Language projects in Italian Studies
Italian Studies offer a variety of language-related projects, which highlight the department's innovative approach to language teaching and learning, and enhance the provision of the core language courses. These projects give students the possibility to further their interests in Italian language and culture, and, where applicable, allow them to take part in the running and delivery of the projects themselves.
Undergraduate projects:
- MentorE is an innovative lingua-cultural project aimed at increasing awareness of Higher Education in school pupils studying Italian in the Sixth Form. The project recruits Italian Studies finalist students and assigns them a small number of pupils at Greenhead College, our partnering institution in Huddersfield. The university students teach and mentor pupils on selected aspects of Italian culture across two semesters, both in person and through a series of virtual 'webinars'. At the end of the project, pupils will have gained an insight into learning at university level and it is hoped that they will want to continue their study of Italian at degree level.
- Palaver: Italian Studies this year is taking part to the Palaver Festival of Languages. 1st and 2nd year students will be presenting a musical performance entitled: "Return of the Futurists: Back to the Future". It will be a very exciting event for all those involved (performances on 22nd and 23rd March), so make sure you don't miss it! Check the Palaver brochure for details.
- FLAGS (Foreign Languages Awareness Group for Schools) was set up in 2005 and aims at raising interest in Italian and lesser taught languages amongst school pupils. 2nd and final year university students work as peer mentors to promote Italian language and culture in schools and colleges around the North West. This project uses a purpose-built WebCT virtual learning environment to deliver course information and provide a taster of the language and culture to students who are studying languages post-16.
Recently, FLAGS has received the backing of the Italian Cultural Institute in London.
- MentorIT (Mentor Italian) The Peer Mentoring Scheme was set up in 2003 within Italian Studies with the aim of helping new students settle down during their 1st year of their degree at Manchester University. Some ex-1st year students make their experience available to incoming students for issues relating to both academic and social life by providing support, helping with orientation and facilitating integration. A WebCT-based website and student guide are available to share information; the mentors organise social events on a regular basis which are usually very popular!
- V-Pal (Virtual Partnerships for All Languages). V-Pal is a pilot project which pairs up 2nd and final year Italian Studies' university students with students of the University of Cagliari, Italy. Students work on set tasks in order to produce a dossier of activities aimed at improving the understanding of Italian culture and at reinforcing their language prior (and following) their Year Abroad experience. V-Pal is entirely Internet-based and the virtual encounters take place via Skype.
- CAMILLE (Cultural Awareness Modules to Improve Language Learning Experience) aims at supplementing and supporting classroom-based learning by increasing awareness of Italian cultural issues in an innovative manner. Students can log on to the purpose built Blackboard site and take part in one of the several cultural modules by completing online exercises that will help gaining an improved insight of Italians and their culture.
- Lang-Pod (Languages and Pod-casting) aims at supplementing grammar acquisition and revision for the 1st year core language course but providing RSS grammar feeds that can be downloaded on to the students' personal I-Pods or PCs.
- ILLP (Independent Language Learning Programme). This School-wide programme allows students to consolidate and enhance what they have learnt through the taught classes by creating a portfolio of free and suggested language activities. The ILLP aims at giving students experience in managing their own learning in an independent manner by identifying strengths and weaknesses, setting targets and reflecting on personal achievements. Available to 1st and 2nd year Italian Studies students.
- MentorE. MentorE is an innovative lingua-cultural project aimed at increasing awareness of Higher Education in school pupils studying Italian in the Sixth Form. The project recruits Italian Studies finalist students and assigns them a small number of pupils at Greenhead College, our partnering institution in Huddersfield. The university students teach and mentor pupils on selected aspects of Italian culture across two semesters, both in person and through a series of virtual 'webinars'. At the end of the project, pupils will have gained an insight into learning at university level and it is hoped that they will want to continue their study of Italian at degree level.
- Palaver. Italian Studies' well-known tradition of taking part to the Palaver Festival of Languages, has hit another high note this year with a double musical success! Our 1st and 2nd year students will be presenting two musical performances: "Return of the Futurists: Back to the Future" and "Serata di canzoni italiane". It will be a very exciting event for all those involved (performances on 23th March), so make sure you don't miss it! Check the Palaver brochure for details. Buon divertimento!
- Bridging the Gap: AS level day. Through these language enhancement days, postgraduate students are recruited to help address the transitions in language study from AS to A2 level and to support and encourage university level language study. Postgraduate students help deliver language sessions and taster sessions in order to improve pupils' grammatical knowledge, oral competence and writing skills.
- Induction days / VI Form Days. Postgraduate students are recruited to help represent Italian Studies in a series of events organised by the External Relations section of the School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures.
Routes into Languages
Councillor Afzal Khan