Vivace: intermediate Italian follows on from Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195). It revises and consolidates your knowledge of Italian and teaches more advanced language in the context of society and culture in Italian-speaking communities. It offers insights into many aspects of everyday life in modern Italy, so you’ll have a better understanding of issues that concern Italian people. The study resources – including printed materials and a variety of online resources – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This key introductory OU level 1 module also teaches good study skills and language-learning strategies.
What you will study
Vivace: intermediate Italian will develop your confidence in understanding, speaking, reading and writing Italian, whether you want to improve your Italian for personal or for vocational reasons.
The module consists of:
- A website – that helps you to navigate through the module and pace your study, as well as offering you the opportunity to interact with other students, both in your own tutor group and across the module.
- A study guide – that helps you to understand how the different elements of the module fit together.
- Two books – that contain a wide range of language-learning activities based on written texts.
- Audio-visual interactive material – that includes video and audio clips recorded in various locations in Italy and a wide range of interactive language activities. These activities, together with those based on written texts, will develop your understanding of grammar and linguistic structures, and develop your reading and writing skills.
The material covers themes such as talking about family; childhood memories; health; work and regional differences; describing and comparing people; arranging meetings; and organising holidays.
This module is designed to enable you to achieve a level of language proficiency equivalent to level B1 of the Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You will have developed your knowledge and understanding of the language as well as an awareness of cultural diversity in Italy which form a key part of the learning outcomes for studying at this level. By the end of the module you will have developed key OU level 1 undergraduate study skills such as learning to work independently and using strategies which enable you to solve problems and analyse data.
Entry
This is a key introductory OU level 1 module. OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning.
You require a working knowledge of Italian to study this module. It is ideal for students who have successfully completed Andante: beginners' Italian (L195) (now discontinued), or who have reached a similar linguistic standard. Your knowledge does not need to be formal. It could come from either adult education classes, time spent in Italy, regular contact with Italian-speaking people or other sources. You should be able to understand the gist of what native speakers say and to hold a basic conversation in Italian in everyday situations such as talking about yourself; your family and where you’re from; booking a hotel; or asking for directions.
To help decide if you have sufficient Italian to take this module with confidence, see our guidance on choosing the right modern language level. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Preparatory work
If you have time before the module begins, we suggest that you continue to use your Italian in any way you can. You could do this by: redoing some of the activities in Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195) – now discontinued; watching and listening to the L195 audio materials; reading an Italian newspaper; using online resources; or watching some films in Italian. Anything you can do to keep practising your Italian will be helpful.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying L150 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
Study materials
What's included
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner
- course-specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assessment details and submission section
- online tutorial access.
You’ll also be provided with two printed module books, each covering 5/6 units of study, and a printed study guide.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written and spoken tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you’re new to the OU, your tutor will be keen to help develop your study skills. This module includes a programme of tutorial events, all of which are offered online, and some of which are also offered face-to-face. You therefore have the option of attending all events online or a mixture of online and face-to-face. Where face-to-face events are held will depend on the geographical distribution of students taking the module. All of these tutorial events, whether online or face-to-face, will provide plenty of opportunities to speak and listen to Italian.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
The TMAs test your writing and speaking skills. The final TMA is an interactive speaking assignment which will be carried out online. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the module.
Professional recognition
The Chartered Institute of Marketing now recognises this module under their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
Future availability
Vivace: intermediate Italian (L150) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2020.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2020.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.