Italian studies
Courses
45 hours, 3 credits
Prof. Davide De Gennaro
The course presents concepts of tourism relating to food and geography, using Italy as its example. The course is relevant to students of all backgrounds but was designed specifically for students studying hospitality, business, and culinary arts. Students will study international organizations operating in tourism (i.e. WTO) and the different types of tourism with particular attention paid to sustainable tourism.
Students will be asked to investigate the tourism geography of Italy, becoming familiar with the most important tourist sites in Italy and Campania through several excursions. The third module of the course will be dedicated to a very important kind of tourism in Italy and the Campania region: Food and Wine Tourism.
WL 101 Elementary Italian Language
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
In this course, you will gain a basic understanding of the Italian language, including spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and syntax. Additionally, you learn some Italian geography, history, culture, and daily life. You will be assessed of your knowledge through homework, oral participation in class, oral comprehension quizzes and tests, and an essay. This course is not required for Sant’Anna students, but it may prove useful—where is there a better place to learn and practice Italian than in Italy?
WL 102 Elementary Italian Language
45 hours, 3 credits
Course description
In this course, you will learn the foundations of conversation and grammar in Italian. You will work on basic grammar and speaking skills through conversation, dialogues, exercises, and drills. You will develop vocabulary through reading, discussion,
and writing. Additionally, you will learn more about Italian culture through reading, video, and presentations.
Upon completion of this course, in Italian, students will be able to:
- Carry on basic conversations
- Read articles and short stories
- Write short compositions
WL 201 Intermediate Italian Language
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
This course is designed for students who wish to develop the skills necessary to interact in the language and learn about Italian contemporary culture and society as well as Italy’s history. In this course, you will continue to refine your speaking skills by completing tasks with your classmates in pairs and small groups and by following models of native speakers presented on video.
You will develop reading and writing skills by reading increasingly more elaborate authentic texts and writing related, reaction essays. Your listening skills will be cultivated by completing online listening activities, and by viewing and analyzing short clips from Italian movies. You will gain additional skills by listening to short lectures on topics in Italian culture, society, and history, such as: Pompeii, the contemporary demographic profile of Italy, the history of the language, and of the unification of Italy.
WL 202 Post-Intermediate Italian Language
45 hours, 3 credits
Course description
This course is designed for students who wish to develop the skills necessary to interact in the language and learn about Italian contemporary culture and society as well as Italy’s history. In this course, you will continue to refine your speaking skills by completing tasks with your classmates in pairs and small groups.
You will develop reading and writing skills by reading increasingly more elaborate authentic texts and writing essays, and your listening skills will be cultivated by in-class interactions, listening to short lectures on topics in Italian culture, listening to Italian music, and watching Italian movies.
WL 325 Advanced Italian Language
45 hours, 3 credits
Course description
This is an advanced Italian language course. In this class, you will learn to demonstrate advancement in spoken and written Italian, communicate with advanced grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, and refined vocabulary. Additionally, you will learn to communicate personal opinions in group discussions on a variety of topics, articles, events, and personal stories.
WL 325 Special Topics: Post-Advanced Italian
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
You may only take this course if you have completed 5 semesters of Italian language. In this course, you will become more aware of your personal learning style and strategies. You will have conversations in Italian with an interactive computer program and your grammatical knowledge will be revised through linguistic encounters in class. The multimedia component reinforces, tests, and contextualises language learning done in the classroom and is regarded as an essential part of this course.
WL 325 Medieval Italian Literature I – Dante
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
In this course, you will study the most important Italian poet, the father of the Italian language, and the principal figure of medieval literature in Europe—Dante Alighieri. You will examine Dante’s Divine Comedy and some other minor works of his (i.e. “Vita Nuova” and “Convivio”). You will read excerpts from these works and engage in a historical, literary, and rhetorical analysis of these texts while determining techniques of poetic composition. You are expected to actively participate and contribute to class discussion. You are also expected to do all the exercises assigned daily. This course’s aim is to allow you to study Dante’s internationally renowned literary texts in their original language (you must have earned at least 12 credits of Italian language as this course will be instructed in Italian).
WL 325 Medieval Italian Literature II
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
In this course, you will study Italian literature from the 14th to the 16th century. Authors will include Petrarch, Boccaccio, Ariosto, Tasso, Machiavelli, and others. You will read excerpts from these works and engage in a historical, literary, and rhetorical analysis of texts while determining techniques of poetic composition. You will critically analyze theese internationally renowned literary texts in their original language (you must have earned at least 12 credits of Italian as this course will be instructed in Italian). You will also learn about the lives of authors and the historical context and how these affected the masterpieces studied. You are expected to actively participate and contribute to class discussion. You are also expected to do all the exercises assigned daily.
WL 325 Modern Italian Literature
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
In this course, you will study Italian literature from the 17th to the 19th century with a focus on the key ideas of modern Italian literature, the literary and artistic trends in Italy compared to those in the rest of Europe, and the social criticism of this literature. You will take the opportunity to examine the rhetorical content of poetic works written to spread the cause for social reforms. Additionally, you will read pages of works in Italian on which you may debate in class.
WL 325 Contemporary Italian Literature
45 hours, 3 credits
Course Description
In this course, you will study Italian literature of the 20th century. You will critically analyze these internationally renowned literary texts in their original language. This course’s focus is to give a general overview of literary developments during the 20th century and to deepen the relationships between literature and forms of power. You will read pages of the selected works in Italian and you will be able to debate on them in the classroom. You will try to understand the role of literature in the contemporary world and its value in the lives of humans.
In 5-week summer programs, students are allowed to take only one Italian Language course per term (plus Italian Literature courses). In 10-week summer programs, students can take two Italian Language courses (plus Italian Literature courses).
In semesters programs (Fall or Spring) , students are allowed to take two Italian Language courses (WL 101 Italian Elementary + WL 102 Italian Elementary) , plus Italian Literature courses. WL 101 Italian Elementary will take place during weeks 1-8 and WL 102 Italian Elementary will take place during weeks 9-16.
Faculty
Nunzia Travaglione
Didactic Coordinator, Italian Studies
BA in Italian Literature “Orientale” University of Naples – Teaching Italian as an FL Certificate
Domenico Palumbo
Italian Literatures Studies
BA in Philosophy , “Federico II” University of Naples – Teaching Italian as a FL Certificate
Bianca Buonocore
Vice Coordinator Italian Studies
BA in Italian Literature “Orientale” University of Naples – Teaching Italian as an FL Certificate
Available Internship Positions
At Sant’Anna Institute we believe in experiential learning.
Check our Internships page to learn more about the program and the available positions