Italian - A Level
Italian is a living and evolving language. During the A Level course you will study a variety of topics through the medium of the language and have the opportunity to gain a greater awareness of the concerns and interests of Italy and its people. You will develop the ability to speak and understand Italian fluently in a variety of social contexts, and will equally have been exposed to a number of aspects of Italy’s historical and contemporary culture that have produced and developed the language.
As a wide variety of social issues are addressed during the study of Italian A Level, you will have the opportunity to learn about and debate current political, demographic and socio-cultural concerns. You will also gain a broad understanding of Italian history and conduct in depth analyses of examples of Italian literature and Arts.
What will I study in Italian?
AS Unit 1 & 2
Spoken Expressions & Responses in Italian: This unit is designed to build on your ability to manipulate and comprehend the spoken language. You will develop knowledge of vocabulary and grammar that will help you to respond to questions in a confident, efficient manner. You will engage in discussions in Italian on topics such as youth culture and concerns; lifestyle, health and fitness; and education, and training and employment.
Understanding & Written Responses in Italian: Based on the same topics as above, you will now learn language skills that will build your confidence and ability in communicating in written Italian. This unit is divided into three sections and focuses on the relationship between listening, reading and writing. For these different sections you will be required to work on retrieving and conveying information on the basis of printed and recorded material in Italian.
A2 Units 3 & 4
Understanding & Spoken Responses in Italian: By engaging in debates where you will have to present your views on issues and develop convincing arguments to support your opinion, you will develop more sophisticated, fluent spoken skills. You will also deal with unseen spoken material in spontaneous discussions using the knowledge of Italian culture and society acquired during the AS Level.
Understanding & Written Responses in Italian: In addition to the general knowledge of Italian culture covered in the AS, you will now study Italian customs, traditions and religious beliefs, and national and international events and literature and the arts. For the research-based essay you will be encouraged to show personal initiative and creativity in constructing a project on a relevant topic of your own choice.
How will I be assessed?
The AS course is examined via 2 exams, a 2 hour listening, reading and writing section and an oral exam involving 20 minutes preparation and 15 minutes examination. The A2 course has a 2 hour 30 minute listening, reading and writing exam and the same pattern for the oral as the AS.
Do I need to have studied Italian before?
Ideally, you should have achieved a B or above at GCSE Level. However, students may transfer to Italian A Level if they have been successful at GCSE in other foreign languages.
Who will teach me?
Lorenza Boscaini-Gilroy qualified in Modern Languages at the University of Venice and has an MA in Bilingual Translation. She has taught and examined Italian and other European languages for many years.
Which subjects complement Italian?
Other modern or historical languages, History, Geography, Literature are all well suited to Italian. However, languages generally combine well with all A Levels
Which careers can follow a study of Italian?
All professions like to have recruits with a language. The nature of the modern world makes languages particularly suited to those working in transnational industries and financial institutions. Lawyers, bankers and a variety of business executives value this qualification.