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Italian - KS5
A-level students at SJB study Italian to become citizens of the world, equipped with transferable and communication skills, as well as an open-mindedness to other cultures.
Our A-Level Italian curriculum is designed to ignite a passion for language and cultural exploration through an in-depth study of Italian societies. We foster this enthusiasm through interactive learning, collaborative pair work, exposure to authentic materials, and independent research, all while cultivating communication, literacy, resilience, and problem-solving capabilities.
Year 12 and Year 13 A-Level Italian
- Qualification: A-Level from 2016
- Exam Board: Edexcel
- Exam Assessment: 3 papers: Paper 1 Listening, Reading & Translation (40%); Paper 2 Writing & Translation (30%); Paper 3 Speaking (30%)
- Grades - A* - E
A-level Italian Specification from 2016
Subject specific entry requirements:
- Grade 6 in GCSE Italian
- Grade 5 or above in English Literature and/or Language
What kinds of work will you do in class and at home?
Students will practise the core skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in every lesson.
Research may be set as homework.
Every lesson students will be given vocabulary to learn.
Students will be given grammar exercises to practise in every lesson.
Reading and listening will be of authentic material (as they are in the exam) and students will be expected to read books and watch films in the target language as well; to help prepare them for the external exams.
What skills are required of students?
Students must be highly motivated and interested in the subject. They should also be able to undertake independent study outside of the classroom and be willing to try and speak in the target language at every available opportunity.
A-Level Modern Foreign Languages are some of the most challenging, therefore students must be willing to practise grammar, reading and listening skills every day, as well as learning vocabulary.
They should also be willing to take part in compulsory conversation classes with native speakers once a week.
What types of university course or apprenticeship will be helped by this A-level?
An A-Level in a modern foreign language could lead towards international courses and any related courses connected with English and MFL. In an increasingly global economy, proficiency in a foreign language is a highly marketable job skill.
Italian is integral to or complementary with a huge number of careers including; international business, computing, travel and tourism, public administration, law, banking, medicine, accountancy, journalism, education and social work.
A sound working knowledge of one or more modern European languages has become a major differentiator when it comes to recruitment.
The study of other European languages and literature develops cultural awareness and sensitivity, improves one’s ability to communicate and promotes greater appreciation of European business environments
Course Overview:
During the two year A-level course you will study the following topics:
Theme 1 is set in the context of Italy only.
- L’evoluzione della famiglia italiana Cambiamenti nell’atteggiamento verso il matrimonio, la coppia e la famiglia; i mammoni.
- L’istruzione Il sistema scolastico e i problemi degli studenti; la fuga dei cervelli.
- Il mondo del lavoro La parità tra i sessi; la disoccupazione; le imprese familiari; i nuovi modelli di lavoro
Theme 2 is set in the context of any Italian-speaking country/countries and/or community/communities.
- La musica Cambiamenti e sviluppi; impatto sulla cultura popolare.
- I media Libertà di espressione; la stampa cartacea e online; l’impatto sulla società e la politica.
- Il patrimonio culturale Feste, usi e costumi
Theme 3 is set in the context of Italy only.
- L’impatto positivo dell’immigrazione in Italia Il contributo di immigrati e migranti all’economia e alla cultura.
- I problemi della migrazione in Italia Marginalizzazione e alienazione; integrazione; impatto dell’emigrazione.
- Il divario Nord/Sud Spostamenti tra Nord e Sud; il ruolo delle industrie italiane; le differenze socio-culturali; la criminalità.
Theme 4 is set in the context of Italy only.
- L’ascesa di Mussolini al potere La nascita del Partito Fascista
- Il Fascismo durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale Il governo di Mussolini e la dittatura; la vita sotto Mussolini durante la seconda guerra mondiale.
- Dalla dittatura alla democrazia La caduta di Mussolini; la liberazione; le 6 nazioni.
Paper 1: Listening, reading and translation (*Paper code: 9IT0/01)
Written examination: 1 hour and 50 minutes - 40% of the qualification, 64 marks
This paper draws on vocabulary and structures across all four Themes.
Assessment overview - Students are not permitted access to a dictionary during the examination.
The examination is made up of:
Section A: Listening (24 marks) A listening assessment based on a recording, featuring male and female Italian speakers. Students will respond to comprehension questions based on a variety of contexts and sources.
Section B: Reading (24 marks) A reading assessment based on a variety of text-types and genres where students will have to respond to comprehension questions.
Section C: Translation into English (16 marks) An unseen passage to be translated from Italian to English.
Paper 2: Written response to works and translation (*Paper code: 9IT0/02)
Written examination: 2 hours and 40 minutes - 30% of the qualification, 48 marks
This paper draws on the study of two discrete Italian works: either two literary texts, or one literary text and one film. The literary texts listed include a range of classic and contemporary novels, a series of short stories and plays. All of the films are feature length.
This paper includes a translation exercise and two essays on either two literary texts, or one literary text and one film (students must not answer questions on two films). Students are not permitted access to a dictionary or any documentation relating to the works during the examination.
Section A: Translation (16 marks) Students translate an unseen passage from English into Italian.
Section B: Written response to works (literary texts) (16 marks) Students must write an extended response on either one or two of the literary texts listed in Appendix 3.
Students select one question from a choice of two for each of their chosen literary text(s). If a student answers questions on two literary texts then they do not complete section C.
Section C: Written response to works (films) (16 marks) Students who answer only one question from a literary text in Section B must now write an extended response on one of the films listed in Appendix 3.
Students select one question from a choice of two for their chosen film.
Paper 3: Speaking (*Paper code: 9IT0/03)
Internally conducted and externally assessed - 30% of the qualification 48 marks
Total assessment time: between 21 and 23 minutes, which includes a single period of 5 minutes’ formal preparation time.
Assessment overview Students complete two tasks.
Task 1 (Discussion on a theme) 20 marks - Students discuss one theme from the specification based on a stimulus containing two different statements.
Task 2 (presentation and discussion on independent research) 28 marks - Students present a summary of the key findings of the written sources they have used for their research and answer questions on this. They then have a wider discussion on their research.