Italian: Intermediate – Part 1

Level and demands

Pitched at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), completion of this course helps you meet some of the level requirements.

Find out more about our language levels.

Course aims

To help you to practise and consolidate the language required to express yourself with a degree of fluency and spontaneity in some situations regularly encountered at work, educational settings, leisure centres and while travelling abroad.

Course objectives

• To develop the learners’ language skills to be able to deal with a range of situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
• To consolidate reading comprehension skills to enable learners to understand a range of texts written in everyday and job-related language.
• To equip learners with the vocabulary and grammatical structures required to write straightforward, connected texts on some topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
• To increase the learners’ intercultural awareness and understanding of some of the differences and similarities in social and everyday practices between their own and the target culture.

Programme details

Course starts Tuesday 29 September 2026

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 4.30-6.30pm.

The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: Cultura popolare

Week 2: Cinema e serie TV

Week 3: Problemi in viaggio

Week 4: Italiano in pratica: chiedere assistenza

Week 5: In autostrada

Week 6: Eventi e celebrazioni

Week 7: Tradizioni italiane

Week 8: Religione e superstizioni

Week 9: Abitudini di lettura: generi letterari

Week 10: Il mondo dell’informazione: stampa scritta e online

Key grammar points

• Il congiuntivo presente 
• Il congiuntivo passato
• Verbi pronominali
• Verbi e pronomi combinati
• Trapassato e passato prossimo

Key functions

• Esprimere opinioni personali
• Chiedere assistenza e protestare
• Chiedere e dare consigli
• Sintetizzare un argomento

Teaching methods

You will learn through practical, task‑based classroom activities that encourage the active use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. These tasks bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.

The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, etiquette, and everyday usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, communicative tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:

• exploit language to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the target language is spoken;
• understand the main points of clear standard speech on most familiar matters regularly encountered at work, educational settings and leisure centres;
• read and understand simple texts which include job-related language, descriptions of events, reasons or opinions;
• write straightforward connected texts on familiar topics or matters of personal interest.

Assessment methods

You will be set optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.

Dr Francesca Magnabosco

Francesca Magnabosco obtained her DPhil in Italian literature from the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, Oxford University. She has been teaching Italian language and culture at OUDCE for over a decade. She is also a lecturer in Renaissance literature at Pembroke College, and teaches Italian Prose Composition for the sub-Faculty of Italian, Oxford University.

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses

Recommended reading

Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.

Library facilities

All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.

• More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website. 
• This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.

Preparatory reading

• DIECI lezioni di italiano B1 (Units 1-5) / C.M. Naddeo, E. Orlandino

Recommended Reading List

Textbooks

To participate in the course fully, you will need access to the following textbook:

• DIECI lezioni di italiano B1 (Units 1-5) / C.M. Naddeo, E. Orlandino

Module code: O26P571XIW

Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

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