a.y. 2014-2015/2015-2016
Class contents and exam requirements
Code 20375 (20419)
Italian Language – Second Language
A2 business level
Class contents and exam requirements are the same for both attending students and non-attenders
Program
Master of Science
Degree course
only for Double Degree students
Teaching activity


2° year, 1st semester for Double Degree students
total classroom teaching hours 52
Final Exam

Bocconi internal exam (A2 business*) or an international
certification among those recognized by the University
4 credits, 1st semester

Objective
The acquisition of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills
required to interact in everyday situations
Head Teacher
Elisa Turra
*Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Set Textbook
La Grassa, M. L’Italiano all’Università 1 e 2, Edilingua, Roma, 2011
Recommended textbooks
Mezzadri, M. Essential Italian Grammar in practice, Edizioni Guerra, Perugia, 2009
Nocchi, S. Italian Grammar in practice, Alma Edizioni, Firenze, 2007
We remind you that the Language Center offers to all students an information and consultancy service for
the study of languages. In addition, at its language laboratories, multimedia library, and online a variety of
materials for students wishing to prepare for international certificates recognized by the University also for
Bocconi exams (visit: www.unibocconi.eu/languagecenter).
Resources
Materials prepared by professors
Self-study programme
Past exams
Extra teaching materials
Language tutors
Office Hours for Bocconi teachers
International certificates recognized
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Classroom activities & skills
Teaching intends to promote the acquisition of professional language skills.
In particular, the following will be treated through topics covered in the textbook:
 extension of general vocabulary
 development of listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. Tasks will be set individually or in
small groups, at times requiring presentations to the whole class; editing professional documents
(formal letter, e-mail, report)
 mock exam simulation for internal examination
 grammar revision
Self-Study activities & skills
In order to acquire language skills and to prepare correctly for the Bocconi exam, it is important to attend
lessons regularly as well as to follow a self-study program.
To reach this objective a series of activities are indicated to be carried out from the following textbooks:
Italian Grammar in practice (see textbooks) and self-study modules available on the e-learning platform.
In the Library you can find materials (including past exam) provided by the class professor.
It is suggested to dedicate 3-5 hours weekly for independent study.
Topics/Units
(see textbook Italiano all’Università 1)
UNITA’ 1
Presentarsi, salutare, fare domande in
maniera formale e informale
Studenti italiani nel mondo
UNITA’ 2
Lavori o studi?
Presentare qualcuno
Parlare del proprio lavoro
Grammar, Skills & Activities
Italian Grammar in Practice p. adjectives p. 24
Italian Grammar in Practice:
Articles p.12-18
Nouns p. 6-9
Present tense p.28
Progress test p. 33
UNITA’ 3
Ordinare
Chiedere e dire il prezzo
Esprimere gusti e preferenze
Chiedere a qualcuno di fare qualcosa
UNITA’ 4
Chiedere e dare informazioni stradali
Esprimere incertezza, capacità di fare
qualcosa.
Informarsi sugli orari di apertura di negozi e
uffici
UNITA’ 5
Descrivere una casa
Collocare nello spazio, parlare della
convivenza con coetanei, prenotare una
camera d’albergo
UNITA’ 6
Descrivere la giornata tipo, descrivere azioni
abituali al presente
UNITA’ 7
Chiedere e dire che tempo fa
Italian Grammar in Practice: irregular verbs p. 36-38
Italian Grammar in Practice: present indicative (irregular
verbs) pp. 36-38
Italian Grammar in Practice: p. 36-38, prepositions p. 8288
Italian Grammar in Practice: p. 36-38. Prepositions p. 8288.
Italian Grammar in Practice: Direct and indirecr object
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Descrivere le condizioni climatiche
I mesi, le stagioni
UNITA’ 8
pronouns p. 76-82
Italian Grammar in Practice: past tense p. 68
Descrivere un evento al passato. Raccontare
il fine settimana, un viaggio ecc.
UNITA’ 9
Esprimere rapporti di parentela
Parlare della famiglia e dei rapporti familiari
Fare progetti per il futuro
UNITA’ 10
Descrivere qualcuno fisicamente e
caratterialmente. Esprimere accordo e
disaccordo
UNITA’ 11 Descrivere vantaggi e svantaggi dei vari
mezzi di trasporto. Chiedere informazioni.
Descrivere un luogo
UNITA’ 12
Chiedere e dare un parere. Chiedere e dire la
taglia. Chiedere uno sconto. Dare consigli.
Italian Grammar in Practice: possessive adjectives p.5052
Italian Grammar in Practice: future tense p.138-141
Italian Grammar in Practice: imperfetto pp. 100-104
Italian Grammar in Practice: Indirect pronouns p.92
Italian Grammar in Practice: imperative form pp. 164-166
and combined pronouns pp. 106-109
Italian Grammar in Practice: imperfect p.100-104
Exam content and description
Objectives
The exam is scored out of a maximum of 30 points, which will go into the calculation of your grade point
average, and evaluates your ability to:
 understand short listening passages on subjects which are relatively familiar to you
 write a short texts on everyday topics
 demonstrate your knowledge of the language, by coherently follow an argument through to maintain a
point of view
Rules
The exam consists of a written paper and an oral exam. Both need to be passed for the grade to count
towards the final average. In order to take the oral exam, it is necessary to:
 pass the written exam (minimum mark 18/30)
 have a test score that hasn’t expired, i.e. that is still valid (see Written Exam, Validity)
Students can choose to retake the written exam before taking the oral exam but must remember that
handing in their paper annuls any previous grade.
The oral part is compulsory and bring the written part mark up to date.
We would like to remind students that, in order to take the exam, they must register for the exam session
in question at the Punto Blu.
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Organisation
Written Exam
The written exam is divided in two parts. Each part is worth assigned a mark and the sum of these marks is
converted into thirtieths to give the final grade
First Part
15/30
LISTENING
Check candidates’ ability to identify the subject matter, how it is communicated and
Objective
the opinion expressed in a brief listening passage
Listening to brief messages and news: announcements, surveys, extracts
Skill
from radio conversations
Sentence completion and/or tables; true/false questions; multiple choice answers
Test
GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
Skill
Sentence completion and/or multiple choice answers
Second part
Objective
15/30
WRITING
Verify capacity to write a short text describing personal activity and experience
Skill
Checking candidates’ ability to write structured texts according to instructions given
Test
Writing a text (e-mail, post on blogs and social networks)
Duration
120 minutes
Dictionary
Bilingual dictionary can be used
it is valid for the 3 subsequent oral exams, and it is also valid for the subsequent 12
months but there is a penalty that must be paid (see Oral Exam, Validity)
Validity
Oral Exam
Objective
Discussion of the topic presented led by the examiners using ad hoc questions
Skill
Presentation and dialogue
Test
Duration
The examiners will ask the candidate to discuss another topic, chosen from the
subjects contained in the course and approved by the teacher (6-7 minutes)
15 minutes
Dictionary
Dictionaries are not allowed
The oral exam can only be taken once you have passed the written exam. Students
will be assessed in terms of their practical ability to communicate. During the oral
exam marks can be added to or subtracted from the written exam result in the
following way:
Validity
 by +3 or -3, if the oral exam is passed within the 3 oral exams subsequent to
the written exam;
 by +1 or -3, if the oral exam is passed after the first 3 subsequent oral
exams, but still by 12 months subsequent to the written exam
As an alternative to the Bocconi exam, students may choose to register one of the international
certifications recognized by the University. The achieved result is converted into a number grade out of a
possible thirty and is registered in the academic career.
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Additional Points
The assessment of language skills depends both on the result of the final exam and on marks awarded
during the year.
1. Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
2. The exam passed the first time it is taken
Points are registered at the same time the oral exam is passed
1. Positive participation in the course and completion of self-study activities
Objective
To encourage constant and active improvement in the language
Maximum points
awardable
Assignment of points
Validity

1 thirtieth for active participation in at least 75% of lesson hours
1 thirtieth for completion of the self-study program
Defined by professor at the end of the course on the basis of quality of work
performed and respected due dates as indicated the professor in the
classroom and also online
From June to the December immediately following the course. These months
are included

2. The exam passed the first time it is taken
Objective
Reward students who sit for the exam only when really well prepared
Maximum points
 1 thirtieth
awardable
Assignment of points
Automatically, when the student registers for the written exam and hands in
the exam for the first time, and passes it (minimum 18/30) and take the oral
exam on the first available date subsequent to the written exam
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