Italian
"A different language is a different vision of life" - Federico Fellini
Studying Italian at A Level allows the learner to move from the physical acquisition of the language at GCSE to its practical application; using the language to enter the worlds of culture, politics, history and society in this fascinating and beautiful country.
With one of the leading European economies and a healthy manufacturing and export market, many employers seek people who speak Italian as well as English fluently; Italian can be combined with a wide variety of subjects, both at A Level and as a Degree. It is key to future studies, research and careers in the fields of art history, literature, archaeology, philosophy, music, fashion, business. In addition, the skills learnt along the way; communication, rationalisation, organisation, intercultural awareness, are all highly valued in the job market.
A different vision of life; here for the taking.
Skills Required
Grade 7 in Italian
The successful A Level student will be a keen and committed learner of Italian, who can work independently and inquisitively. You should have a confident knowledge of the major verb tenses and forms for both regular and irregular verbs, as well as a firm understanding of articles, gender and adjectives. Familiarity with the vocabulary from GCSE topics will be assumed.
Topics Covered
The two main areas of study during the Italian A level are social issues and trends and political, intellectual and artistic culture.
• Changes in Italian society (evolution of the Italian family, education, world of work).
• Political and artistic culture in Italian speaking countries (music, media, cultural heritage).
• Italy: a society in evolution (the positive impact of immigration in Italy, the problems of migration, the North/South divide).
• From Fascism to today (Mussolini’s rise to power, Fascism during the Second World War, from dictatorship to democracy).
Methods of Assessment
Paper 1: Listening, Reading & Writing
Students will have to respond (in Italian) to spoken and written passages from a range of contexts and sources as well as translate into English.
Paper 2: Writing
Students will answer an essay question in Italian about the film and the book studied in class, as well as translate into Italian.
Paper 3: Speaking
Students will have a 20 minute speaking assessment, where they will have a discussion around one of the themes from the course and also present and discuss their own research project.
Enrichment Opportunities
• Italian Film Club
• Study trip to Italy
Meet the Staff
If you have a specific enquiry for the Italian Department, email italian@kes.hants.sch.uk.
| Mrs S. Rugge-Price, MA | Co-ordinator of Italian, Teacher of Spanish |
| Mr R. Soames, BA | Teacher of Italian and German |
| Mrs B Belgiorno-Appleyard | Italian Language Assistant |
