First Level Master's in "Teaching Italian as a Non-Native Language

The Master's programme aims to:

• provide specialist training for Italian and international graduates working in Italy and abroad in the teaching of Italian to students whose first language is not Italian
• train teaching staff from any disciplinary area in intercultural contexts and in the field of teaching and learning Italian as a non-native language, offering theoretical and linguistic-cultural knowledge and developing practical skills

The master's programme aims to deepen understanding of the structures, usage, and varieties of the Italian language for teaching Italian as a first language, as a non-native language, as well as the main theories regarding the acquisition of Italian as a second language (L2) and glottodidactic methodologies.

The objectives are to develop specific professional skills for teaching the Italian language and culture as a foreign language (Italian abroad) and as a second language (for immigrant students).

The possible professional fields in which the qualification can be utilised are as follows:

• Collaborator or language specialist at the language centres of Italian universities for teaching Italian to international university students on mobility programmes
• Italian L2/LS language assistant at Italian Cultural Institutes (IIC) or foreign universities
• Italian language teacher in public institutions as well as private and/or state-recognised schools in Italy and abroad.

The award of the Master’s degree may also result in the allocation of points or credits for teaching staff in public and private schools and institutions abroad, subject to the laws and regulations in force in the respective countries.

The qualification obtained from this Master’s programme (pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 92 of 23/02/2016 issued by the MIUR) is also recognised as a specialisation in Italian as a Second Language, valid for participation in public examinations for teaching positions in class A-23 “Italian language for learners of foreign (non-native) language”.

For provincial rankings (GPS), the Italian Ministry of Education, Department for the Education, Schooling and Training System, circular no. 162 of 02/02/2021, awards 3 points to specialisation certificates in Italian L2 listed in Annex A of Ministerial Decree No. 92 of 23/02/2016.

The University Credits (CFU) / European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits awarded by the Master’s programme may be recognised at university level, both in Italy and abroad (for bachelor’s and/or master’s degree programmes or equivalent programmes abroad).

The attainment of the master's degree in Teaching Italian as a Non-Native Language allows for direct admission to the second year of the Master’s Degree Programme in Teaching Italian to Foreigners (ItaS), linguistics track, at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia (see the Call for Applications for the Master’s). In this way, candidates can obtain the master’s degree in the first academic year and the Master’s Degree in the following year. These two consecutive pathways produce professionals who are highly qualified and highly competitive in the field of teaching Italian as a second and foreign language.

Three-year degree under the current system or four-year degree under the system prior to Ministerial Decree 509/1999, in any academic discipline, or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent.

International applicants are required to provide certification of Italian language proficiency at B2 level: CELI, CILS, PLIDA, cert.it (University of Roma Tre).

International applicants are exempt from providing B2 level Italian language certification if they hold:

• a degree obtained in Italy
• a foreign degree that included at least three years of Italian language study
• a doctoral degree awarded in Italy

Scientific Director
Prof. Francesca Malagnini
Curriculum Vitae

Scientific Committee
Internal Member: Prof. Francesca Malagnini – Full Professor SSD: LIFI 01/A (formerly L-FIL-LET/12)
Internal Member: Prof. Letizia Cinganotto – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Internal Member: Dr Federica Aucone – Expert Linguistic Collaborator (fixed-term)
Prof. Borbala Samu – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Dr Claudia Fedeli – Expert Linguistic Collaborator (fixed-term)

Alternate Members:
Prof. Roberto Dolci – Full Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Prof. Valentina Gasbarra – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/A (formerly L-LIN/01)
Dr Catia Mugnani – Expert Linguistic Collaborator (fixed-term)

Remote delivery:
6 months (October 2026 – April 2027) of primarily asynchronous teaching with pre-recorded lectures and 2 months (May 2027 – June 2027) of synchronous teaching.

Language: Italian

Recognised ECTS credits: 60

Participants: minimum: 20 - maximum: 50

Tuition fee: €2,800.00, payable in three instalments

The Master’s programme has a duration of 1,500 hours (60 ECTS).

It features a range of diverse distance learning methods, combining synchronous teaching sessions (which will also be recorded) with asynchronous lessons. This variety of teaching approaches, alongside e-tivities and discussion forums, greatly benefits learning and helps participants develop skills for managing multilingual and multicultural classes.

Specifically, the Master’s programme comprises the following for the three Educational Clusters:

1. Synchronous teaching activities with remote tutoring
   Remote synchronous lessons, which will also be recorded, are designed to foster a sense of community among participants. These sessions promote dialogue and direct interaction with academic staff. Key points from the lessons will also be revisited and discussed in forums, under the supervision of tutors.
2. Asynchronous teaching activities
   These are pre-recorded video lessons and represent the main learning modality of the Master’s programme. To encourage direct and real-time exchange with instructors, approximately two hours will also be delivered synchronously.
3. Monitored remote ‘internship’ activities
   The Practicum, a core component of the programme, bridges the extensive theoretical component with practical experience. The Practicum is a highly professionally oriented internship, involving an intensive period of supervised teaching practice led by expert tutor-instructors and carried out on the EDUNEXT online platform.
   It comprises three stages, during which participants receive continuous support and guidance from tutors:
   1. Monitored Teaching Activity (ADM)
   2. Observation of pre-recorded lessons representing various teaching types
   3. Live synchronous observation (optional)

A tutor manager will provide assistance to participants throughout the entire e-learning pathway and Teams lessons, acting as a liaison between participants, teaching staff, and technical and administrative staff.

Assessment is conducted at the end of each cluster and following the synchronous lessons. The activities of the Practicum are evaluated by Practicum tutors. At the end of the programme, a final examination is scheduled.

Final Examination

Participants are required to submit a written report.

The report consists of two parts: a reflective analysis on the overall learning experience or an in-depth exploration of a chosen topic covered within the Master’s programme, and a reflection on the internship, with particular emphasis on self-reflection and peer observation.

The report will be discussed in the presence of the panel composed of the Director, academic staff and tutors, and it will be assessed accordingly.

The final grade, expressed out of thirty, is calculated as the average of the marks obtained in the final assessments of the Educational Clusters, synchronous modules on Teams, the Practicum, and the final assessment (report and discussion).

The weighting of each component is as follows:

• Three Educational Clusters: 55%
• Practicum: 35%
• Final assessment: 10%