European cinema - Italian

Aims

Aims

By the end of the module students should:

• Have thorough knowledge of key European films and the cultural context they were produced in and/or the social, cultural historical context they refer to
• Have an increased understanding of French, German, Italian and Spanish social, cultural and historical issues
• Be able to analyse, research and compare films and show a deeper understanding of European culture and society
• Develop a good level of accuracy in the production of both the written and spoken forms of the foreign language
• Improve their fluency and communicative skills in the target language

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed:

• First year Italian modules

Students cannot take this module for two different languages at either I level or H level.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

• All students will attend the lectures which are provided in English. Theses lectures will frame the analysis of the films in the different seminars by focussing on key themes. There will be no lectures in Summer term.
• Seminars will discuss the social, cultural and historical aspects as specifically portrayed in the Italian films. In Summer term, there will be a one hour seminar in weeks 1 and 2 and no teaching in weeks 3 and 4.

Teaching programme

The lectures will be taught in English. The seminars will be taught in Italian.

This language module will introduce students to society, culture and certain historical aspects through the medium of film. Italian films will be viewed, analysed and examined in their socio-historical context, while an analysis of further material (media and literary texts as well as video/audio) will provide the relevant background information necessary to understanding these films.

Team taught by Italian, German, French, Spanish teaching staff.

Teaching materials

TBC

Some course material will be supplied by the tutor.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

Oral commentary and dialogue within class on oral and written language work. Given immediately both to individuals and to group.

Written comments and mark on the University scale given to individual students for practice essays, with opportunity for individual consultation; the essays will be returned to students two weeks after seminar.

Summative assessment and feedback

• 1500-word essay in the target language
  • Due: Summer Term, Week 1
  • Weight: 50%
• A 2-hour closed exam
  • Summer Term, Weeks 5-7
  • Weight: 50%

Feedback: Individuals will be given a feedback sheet for the oral examination, and will be allowed to see their exam paper with comments, under supervision, at an appointed date after the external examiner has reviewed the papers.