Learning Goals in the Italian Studies Major

The major in Italian Studies consists of 9 courses beyond Elementary Italian, and includes language course at the Intermediate and Advanced level, and courses on Dante, the Renaissance, and modern and contemporary Italian literature and culture.

Language Proficiency

By the end of the course of study at Connecticut College, including at least one semester of study in Italy, students majoring in Italian will have reached an advanced knowledge of Modern Standard Italian. Students will be able to express themselves fluently and effectively in a wide range of social, academic and professional situations. Students will be able to read and understand complex literary and technical texts on both concrete and abstract topics. Students will be able to produce different types of texts (descriptive, discursive, argumentative, and persuasive) in a well organized and cohesive manner. Students with no prior knowledge of the language will start by taking courses at the elementary level (ITL 101 and ITL 102) and progress through the intermediate series (ITL 201 and ITL 202) up to the upper intermediate more specialized courses (ITL 250 and ITL 260) which focus respectively on developing advanced writing skills and advanced oral skills as well enriching students’ vocabulary with a wide range of specialized terms and expressions. Finally, students will be able to develop an appreciation for the linguistic variety of Italy by recognizing some of the main regional language varieties spoken across the country.

Cultural Proficiency And Life Style

The emphasis shifts in courses at the 300 and 400 level from mastery of the Italian language to mastery of the kind of critical thinking and historical and cultural knowledge one needs to understand and appreciate Italy. Students who take upper-level courses in Italian will be able to analyze literary texts, films, and images after being exposed to various forms of critical reading. They will know basic methods for doing research, such as how to search for articles and books, and how to write a bibliography. And they will be able to write short critical essays. At the end of their Italian studies Connecticut College students will have acquired a broad knowledge of the major periods of Italian history and culture. Inspired by this knowledge, they will have also gained a love of Italy, and a desire to her language and culture a part of their lives.