The Story of Italian: Study Abroad

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject requires overseas travel.

This intensive four-week study aborad subject will be taught in Venice between the end of November and December 2009 and begins with an overview of the history of the language with a focus on the linguistic situation in Roman Italy, the fragmentation of Latin and the development of vernaculars from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Some aspects of palaeography (the art of analysing and reading handwriting) will be studied. Field trips to the Marciana Library and the Museo Correr will provide students with basic knowledge of codicology (study of manuscripts) and the basic skills needed to work on fifteenth century primary sources. On completion of this subject, student should have acquired an understanding of the history of the Italian language and of the emergence of a Tuscan lingua franca of the Italian and European Renaissance. Students will also be able to gain a basic knowledge of the language and text production of the Italian Renaissance.

• gain an understanding of the development of Italian vernaculars before and during the Renaissance
• acquire skills in reading and studying fifteenth century primary sources
• locate and analyse a range of literary and visual materials available only in Italian libraries
• acquire skills needed to be able to carry out research in Italian libraries
• gain public speaking confidence in an unfamiliar cultural and linguistic setting

A subject reader will be available from the Bookshop 3 weeks before the beginning of the Overseas Intensive.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• gain an understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of Italian culture, and by formulating arguments.
• communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically: through essay and assignment writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations.
• gain skills in public speaking and confidence in self-expression through tutorial participation and class presentations.