Italian for Beginners
Study goals
The course is designed for students who either intend to participate in a study exchange programme with an Italian university or who plan to do an internship within a company or organization in Italy. It is also suitable for students of Architecture or Industrial Design wishing to read the specialist literature of their field that is published in Italian.
With a view to developing linguistic competence, various language activities (receptive and productive) will be carried out both during lectures and at home. These activities will serve to help the course participant to reflect upon the various grammatical, lexical, phonological and socio-cultural aspects relevant to Italian language use.
Overview of the topics that will arise during the course: individual identification, the home, the place where one lives, the environment, daily life, leisure time activities, relaxation, travel, relationships with others, education, food and drink, shopping, language, places.
No prior knowledge of Italian is required.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to carry out listening, reading and speaking tasks with a level of proficiency that corresponds to the objectives laid down by the relevant CEFR norms.
In line with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) scales the student will attain level A2 in listening and reading skills and level A1/A2 (A1++) in the areas of spoken interaction and verbal production.
Initial level: 0
Final level: A1/A2 (A1+++)
According to the global CEFR Descriptors
A1: Is able to understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and basic sentences linked to concrete matters. Is able to introduce oneself and others, pose questions on personal matters (such as where someone lives, the people they know and what they possess) and reply to such questions. Can communicate in a simple way as long as the conversation partner speaks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2: Is able to understand sentences and common expressions linked to subjects of immediate importance (e.g. information about oneself and one’s family, about shopping and working). Is able, in simple and everyday situations, to communicate about familiar and ordinary subjects. Is able, in simple ways, to describe aspects of his or her background and immediate environment or to convey what are his or her immediate requirements.
Education method
The course comprises workshops. Individually, in pairs or in groups students are required to complete a number of exercises, all of which are aimed at developing their language skills. The emphasis throughout is upon spoken proficiency. Course participants are expected to devote at least four hours a week to preparing for the weekly lectures.
Books and Materials
Units 1 – 8:
- M.Birello et al. (2017), Al dente 1 - Corso d’Italiano, libro dello studente + esercizi, edizione internazionale, Casa delle lingue / Difusiòn, Barcellona. ISBN: 978-84-16657-72-8 (met 1 audioCD en 1 DVD)
Costs and Payment
The cost for one semester, lasting 14 weeks (14 x 2 = 28 contact hours) will amount to € 100,00 for TU Delft students and staff and € 250,00 for external participants. You can pay using your PIN card.
You can make your payment with us by transferring the amount of € 100 / € 250 to our bank account and sending a proof (screenshot or similar) to itav@tudelft.nl.
Our payment details are:
Acount number: 542891859
IBAN: NL08ABNA0542891859
Swift: ABNANL2A
Name receiver: Faculteit TBM
Reference: Your name + Italian Course