Italian A Level
IMPORTANT:
This course will be delivered online. However, a mock exam will take place in February 2025 at our central London college. You will therefore need to make sure that you make the necessary arrangements so that you can attend. The exact date will be posted when the mock exam has been set up.
The official exams will also take place at our Covent Garden college during the months of May and June (exact dates to be confirmed). Please note that the end date of the course may change depending on when the official exams are scheduled.
* Please note that, subject to government guidance, we might need to implement a contingency plan to be followed in the event of exam cancellations.
**City Lit is an adult education college, so we are only able to accept candidates who are aged 19 or over. Please email languages@citylit.ac.uk for more information and/or to book an interview. Please be aware that the interview will take approximately 1 hour.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
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- Course Code: LNY41
- Dates: 24/09/24 - 17/06/25
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 32 sessions (over 39 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Francesco Bucciol
Course Code: LNY41
Choose a start date
Duration: 32 sessions (over 39 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course aims to prepare you to sit the A Level exam (Edexcel). The syllabus will enable you to further develop all four language skills and to equip you to use the language for practical communication at an advanced level.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
A wide range of themes and contemporary issues in Italy will be used as a basis for language work. Several topics will be dealt with in some depth, and we will study one book and one film. The examination consists of listening, reading, oral, translation and written papers. For the exam students are also expected to carry out a research project using written Italian sources.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Italian social and cultural context
- Express viewpoints and justify opinions
- Develop logical arguments to persuade
- Critically analyse a book or a film
- Evaluate the form and techniques used in the book/film
- Relate the book/film to key concepts, issues and the social context
- Present an independent research project in the speaking examination
- Respond to spoken and written texts and stimuli showing understanding of the main points, gist and detail
- Translate a general text into and from Italian.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Stage 4 course - A level. You should have a good intermediate level of Italian i.e. studied for about 5 years recently or have an equivalent level of the language. You should be fluent (not rusty) and have a solid grasp of grammatical structures and vocabulary. Interviews start from July. Please check the website for details and book early as places are limited.
For further details of the specific foreign language skills required for this level, please see the languages self-assessment chart, using the link at the top of this page. You can also find the chart at the start of the languages section in our course guide. You will also need to be able to respond to simple instructions and read course documents in English and be at ease with the use of number for daily activities (e.g. using money, telling the time, etc).
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Our courses are characterised by spoken interaction and communication. Typical activities include pair work, group work, presentations and discussions. A range of resources will be used to consolidate and extend your knowledge about modern Italy including hand-outs, readings and audio-visual material.
A couple of hours of homework each week is highly recommended to consolidate learning.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Handouts will be provided by the tutor and made available on the learning platform.
During the course of the year, learners will be expected to read one book and watch two films. The titles of the book and the films will be confirmed at the start of the course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Italian courses at Italian 4 level. Please ask your tutor for advice.
Francesco has taught Italian language classes and literature at City Lit since 2014. He also works as Head of the Classics Department. After graduating with honours in Modern Languages and Literatures (English, German and Serbo-Croat), he moved to London and started teaching Italian at various adult education colleges, which gave him the opportunity to share his interest in Italian language, culture and traditions to a diverse range of students. During this time, he also acquired experience in curriculum management. Francesco currently prepares students for Italian exams. His passion includes philology, Dante, early Italian literature and the history of Italy (primarily the Northeast, where he grew up and was educated).
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
