Greetings;
  • the Italian alphabet;
  • Introducing yourself;
  • The present tense for essere and chiamarsi (singular forms).

WEEK 3

  • Lezione 1:
  • Primi contatti Nationalities; numbers 0-20;
  • Providing more personal information;
  • Register (tu and Lei);
  • The present tense for avere (singular forms).

WEEK 4

  • Lezione 2:
  • Io e gli altri Expressing how you are;
  • The indefinite article;
  • Introducing other people;
  • Gender (Masculine/feminine) in nouns and adjectives;
  • The present tense for stare and parlare (singular forms).

WEEK 5

  • Lezione 2:
  • Io e gli altri Professions and places of work;
  • Numbers 20-100;
  • The definite article (singular);
  • The present tense for essere, fare and lavorare (sing and plural);
  • Questions words;
  • Expressing age.

WEEK 6

  • Lezione 3:
  • Buon appetito Vocabulary:
  • food and drinks; Listening exercise;
  • Understanding “la cultura del caffè” in Italy;
  • Present tense of verbs in –ere (sing and plur);
  • Plural forms of nouns;
  • Ordering drinks at the bar;

WEEK 7

  • Lezione 3: Buon appetito Understanding an Italian menu;
  • Reading exercise; Listening exercises;
  • The plural forms of definite articles;
  • Ordering food in a restaurant;
  • Expressing preference.

WEEK 8

  • Lezione 4:
  • Tempo Libero The present tense of regular and irregular verb;
  • Italians and free time (online search);
  • Presentation of the result of the online search;
  • Adverbs of frequency.

WEEK 9

  • Lezione 4: Tempo Libero The verb piacere;
  • Expressing likes and dislikes;
  • Telling the time.

WEEK 10

  • Lezione 5: In albergo Vocab. building exercise;
  • Reading exercise; Listening exercise;
  • The present tens of venire and potere Describing hotels and facilities;
  • Discussing what facilities are important in a hotel; Role play:
  • In albergo;

WEEK 11

  • Lezione 5: In albergo Preposizioni articulate (preposition and definite articles);
  • Complaining in a hotel: role-play;
  • Describing private accommodation.

WEEK 12:

Written and speaking tests will take place this week.

Completing the assessment is required for students taking the course as part of their degree. For all other students, taking the tests is also strongly recommended, as a measure of your progress and learning.

Textbook details:

Ziglio, Luciana and Rizzo, Giovanna, Nuovo Espresso 1. Libro dello studente e esercizi, Firenze: Alma Edizioni. Please note. There are three different versions of the textbook: · Book only ISBN: 9788861823181 · Book + multimedia DVD ISBN: 9788861823174 · Book + interactive e-book (with audio, video course, video-grammar and interactive exercises with auto corrections) ISBN: 9788861826724 The version with the book only is recommended for use.

Study Hours

The total number of study hours for this module is 150 hours, in line with undergraduate university modules. This includes class meetings, assessment preparation and self-directed study in line with guidance from the course lecturer.

If you are studying on the extracurricular option, we recognise that the total number of hours that you may be able to study every week may depend on your availability and previous experience studying languages, however, expected contribution to classes, homework completion, and learning outcomes will not vary. 

Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm.

Course Lecturer: Christina Diamantatou

Christina taught modern foreign languages in FE before joining the University of Liverpool in 2017 and the University of Manchester in 2024. Her professional interests include the improvement of language teaching; the education and professional development of teachers; and the refinement of theory and method in language teaching. Christina's research examines curriculum improvement and pedagogy in modern languages, and the nature of educational reform.

Peer-reviewed journal article Journal of Education and Learning “Foreign Language Learning, Motivation and the Market Economy” Published Vol. 5, No. 1, March 2016

Fees for language courses are £190/£95.


Visit our fee bands page to see which fee applies to you.

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