Teaching of Italian Language and Literature (in combination)

prof. Dr. György Domokos, PhD.  

doc. Mgr. Katarína Klimová, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Zuzana Malinovská, CSc.

PhDr. Mojmír Malovecký, PhD.

doc. Tivadar Palágyi, PhD.  

Mgr. Zuzana Tóth, Dr. Phil.

Study advisors: 

PhDr. Mária Medveczká, PhD., medveczkafedu.uniba.sk

Student study advisor for the faculty:

student Mária Bednáriková, bednarikova28@uniba.sk

Coordinator for foreign mobility and Erasmus+:   

Mgr. Radana Štrbáková, PhD., strbakovafedu.uniba.sk

(Selected information from the Study Program Description)

The study program is formed by the combination of three modules - the Common Social Science, Pedagogical and Psychological Foundation of Teaching (Teacher Foundation) and two teaching specializations. The rules of the Teaching Italian Language and Literature (in combination) program are designed so that out of a total of at least 120 credits, the student must obtain 36 credits from the Teaching Foundation, 42 credits from the courses in one of the teaching specializations and 42 credits from the second teaching specialization in the combined program.
The forms of teaching are lectures, seminars and tutorials, conducted by teachers who are internationally recognized experts in the field.
The study program is structured into compulsory subjects, compulsory electives and elective subjects.
The compulsory subjects in the Teacher Foundation and in the subject specialization reflect the supporting themes of the core knowledge of the field of study and consider the current needs of practice and foreign language proficiency. The content of the courses emphasizes the position of the Italian language and its literature in the broader context of Romance languages, literatures and cultures, but also the relationship to the Slovak language and the teaching of Italian as a foreign language in the Slovak Republic, so that students at the second degree of study think systematically and understand phenomena in context: the Didactics of the Italian Language; Contrastive Linguistics 1 and 2; Status of the Romance Literatures within the World Literature; Status of the Italian Literature within the World Literature.
At the same time, students also develop their communicative, presentational and digital competence in a foreign language orientation, developing their communicative competence in Italian and their ability to use a foreign language flexibly and effectively for academic purposes. Students demonstrate competency in academic writing in Italian and Slovak in accordance with the principles of academic ethics. Together with the Thesis Seminar course (in the Teacher Foundation), this completes the preparation for the writing and defense of the final thesis.
Within the compulsory elective courses, theoretical training in the field of linguistic disciplines with an emphasis on their didactic application, in the field of didactic methods and their practical application is strengthened, and linguistic and cultural competences and practical pedagogical competences are deepened: Innovative Approaches in Romance Languages Teaching; Italian Language Teaching Methodology; Current Linguistics for Romance Languages Students, Applied Linguistics for Romance Languages Teachers; Italian Lexicology, Phraseology and Lexicography; Regional Specifics of Italian Language; Norm and Usage 1. and 2; Development of Romance Languages; Practical Stylistics in Italian Language; Literature Seminar; Text Analysis in Italian Language 1. - 3.; Selected Chapters from Italian Culture 1. and 2; Italian Cinematography.
In the elective courses, students can, if necessary and interested, develop their communicative competence in Italian comprehensively in order to reach the C1 level, focus on oral expression, work on improving their didactic competences or gain a broader perspective in contemporary linguistics: Practical Language - Advanced Level; Conversation Exercises; Effective Communication Techniques in Language Learning; Seminar in Sociolinguistics. Students may also choose courses from the University-wide Master's degree offerings.
The state examination verifies the achievement of the learning objectives declared in the profile of the graduate of the second-degree program. In this study program, it consists of the following compulsory subjects: the defense of the thesis (within the Teacher Foundation) and three subjects from the Italian Language and Literature teaching specialization: Didactics of Italian as a Foreign Language; Linguistics of Italian Language; History of Italian Literature.

Specifics of the study program

1. As the teaching of Italian language at the second degree of primary school is currently represented in 15 districts in Slovakia and in 18 districts at secondary schools, the study program reflects the growing and increasingly specific need to provide qualified teachers of Italian language and literature for all levels and types of schools.
2. Access to up-to-date knowledge based on new scientific trends, following a solid base of relevant and generally accepted knowledge in Romance Studies (in line with the concept and content of courses at foreign universities relevant to this study program).
3. One of the specificities is the course that introduces students to selected innovative approaches, methods and techniques in language teaching, e.g. language landscapes and virtual language landscapes as pedagogical tools, collaborative writing, development of autonomy through self-assessment and formative assessment, multimodality in language teaching, etc.
4. A large part of the subjects is taught in Italian.
5. Emphasis on the acquisition of didactic skills across the curriculum in connection with the content of courses in linguistics, literature or the culture of Italian-speaking countries (discussions, presentations, seminar papers and activities aimed also at didacticizing content, model teaching, etc.).

STUDY PLAN

The condition for admission of applicants to the second (master's) degree is successful completion of the first (bachelor's) degree in the field of study 38.Teaching and Educational Sciences and fulfillment of the admission requirements set by the faculty for applicants for study so that applicants with the required knowledge, abilities and prerequisites for successful completion of studies are admitted to the university studies.

Applicants shall be admitted to a predetermined number of places. In the event of a number of applicants lower or equal to the number of applicants determined by the faculty, applicants will be admitted without an entrance examination, based only on the above requirements. In the case of a higher number of applicants, the final order of admission will be determined on the basis of the weighted average of the previous bachelor's degree.

Information on the number of applicants, accepted applicants, students and graduates and on the success of the study:
Number of applicants in the last admission procedure for the first degree: 1
Number of admitted applicants in the last admission procedure for the first degree: 0
Number of students at the first degree in the current academic year: 5
Number of first degree graduates in the last academic year: 0
Success rate of studies at the first degree (number of enrolled/number of graduates in the last academic year): 0%

Note: The low number of graduates was due to the fact that the new accreditation criteria created uncertainty in the possibility of aligning the ITA SPs. This has been communicated to 1st and 2nd year students of Italian language in the 2020/21 academic year. In this situation, the majority of students have either abandoned their studies or requested a transfer. For the next two academic years, only the ESIT and FRIT study programmes were offered, respectively, and we were hoping for the possibility to switch students to the new accreditation (which was not approved).

Objectives of education
The aim of education in the study program Teaching Italian Language and Literature (in combination) is to prepare graduates capable of exercising the profession of a pedagogical employee with extensive knowledge and developed skills in the field of teaching foreign languages in the specialization of Italian language. Graduates of the Master's degree program have a solid theoretical and methodological knowledge of the linguistic and literary disciplines and a well-developed interdisciplinary mindset. He/she is familiar with the background and trends of theoretical and methodological perspectives in the field of teaching Italian as a foreign language. He has acquired a high level of proficiency in Italian and his developed communicative linguistic competence is activated in the performance of various linguistic activities; he uses the foreign language flexibly in both ordinary and professional communication in his specialization, both in spoken and written form.

Learning outcomes
Graduates of the second cycle of the Teaching Italian Language and Literature (in combination) program have a general knowledge at the assessment level, reflecting knowledge in the field of linguistics, literary science and culture. The graduate also has practical and methodological expertise in the core area of the discipline of Teaching and Educational Sciences, which serves as a basis for didactic practice and research:

• mastery of the conceptual apparatus and a well-developed theoretical and methodological knowledge of linguistics and literary science,

• has an in-depth knowledge of the linguistic system acquired in the first cycle of studies, with an emphasis on the most significant differences between the Italian and Slovak languages,

• an understanding of the development of Italian literature in the context of Romance and world literatures,

• has extensive theoretical knowledge of didactics and methodology in the field of foreign language teaching and in the specialization of the Italian language,

• is familiar with the key EU documents for the development of a foreign language curriculum and its evaluation, and with the pedagogical documentation for the Italian language

The graduate has cognitive and practical skills:

• can apply knowledge and creatively use methods of linguistic, literary or didactic research in application to Italian language and literature,

• can propose, independently implement and evaluate solutions to problems in his/her field or practice, formulate and communicate the conclusions of his/her own research and recommendations for the development of a given scientific or professional field,

• can apply the acquired knowledge in teaching the Italian language and in didacticizing the content of Italian literature and culture; can plan, manage, methodically implement and evaluate the educational process in the field of teaching Italian; has practical experience in teaching the Italian language,

• can communicate in Italian, both orally and in writing, at a high level and use the language flexibly and effectively, including for academic or professional purposes; can understand a wide range of longer speeches and texts of a higher level of complexity, including professional texts in his/her specialism and artistic texts, express himself/herself fluently and spontaneously, discuss, argue and produce clear, well-organized and detailed texts on more complex topics in his/her specialism,

• has the ability to write academically in both Slovak and Italian, while respecting the principles of academic ethics,

• is proficient in information and communication technologies and is able to use them effectively in his/her education, teaching practice and professional development,

• has developed educational skills that allow him/her to pursue further studies with a high degree of independence and autonomy

The graduate is characterized by the following competences:

• high degree of independence and foresight in familiar and unfamiliar environments; initiative and responsibility for managing individuals, team and work team; innovative, creative thinking;

• effective communication; ability to speak publicly; professional presentation of the results of own studies or practice;

• social competences necessary for the work of a teacher;

• the ability to plan and organize one's own teaching and learning, etc.

During their studies, students also acquire transferable competences, e.g. communication presentation and digital skills, advanced analytical skills, attention to detail, critical thinking, responsibility, autonomy, ability to work in a team and collaborate on creative problem-solving, mediation skills, etc.

The Teacher Foundation Graduate Profile, which outlines the objectives and key learning outcomes of the Teacher Foundation, is an integral part of this program of study. The graduate of the second degree (Mgr.) of the university study in the study field 38 Teaching and Educational Sciences in possesses a comprehensive insight into the issues of educational sciences, social and legislative contexts of education and education. He/she can creatively and flexibly apply this knowledge in the educational process. He/she has acquired the teaching competence to independently design, organize, reflect on and evaluate the educational process. He/she is prepared for creative pedagogical work in the context of the diversity of the student population.

By successfully completing the second cycle of the study program Teaching Italian Language and Literature (in combination), the graduate obtains a Master's degree (Mgr.) and a qualification corresponding to level 7 according to the Slovak Qualification Framework. Proof of qualification is a university diploma (2nd degree), a state examination certificate and a supplement to the diploma.

From the point of view of the application of the graduate of the study program as a pedagogical employee in education in the sense of the valid legislation, the graduate of the master's study program is qualified for the performance of the professional activity of a pedagogical employee in the category of a teacher of the second degree of primary school, a teacher of secondary school, a teacher of language school.

The graduate will be able to adequately ensure the teaching of the Italian language at different levels of education and types of schools, in accordance with the State Educational Program and the Updated State Educational Program for the second stage of primary school, for grammar schools with a four- and five-year educational program and for grammar schools with an eight-year educational program.

The graduate can also work as an Italian language teacher.

The potential of the study program in terms of graduates' employment is increased by the fact that the Faculty of Education of the Comenius University prepares Italian language teachers as one of few workplaces in the whole Slovak Republic and the only workplace in the Bratislava region, and provides teachers for the needs of the market throughout Slovakia. In the Bratislava region alone, the possibilities of application are quite wide. In addition to a grammar school with an Italian bilingual section and other classes where the Italian language is taught, there are conservatories, vocational secondary schools, the State Language School, private language schools, the cultural department of the Italian Embassy, the consulate and the Italian-Slovak Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the teaching profession, graduates of the Master's degree may also find professional employment in institutions providing monitoring and research in education and schooling, with a focus on language education. A successful graduate interested in further professional and qualification development can continue his/her studies in the third cycle (at the Faculty of Education of the Comenius University in the doctoral program Didactics of Foreign Languages and Literatures).

The competences, knowledge and skills acquired during the studies, including transferable competences, enable them to enter professions requiring a high level of competence in the Italian language, excellent speaking, presentation skills, critical thinking, responsibility, independence, the ability to work together to solve problems creatively and, in general, knowledge, skills and competences corresponding to level 7 of the SKKR.

Training schools - implementation of teaching practice in Italian language
(we are continuously updating the list):

• Conservatory, Tolstého 11, Bratislava

Cooperating institutions:

• Embassy of Italy

• Italian Cultural Institute

Foreign institutions - bilateral Erasmus+ contracts:

• Sapienza – Università di Roma

• Scuola Superiore per Mediatori Linguistici CIELS, Padova

• Universidad Complutense de Madrid

• Universidad de Valladolid

• Universidad de Granada

• Universidad de Almería

• Universidad de Huelva

• Université Clermont Auvergne

• Université de Lille

• Sapienza - Università di Roma

• Scuola Superiore per Mediatori Linguistici CIELS, Padova

• Universidade do Porto

• University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

• Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest

• Universitatea din București

CEEPUS:
International Inter-University Network CIII-HU-0809-05-2223 FISH (FRENCH, ITALIAN, ITALIAN) - ROMANCE LANGUAGES AND CULTURES - STRATEGIES OF COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE TRANSFER IN CENTRAL EUROPE: Masaryk University in Brno, Universities of Graz, Zagreb, Zadar, Krakow, Ljubljana, Budapest, Cluj and Novi Sad.