Italian language courses for Sapienza International Students

Guidelines for the Italian language courses reserved for international students enrolled in the first year at Sapienza, Università di Roma

 

1. Definition, object, and purpose

The guidelines contained herein define Italian language courses for international students those courses specifically organised by the Centro Linguistico d’Ateneo (CLA). Such courses are extracurricular, can be attended in-person or online, intensively or extensively, and require a final test in order to issue a Certificate of attendance stating the student’s language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

2. Course type, admission requirement, and duration

The courses covered by these guidelines are intended for all international students who possess a foreign diploma or degree or come from a foreign school or university and are enrolled for the first time in the academic reference year in a course of study held in English at Sapienza, Università di Roma (e.g.: a bachelor’s degree, master's degree, single cycle degree, 1st and 2nd level masters degree, graduate school, PhD, Invest Your Talent in Italy Program).

The 40-hour Italian language courses are delivered in-person and/or online during the second semester of the academic reference year (February–June) by the CLA. In case of demand and at the discretion of the CLA, another 40-hour Italian language course can be delivered during the first semester of the following academic year (October–December).

Students must attend at least 70% of the total course hours (28 hours out of 40) in order to be admitted to the final exam and receive a Certificate of attendance stating the student’s language proficiency.

The CLA provides Italian language courses for the following CEFR levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1. However, priority is given to those students with a basic and intermediate knowledge of Italian (from A1 to B1).

 

3. Admission to the courses

Subscription to all types of courses covered by these guidelines is optional and not mandatory. Admission is reserved for students who are regularly enrolled in a course of study as specified above.

Every year the CLA receives a list of eligible students for the Italian language courses from the ICT Area of the Centro InfoSapienza. The students in the list are then invited to take a placement test on the Moodle platform: https://elearning.uniroma1.it.

This placement test is not an exam and only serves to verify a student’s Italian language entry level in order to place each student in an appropriate course.

The dates and times of the placement test and courses are communicated to students well in advance of the placement and courses starting date. Communications will be delivered exclusively through the Moodle platform (https://elearning.uniroma1.it). Students who were regularly summoned to take the placement test but did not take it will not be admitted to the courses.

Students who achieve an A1 level in the placement test will be directly placed in an A1 course. On the other hand, students who achieve an A2 level or more must also take an oral test (either in-person at the CLA laboratories or online) in order to better determine their knowledge of Italian so as to be placed in an appropriate course. For the 2020–21 academic year only, it is enough to have taken the online placement test to be admitted to the course.

  • Students not included in the lists received by the CLA will not be admitted to the courses for the academic reference year;
        • International students who take part in Sapienza mobility programs (e.g. Erasmus+) will not be admitted;
        • Students eligible for the Italian courses covered by these guidelines can only attend their assigned course. Whether students decide to attend or not, they will no longer be allowed to attend any further Italian language courses in the following semester or following academic years independently from the final result achieved in their chosen course.

 

4. Management and organisation of the courses

The courses covered by these guidelines are organised by the CLA in coordination with the Sapienza International Office (ARI) which is in charge of international students.

The Scientific Director and Italian language teachers are in charge of teaching and managing the courses.

The CLA technical department is in charge of managing the equipment and IT procedures in coordination with the InfoSapienza ICT Area.

For further administrative assistance, students can either

 

Italian language teachers are in charge of students’ tutoring and teaching material which can be delivered either through e-mail or, if the teacher adopts e-learning platforms, via chat or forums.

 

5. Final and transitional provisions

These guidelines come into effect as of the academic year 2020–21. The CLA will carry out rigorous inspections to ensure compliance with the guidelines contained herein.

 

The next Italian courses dedicated to international students enrolled in Sapienza will be launched in 2024, dates to be defined

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