The aims of the course are to extend students' fluency and accuracy in spoken and written Italian, to promote a deeper linguistic and cultural sensitivity in social interactions in Italian and to introduce students to Italian history and history of the language. Class time is divided between interactive language work, focus and reflection on form, and a series of lectures on history, language and culture aimed at developing students' understanding of the origins of the Italian state and its rich historical, linguistic, artistic and cultural background.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. demonstrate their understanding of extended speech, including lectures in Italian about Italian history and the history of Italians in Canton Ticino, and current affairs programs and films using a variety of registers and spoken Italian;
2. demonstrate their clear grasp of Italian grammar and related linguistic terminology;
3. identifying and produce complex linguistic structures orally and in writing;
4. demonstrate their command of a wide range of vocabulary, idioms and Italian gestures; phonetics and phonology of Italian;
5. conduct independent research, elaborate it and compose clear, analytical essays comparing issues and different perspective linked to Italian history;
6. conduct independent research, elaborate it and compose clear, analytical essays comparing issues and different perspective linked to Switzerland and Ticino.

Two written assignments - one linked to the Swiss Embassy Essay Competition (20%) and one semester-long individual written research project (15%) with oral presentation linked to Italian cultural history (15%), two class review tests (30%) and in-class oral assessment on current affairs (20%).

3 hours of classes plus 1 hour of audio-visual activities per week

ITAL2007 Intermediate 1 or equivalent