The Italian course is designed to enable students to develop competence in the Italian language and an interest in specific areas of study in Italian literature, linguistics, civilisation and history. The study and practice of language is pursued at all levels of the course. As Italian is the most widely spoken language after English in Australia, some attention will be paid to the Italian language in the Australian community.
The definition of the teaching and learning objectives of the Italian section recognises:
In general, language teaching objectives include:
Integral to language acquisition is the acquisition of `cultural competence'. In consonance with these aims students are offered the opportunity to develop an informed understanding of Italian culture and society. Aspects of society and culture are introduced in a variety of modes, including literary, cinematographic, sociolinguistic, historical and journalistic, and ranging from high art to popular culture. Students are also offered the opportunity to develop the ability to recognise the specificity of Italian cultural constructs, especially in contrast with Australian constructs of Italian. At a minimal level, students should be able to analyse basic processes through which a variety of Italian texts produce meaning; at a more advanced level, students should develop an understanding of the theoretical concepts applicable and gain the critical reflection skills necessary to apply them and to form independent opinions.
Italian is offered either as a major or as a minor sequence, with beginners and post-VCE streams.
Introductory Italian is a beginners course designed for students with little or no knowledge of the language.
A minor sequence normally comprises ITA1010, ITA1020, ITA2010 and ITA2020.
A major sequence normally comprises ITA1010, ITA1020, ITA2010, ITA2020, ITA3010, ITA3020 and sixteen further points from third-year subjects chosen in consultation with the coordinator.
Beginners who contemplate an honours program in Italian are strongly advised to take extra points in the discipline at second and/or third-year levels.
ITA1070 (Italian IA) is for students with a pass in VCE Italian or with equivalent knowledge.
A minor sequence normally comprises ITA1070, ITA1080, ITA2070, ITA2080 and eight further points chosen from second-year subjects in Italian.
A major sequence consists of fifty-two points. The sequence normally comprises the language core subjects ITA1070, ITA1080, ITA2070, ITA2080, ITA3070, ITA3080 and twenty-four further points chosen from second and third-year subjects, with at least sixteen points at the third-year level.
In certain cases, students with a higher linguistic competence may, with departmental and faculty approval, substitute for ITA1010 or ITA1070 a first-year, first-semester subject in European studies, French or Spanish. Native speakers of Italian may be permitted to work at a higher linguistic level or take additional points in lieu of a language core subject.
Coordinator: R Lampugnani
Students are admitted to honours at fourth-year level if they have achieved credit level grades to the value of twenty-four points, or better, in subjects taken at second and third-year levels, of which sixteen points must be at third-year level. Honours in Italian will be available within the honours program offered by the Department of Romance Languages. Students may choose an appropriate level of specialisation in Italian from a range of subjects that may vary from year to year. Combined honours may be taken in Italian and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments/centres. All intending honours students are advised to take more than the minimum number of subjects required for admission to the honours program. Students who wish to apply for mid-year entry should consult the head of the department.
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
Students are encouraged to choose additional subjects which relate their studies in Italian to the wider context of European culture and society.
Graduates who have completed a BA honours degree in Italian at a level satisfactory to the faculty may apply for permission to undertake a Master of Arts degree by major thesis or by coursework and thesis. For postgraduate courses offered by the department, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1998.
Students may choose an appropriate level of specialisation in Italian from a range of subjects that may vary from year to year. The honours program will normally consist of either (i) ITA4100 (Honours dissertation), sixteen points; (ii) ITA4990 (Language study abroad program), sixteen points; and (iii) two eight-point subjects (which may include ITA4000 (Italian IV), or (i) ITA4100 (Honours dissertation), sixteen points; (ii) ITA4000 (Italian IV), sixteen points; and (iii) two eight-point subjects.