Master’s Degree Programme in Italian for Teaching to Foreigners (ItaS)

Linguistic and Language Teaching Area

• Develop advanced expertise in the Italian linguistic system, focusing on phonological, morphological, syntactic, textual, and lexical aspects, as well as the relationship between language and context (situational, social, and cultural)
• Understand and apply the main principles and operational models of language teaching and educational linguistics, tailored to the diverse audiences of foreign learners whom teachers of Italian as a Second/Foreign Language (L2/FL) must address both within and beyond national borders
• Acquire a solid theoretical foundation and develop practical skills for designing and implementing educational activities and systematic assessment tasks, including through new technologies, ensuring alignment with clearly defined language learning paths and objectives as outlined in the CEFR and other European documents
• Gain theoretical foundations in the assessment of language proficiency and corresponding practical skills, in order to develop language tests and ensure their validity
• Critically reflect on pragmatic relationships between linguistic expression, intention, and social context in a comparative perspective across different languages and cultures
• Promote understanding and intercultural dialogue in multiethnic and multilingual contexts
• Understand and explain the historical formation and development of the Italian language, the factors behind linguistic unification, and the relationships between language, dialects, and regional varieties from both historical and contemporary perspectives
• Understand and explain the spheres and stages characterizing the spread and vitality of Italian abroad as both a language of culture and a vehicular language, as well as current international demand for Italian and the main motivations for learning the Italian language and culture
• Gain insight into the sociolinguistic landscape of contemporary Italy and the language of new media, including with reference to the development of innovative teaching tools
• Develop specific knowledge of the language, socio-cultural reality, and literary heritage of a European country (and/or East Asia or the Arab world)

Philological and Literary Area

• Become familiar with authors and works of Italian literature with regard to genres and the historical-cultural context of various periods, including a comparative perspective
• Understand the main critical and interpretative methodologies for texts from the Italian literary tradition
• Gain an understanding of the primary methods for producing critical editions of texts, especially concerning the relationship between philology and linguistic history
• Interpret literary texts, situating them in an appropriate critical context and applying key tools of historical, philological, linguistic, rhetorical-stylistic, and hermeneutic analysis, including for the development of effective teaching strategies for Italian literature and cultural heritage for foreign learners

Historical-Political and Art Historical Area

• Understand and interpret the principal historical events affecting Italy from the 19th to the 21st centuries, both regarding national affairs and Italy’s role within the wider European and international context
• Understand and explain the events and evolutionary processes of Italian civilization, focusing on the history of ideas, cultural traditions, and political ideologies, both in their uniqueness and in their ongoing interplay with historical contexts, with special attention to figures and movements of broad international relevance
• Be familiar with the main Italian artists and stylistic movements, with special reference to the rich artistic heritage of Umbria, and be able to contextualize and compare different periods and trends
• Develop and encourage a personal approach to the study of past Italian musicians, comparing them to contemporary trends in the arts market: economics, business, publicity, and music management

In the Linguistics curriculum, students will also acquire knowledge of a distant language (Chinese, Arabic, or Japanese) and focus their preparation and practical skills on specific areas of theoretical and applied linguistics.

In the Cultural-Identity curriculum, students will deepen their theoretical training and enhance both practical and research skills in the most significant sectors of Italian cultural tradition, with particular regard to the historical factors underlying national identity and its projection abroad.

Both tracks offer a robust curriculum in language teaching and culture, enriched by seminars, workshops, and professional activities with a focus on teaching Italian to foreign learners.

The two tracks allow for cross-disciplinary opportunities through elective courses.

The main objective of the master's degree programme is to train future teachers of Italian as a second language (teaching class A23).

Graduates of ItaS may also pursue teaching positions in classes A12 (Literary Subjects in upper secondary schools) and A22 (Italian, history, geography in lower secondary schools).

The in-depth knowledge of Italian culture acquired in the programme also enables graduates to work for organizations involved in promoting the Italian language and culture abroad and in enhancing Italian cultural heritage.

Professional profiles:

• Teacher of Italian as a non-native language in state schools in Italy and abroad (teaching class A23, "Italian language for learners of foreign origin (alloglotti)")
• Teacher of Italian, history, and geography in lower secondary schools
• Teacher of literary subjects in upper secondary schools
• Teacher of Italian as a non-native language in private schools and organizations, provincial centres for adult education (CPIA), and other cultural or humanitarian institutions in Italy and abroad, including roles involving the organization and management of Italian language and culture courses
• Language expert and instructor in Italian language and culture courses, university language centres, and testing and assessment centres for language proficiency
• Italian language lecturer at universities and schools abroad
• Cultural officer at Italian diplomatic and cultural representations abroad, including Italian Cultural Institutes, and at organizations and foundations promoting the Italian language and culture abroad
• Editor and journalist in traditional or digital publishing specializing in language teaching and Italian culture
• Consultant and collaborator in public and private schools for the integration and linguistic support of foreign students
• Linguistic and cultural mediator or facilitator
• Researcher or field operator in research projects in various areas of Italian studies and theoretical or applied linguistics

Based on the agreement signed with the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (Croatia), a double degree pathway is also available, which allows students to obtain both the ItAS Master’s Degree, awarded by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, and the Master's Degree in Italian Language and Literature (LILE) at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary, Italian, and Cultural Studies of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (Croatia).

Based on the agreement signed with the University of Lorraine (France), a double degree pathway is also available, enabling students to obtain both the ItaS Master’s Degree, awarded by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, and the Master's degree Master MEEF - Métiers de l’enseignement, de l’education et de la formation, mention 2nd degré, Parcours italien, awarded by the University of Lorraine (Nancy campus).

* The ECTS credits for foreign language courses include 3 ECTS taught by a native-speaking Language Assistant/Lecturer.

** Elective courses are chosen independently by the student from any degree program of the same level offered by the University.
In addition, the degree programme recommends the options indicated here, as they are considered consistent with the course content and learning objectives.

Students can check their study plans to see which courses are compulsory, optional, or elective.

To enroll in the Master's Degree in Italian for Teaching to Foreigners, applicants must hold either a bachelor’s degree, a three-year university diploma, or another academic qualification obtained abroad and recognized as suitable.

In order to register for the above-mentioned degree programme, students must also:

• meet the required curricular prerequisites
• undergo a non-competitive interview to assess their individual preparedness. Candidates may take this assessment only if they fulfill the curricular prerequisites. In addition, a practical, non-competitive test will be administered to verify IT skills.

Curricular prerequisites

To be admitted to the Master's Degree in Italian for Teaching to Foreigners, students must have prior curricular knowledge totaling 54 ECTS credits in the following academic fields:

A tolerance of up to 10% (equivalent to 6 ECTS credits) of the required ECTS credits is permitted. Language and/or IT certificates and/or relevant internship experiences related to the specified fields and subject areas may be included in the total credits count. Any additional ECTS credits required to meet the curricular prerequisites must be obtained—prior to enrolment in the master’s programme and before the assessment of individual preparation—at any University, in the form of “single courses” within first-cycle (bachelor’s) degree programmes.

For information on registering for “single courses” at this University, please refer to the academic regulations.

The verification of curricular requirements will be carried out by the University’s Degree Course and Teaching Secretariat. Students may send their documentation by email to segreteria.laurea@unistrapg.it or submit it in person to the Secretariat (Palazzina Orvieto, Viale C. Manuali, 9 - 06123 Perugia).

For the verification of curricular prerequisites, students must provide:

• a copy of the degree certificate (for graduates), including a list of exams taken with corresponding credits and subject areas
• a copy of the list of exams taken and yet to be taken (for graduating students), indicating credits acquired and to be acquired and the relevant subject areas.