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

Linguistics and Language Teaching Area

• to develop advanced expertise in the Italian linguistic system, covering phonological-morphological, syntactic, textual and lexical aspects, as well as the relationship between language and context (situational, social and cultural)
• to be able to apply the main theories and operational models of language teaching and educational linguistics in relation to the diverse groups of foreign learners that a teacher of Italian as a foreign or second language (LS/L2) must address both within Italy and internationally
• to acquire a solid theoretical foundation and develop practical skills enabling the design and proposal of teaching activities and systematic assessment tasks, including the use of new technologies, in accordance with clearly defined language learning pathways and objectives as outlined in the CEFR and other European documents
• to acquire the theoretical foundations of language assessment and the related practical skills to develop language tests that can demonstrably ensure their validity
• to gain an understanding of the pragmatic relationship between linguistic expression, speaker intention and social context, adopting a comparative perspective across languages and cultures
• to be able to promote intercultural understanding and dialogue in multi-ethnic and multilingual social settings
• to be able to explain the historical processes shaping the Italian language, the factors underlying linguistic unification, and the relationships between language, dialects and regional varieties from both historical and contemporary perspectives
• to be able to illustrate the contexts and stages that have characterised the international expansion and vitality of Italian as a language of culture and as a lingua franca, as well as the current demand for Italian abroad and the principal motivations for learning Italian language and culture
• to understand the sociolinguistic landscape of contemporary Italy and the language of new media, including the development of innovative teaching tools
• to develop specialised knowledge of the languages, socio-cultural reality and literary heritage of a European country (and/or of East Asia or the Arab world)

Philology and Literary Area

• to have knowledge of authors and works in Italian literature in relation to genres and the historical and cultural context of different periods, including from a comparative perspective
• to be familiar with the main methods for the critical interpretation of texts from the Italian literary tradition
• to know the principal methods of critical editing of texts, including the relationship between philology and linguistic history
• to be able to interpret literary texts by situating them within an appropriate critical framework and by applying key tools of historical, philological, linguistic, rhetorical-stylistic and hermeneutical analysis, including for the development of effective teaching strategies for Italian literature and cultural heritage to foreign learners

Historical-Political and Art-Historical Area

• to understand and interpret the historical events involving Italy from the 19th to the 21st century, both regarding national affairs and the country's position within the broader European and international context
• to be able to illustrate the main developments of Italian civilisation, with reference to the history of ideas, cultural traditions and political ideologies, considering their distinctive features and ongoing interaction with relevant historical contexts, with particular attention to individuals and movements of significant international impact
• to know the principal artists and stylistic movements in Italian art, with particular reference to the rich artistic heritage of Umbria, and to be able to contextualise them across different periods and trends
• to be able to outline and foster a personal engagement with Italian musicians of the past, in comparison with current trends in the artistic market: economics, business, advertising and music management

In the Linguistics curriculum, students will also acquire proficiency in a distant language (Chinese, Arabic or Japanese), focusing their preparation and the development of operational skills on specific fields and directions within theoretical and applied linguistics.

In the Cultural-Identity curriculum, students will deepen their theoretical preparation and further develop practical and research skills in the most significant fields of our cultural tradition, with reference to the historical drivers shaping national identity and its international projection.

In both pathways, a solid language teaching and cultural curriculum is further enriched by seminars, workshops and professional training activities with a dedicated focus on teaching Italian to foreigners.

It is possible to combine aspects of both pathways thanks to elective modules.

The main aim of the Master's Degree Programme is to prepare future teachers of Italian as a second language (teaching qualification class A23).

Graduates from ItaS may also qualify for teaching in the areas corresponding to teaching classes A12 (Literary subjects in upper secondary schools) and A22 (Italian, history, and geography in lower secondary schools).

Graduates’ thorough knowledge of Italian civilisation makes them eligible for roles within institutions and organisations engaged in promoting the Italian language and culture abroad and in the enhancement of Italian cultural heritage.

Career Opportunities:

• Teacher of Italian as a non-native language in Italian state schools in Italy and abroad (teaching qualification class A23, “Italian language for speakers of other languages”)
• 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 organisations, territorial centres (CPIA), and other cultural or humanitarian institutions, both in Italy and abroad, including organisational and management roles in Italian language and culture courses
• Language expert and collaborator in Italian language and culture courses, University language centres, and centres for language proficiency assessment
• Italian language lector in universities and schools abroad
• Cultural officer at Italian diplomatic and cultural institutions abroad, including Italian Cultural Institutes, and at organisations and foundations dedicated to promoting Italian language and culture internationally
• Editor and journalist in the field of traditional or multimedia publishing related to Italian language teaching and culture
• Consultant and collaborator in public and private schools for the linguistic integration and support of foreign students
• Linguistic and cultural mediator or facilitator
• Researcher or field worker in research projects in the various areas of Italian studies and theoretical and applied linguistics

Under the agreement signed with the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula (Croatia), a double degree programme is also available, allowing students to obtain both the ItAS Master’s Degree, awarded by the University for Foreigners of 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).

According to the agreement signed with the University of Lorraine (France), a double degree programme is also available, enabling students to obtain both the ItaS Master’s Degree, awarded by the University for Foreigners of Perugia, and the Master’s Degree "Master MEEF - Métiers de l’enseignement, de l’education et de la formation, mention 2nd degré, Italian track" awarded by the University of Lorraine (Nancy campus).

* The ECTS credits assigned to foreign language course units include 3 ECTS delivered by a native speaker language instructor.

** Elective course units are autonomously chosen by the student among Master's degrees offered by the University.
In addition, the Degree Programme recommends the options listed, as they are considered consistent with the contents and learning objectives of the degree.

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

Admission to the Master's Degree Programme in Italian for Teaching to Foreigners requires possession of a bachelor's degree or a three-year university diploma, or another recognised suitable qualification obtained abroad.

To enrol in the above-mentioned programme, students must also:

• meet the required curricular prerequisites
• undergo a non-selective interview to assess their academic preparation. Candidates may take the test provided they meet the curricular requirements. There will also be a non-selective practical test to verify IT skills.

Curricular Requirements

For admission to the Master's Degree Programme in Italian for Teaching to Foreigners, students must have prior curricular knowledge corresponding to a total of 54 ECTS credits in the following subject areas:

A tolerance of up to 10% (equal to 6 ECTS credits) of the required credits is permitted. Relevant language and/or IT certificates and/or internship experiences may be included in the calculation if deemed pertinent to the indicated areas and disciplines. Any additional ECTS credits required to satisfy the curricular requirements must be obtained before enrolling in the Master's Degree Programme and prior to the assessment interview, at any University, as single course units within a first cycle degree programme.

For details on enrolment in single course units at this University, please refer to the Academic Regulations.

The fulfilment of curricular requirements will be verified by the Degree Programme and Teaching Administration Office of the University. Students may submit their documentation via email to segreteria.laurea@unistrapg.it or deliver it in person to the above office (Palazzina Orvieto, Viale C. Manuali, 9 - 06123 Perugia).

For the assessment of curricular requirements, students must provide:

• a copy of the degree certificate (for graduates) including a list of all examinations taken, with indication of credits earned and the relevant scientific-disciplinary sectors
• a copy of the list of completed and pending examinations (for students about to graduate), with indication of credits earned and to be earned, and the relevant scientific-disciplinary sectors.