Ateneo - UPO

The course develops the linguistic and communicative competences required to navigate and participate with increasing autonomy in university life and in the main situations of everyday life in Italian, progressively supporting students from the development of their initial language competences towards CEFR Level A2. Course content is organised around meaningful communicative tasks and includes the reception and production of spoken, written, and multimodal texts, interaction with lecturers, fellow students, and other interlocutors, the mediation of simple information, reflection on key linguistic and pragmatic resources, and the progressive development of learner autonomy in language learning and use.
The Italian as a Second Language – Elementary Level course is intended for international students at the University who are beginning to learn Italian or whose language competences correspond to the initial levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The course is organised into two progressive modules (A1 and A2); placement in the most appropriate module is determined on the basis of each student's language profile and the results of initial orientation and assessment activities.

Course materials are made available through the DIR CLUPO – Italian L2 platform (hereafter, the DIR platform), which serves as the course documentation space, the main channel of communication with students, and the online environment supporting teaching and learning activities. The platform provides materials used during lessons, final assessment practice materials, and supplementary resources, enabling students to continue working independently outside class.

Digital resources
DIR – CLUPO – Italiano in pillole is the platform dedicated to self-directed learning. The resources provided support the development of the language competences required for university study, the consolidation of grammatical and lexical competences, the development of reading and study strategies, the improvement of academic and professional writing, and engagement with texts drawn from university life, the media, and different academic disciplines.

Reference materials and resources for additional support
The following materials are not required course textbooks but may be used to strengthen prerequisite knowledge, support independent consolidation, and explore specific linguistic and disciplinary areas in greater depth.
Vocabulary and grammar
Duso, E. M. (2019). Grammatica dell'italiano L2. Studi Superiori.
Al Dente 1 – Corso d'italiano A1. Casa delle Lingue.
Al Dente 2 – Corso d'italiano A2. Casa delle Lingue.
These volumes may be used for independent review and consolidation of language competences developed at previous levels.
Italian for academic study
Italiano per economisti. Alma Edizioni.
Italiano per giuristi. Alma Edizioni.
Italiano per medici. Alma Edizioni.
Additional materials, selected by the lecturer according to the needs of the group and the different academic disciplines, will be made available through the DIR platform during the course.

Organisation of teaching activities
The course carries 6 ECTS credits, corresponding to a total student workload of 150 hours, comprising 50 hours of structured learning activities (2 ECTS) and 100 hours of independent study and self-directed learning (4 ECTS). The course is offered in two parallel formats: face-to-face and synchronous online. It includes 10 hours of lectures (DE; TEL-DE – 0.4 ECTS), devoted to the introduction and systematic development of language structures, vocabulary, strategies, and methodological content, and 40 hours of interactive teaching (DI; TEL-DI – 1.6 ECTS), devoted to communicative tasks, guided practice, collaborative work, and activities focusing on linguistic and pragmatic awareness.
Learning objectives
The course supports students in progressing from the development of initial linguistic and communicative competences in Italian towards CEFR Levels A1 and A2, with particular emphasis on the uses of Italian required to navigate and participate in university life and manage the main situations of everyday life in Italy.
The course is organised into two progressive modules (A1 and A2), designed to support students with different initial levels of proficiency in progressing towards CEFR Level A2 and participating with increasing autonomy in university life, University services, and the main social and public contexts.
Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to develop students' understanding of spoken, written, and multimodal texts related to the main contexts of university and everyday life and to expand the linguistic repertoire required to navigate University and local services, participate in common communicative interactions, and understand frequently encountered instructions, information, and procedures. Particular attention is devoted to high-frequency vocabulary, pragmatic and discourse competence, and the main conventions of communication across different contexts.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The course promotes the integrated development of reception, production, interaction, and mediation through tasks related to authentic situations in university and everyday life. Students develop the ability to understand, select, use, and communicate information from different sources and to use Italian appropriately to navigate different situations, collaborate with other students, and meet their main communicative needs.
Making informed judgements
The course develops students' ability to reflect on their language development, identify effective strategies for managing the main communicative tasks of university and everyday life, and use feedback and self-assessment tools to progressively guide their learning.
Communication skills
The course aims to strengthen students' ability to participate in common interactions in university and everyday life, introduce themselves and describe their educational background, ask for and provide information, understand and reformulate simple content from different sources, collaborate with other students, and communicate clearly, coherently, and appropriately with different interlocutors and in different communicative contexts.
Learning skills
The course promotes learner autonomy through the informed use of digital resources, students' plurilingual repertoire, and strategies for self-assessment, learning planning, and monitoring. These activities support the consolidation of language competences and preparation for the subsequent Italian as a Second Language – Intermediate Level course.

The course is intended for students who have had no previous contact with Italian or whose linguistic and communicative competences in Italian range from Pre-A1 to A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). On the basis of the initial assessment, students are placed in the A1 or A2 module most appropriate to their level of proficiency.
Placement in the course is preceded by a welcome and orientation module, designed to establish students' linguistic and academic profiles and identify the CLUPO course best suited to their learning needs. The module includes the collection of students' language biographies, an individual interview, a placement test, and the definition of their learning programme. The required level of language proficiency is verified on the basis of the available documentation and the results of the activities completed during the welcome and orientation module. Where a different level of language proficiency is identified, students are directed to the most appropriate CLUPO course.
Information on course access and orientation activities is available on the DIR CLUPO – Italian L2 platform.

The course adopts a communicative, task-based approach, drawing on situations and practices from university life. Teaching activities are designed to promote meaningful language use through tasks related to study, collaboration, and participation in the academic community, integrating the development of reception, production, interaction, and mediation.
Lessons are delivered synchronously online according to the schedule published on the DIR platform and are complemented by guided practice, individual and collaborative work, activities focusing on linguistic and pragmatic awareness, and the oral and written reformulation of disciplinary texts. Together, these activities support the progressive development of a learning community in which communicative demands and language needs emerging during the course become an integral part of the teaching and learning process.
The lecturer supports students in defining their individual learning programme, guiding their work in relation to individual objectives, their university studies, and the language needs that emerge during the course. The course design remains flexible, allowing activities, materials, and tasks to be progressively adapted to the needs of the group and to different disciplinary contexts.
The course is organised into teaching modules focusing on different communicative situations and practices of university life. The modular structure supports the progressive development of the different dimensions of communicative language competence and allows modules to be revisited or supplemented during the year according to students' linguistic and academic needs.
Course activities are complemented by the self-directed learning modules available on the DIR CLUPO – Italiano in Pillole platform, which enable students to consolidate their language competences, monitor their progress, and personalise their independent learning through materials, exercises, and self-assessment activities.
The course adopts inclusive and participatory teaching methods designed to value the diversity of linguistic and cultural profiles within the group, promote peer collaboration, and support the active participation of all students, while respecting individual differences and different learning styles.

The course runs throughout the academic year and is delivered primarily in Italian. Students' plurilingual repertoires are valued as resources for learning, language awareness, and mediation.
Attendance is not compulsory but is strongly recommended. Students who are unable to attend regularly can use the learning resources available on the Moodle.DIR platform.
Participation in the welcome and orientation module is required for placement in the course.
Up-to-date information on course organisation, lesson schedules, teaching materials, enrolment procedures, and examinations is available on the DIR CLUPO – Italian L2 platform, which serves as the main communication environment between the CLUPO Language Centre and students.
To participate in the courses, students are required to:
• enrol on the DIR CLUPO – Italian L2 platform;
• complete the enrolment form;
• participate in the welcome and orientation module.
Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated services and support by contacting the Student Career Development and Support Office and consulting the dedicated page on the University website.
For further information, students can consult the DIR CLUPO – Italian L2 platform or contact the CLUPO Language Centre teaching staff at ital2.clupo@uniupo.it.

Assessment is primarily formative and is designed to support the progressive development of the language competences required for participation in university life and subsequent progression to the Italian as a Second Language – Intermediate Level course.
Throughout the course, students engage in self-assessment and reflection on their learning, supported by the use of a portfolio, lecturer feedback, and progress-monitoring tools. Formative assessment is based on the observation of students' performance in the tasks completed during the course, with particular attention to reception, production, interaction, mediation, and the development of learner autonomy.
At the end of the course, assessment activities and self-assessment tests enable students to reflect on the level of proficiency achieved, identify areas requiring further consolidation, and plan the next stage of their learning.
Self-assessment activities are intended to support learning and orientation and do not provide formal certification of language proficiency.

The course programme is organised into thematic modules, each focusing on the development of the linguistic and communicative competences required to participate progressively in university and everyday life in Italian. The course comprises two progressive levels (A1 and A2), designed to address different levels of initial language proficiency and support students in developing increasing autonomy in the main situations of university life.
Each module integrates reception, production, interaction, and mediation through meaningful communicative tasks, primarily using authentic texts from the main contexts of university life and, for students enrolled in English-taught degree programmes, everyday life in Italy.
The modules are not intended as rigidly sequential units but may be developed, revisited, and supplemented throughout the year according to students' linguistic and disciplinary needs. Classroom activities are complemented by consolidation and supplementary learning activities on the DIR CLUPO – Italiano in Pillole platform, enabling students to personalise their independent learning and develop greater learner autonomy.
A1 COURSE
Module 0. Orientation and learning planning
Target task
Navigate the Italian L2 course and the main University services, identify available resources, and define initial learning objectives.
Content and activities
Exploration of students' own linguistic repertoire; introduction to course organisation and the main University services; exploration of the DIR platform; orientation within University facilities and essential city services; definition of initial personal learning objectives; initial development of learning and self-assessment strategies.
Module 1. Presenting your profile
Target task
Introduce yourself and provide key personal, linguistic, and academic information to participate in initial university activities and everyday interactions.
Content and activities
Introducing oneself, one's background, and studies; describing interests, needs, and objectives; completing simple forms and profiles; initial interactions with fellow students, lecturers, and other interlocutors; short spoken and written presentations.
Module 2. Understanding and using information
Target task
Understand essential information needed to navigate University services and manage common situations in everyday life.
Content and activities
Understanding notices, instructions, timetables, maps, messages, and simple explanations; identifying key information; asking for clarification; using information to carry out university activities and everyday practical tasks.
Module 3. Interacting and collaborating
Target task
Interact in common situations of university and everyday life to meet immediate communicative needs.
Content and activities
Greetings and introductions; asking for information and help; asking simple questions; interacting with lecturers, fellow students, University staff, and staff in essential services; participating in short collaborative activities and managing simple everyday situations.
Module 4. Understanding, integrating, and sharing information
Target task
Find and use simple information from different texts to carry out activities in university and everyday life.
Content and activities
Consulting webpages, maps, notices, timetables, forms, and course materials; identifying essential information; connecting information from different sources; simple spoken and written reformulation to help a fellow student or complete a task.
Module 5. Interpreting and communicating data
Target task
Interpret simple representations of information to navigate common university and everyday contexts.
Content and activities
Reading timetables, calendars, maps, tables, and simple infographics; identifying key data; comparing information; using data to organise activities, select services, and communicate simple decisions.
Module 6. Consolidating competences and preparing for the next level
Target task
Identify the competences developed during the course and plan the next stage of learning.
Content and activities
Review of completed tasks; self-assessment of developed competences; use of the portfolio and feedback; identification of areas for improvement; consolidation of learning strategies and preparation for the A2 course.
A2 COURSE
Module 0. Orientation and learning planning
Target task
Organise one's learning using the main linguistic, University, and local resources with guidance.
Content and activities
Review of students' language learning experience; identification of learning needs; use of course and University resources and key local services; planning of independent work; development of learning, self-assessment, and progress-monitoring strategies.
Module 1. Presenting your profile
Target task
Present one's educational background, previous experiences, and objectives in predictable university and social contexts.
Content and activities
Describing educational background and personal experiences; presenting interests, habits, and objectives; adapting communication to different interlocutors; producing short presentations and simple written communications.
Module 2. Understanding, discussing, and using information
Target task
Understand information and explanations related to study, University services, and everyday life in order to complete simple tasks.
Content and activities
Understanding spoken, written, and multimodal texts; connecting information from different sources; identifying relevant information; using information to solve simple problems, organise activities, and complete study-related tasks.
Module 3. Interacting and collaborating
Target task
Collaborate in simple university and everyday activities by negotiating information, decisions, and actions.
Content and activities
Participating in collaborative activities; making requests and suggestions; making arrangements; managing simple communication problems; interacting with lecturers, fellow students, and service providers; using digital tools to organise shared activities.
Module 4. Understanding, integrating, and mediating content
Target task
Understand and integrate information from different sources to carry out simple study-related and everyday activities.
Content and activities
Consulting and comparing different sources; selecting relevant information; organising and summarising content; producing simple mediation and explanatory texts for fellow students or other interlocutors.
Module 5. Interpreting and communicating data
Target task
Interpret and use information presented in tables, forms, and simple graphical representations to organise study-related and everyday activities.
Content and activities
Reading and interpreting calendars, timetables, forms, charts, and tables; comparing data; using information to plan activities, choose between alternatives, organise services, and communicate outcomes.
Module 6. Consolidating competences and preparing for the next level
Target task
Assess the competences developed and plan progression towards the intermediate level.
Content and activities
Integrated review of completed tasks; self-assessment of progress; use of the portfolio and feedback; identification of areas for improvement; consolidation of learning strategies and preparation for the Pre-B1 course.

By the end of the course, students will have developed language competences corresponding to CEFR Levels A1 and A2, with particular reference to the uses of Italian required to participate with increasing autonomy in university life and in the main situations of everyday life.
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the course, students know and understand the main linguistic resources required to participate in the most common situations of university and everyday life. They understand elementary-level spoken, written, and multimodal texts relating to University services, the organisation of study, mobility, accommodation, public services, and common interactions in everyday life in Italy, identifying essential information and the main communicative conventions.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students are able to use Italian to carry out simple communicative tasks in university and everyday contexts. They are able to introduce themselves, ask for and provide information, understand and follow instructions, use University and local services, interact in predictable situations, understand and produce short functional texts, and integrate information from different sources to carry out practical activities.
Making informed judgements
Students progressively develop the ability to identify their own linguistic and communicative needs, evaluate appropriate strategies for managing simple communicative situations, use available resources to solve recurring problems, and reflect on their progress through self-assessment and monitoring of their learning.
Communication skills
Students are able to interact simply but effectively in the main situations of university and everyday life, using a linguistic repertoire appropriate to CEFR Level A1 or A2. They are able to understand and produce short spoken and written texts, participate in simple interactions, convey essential information, and collaborate with other students in carrying out activities and communicative tasks.