93576 - Workshop on Italian Teaching Methodology (E)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, students will: - be able to apply what they have learnt as part of the integrated course within a simulated learning environment; - be able to reflect critically in a group on the topics covered.

Course contents

During the workshop sessions, the main theoretical and practical aspects relating to the teaching of Italian as a Second Language (L2) in multilingual nursery and primary school classes will be presented. The focus will be on text analysis in language education and on text-based lesson planning.


In the first instance, the workshop session will be dedicated to the text as a tool for language learning, its characteristics (cohesion, coherence, appropriateness and readability), the main text types and their use in teaching, the criteria for selecting texts in relation to pupils’ age and language needs, and, finally, the guided analysis of texts intended for pre-school and primary school.


In the second instance, the workshop session will focus on text comprehension strategies (linguistic facilitation, adaptation, simplification and stratification of materials), scaffolding in the teaching of Italian as a second language, the design of pre-reading, reading and post-reading activities, the development of inclusive learning pathways in multilingual and mixed-ability classes, the design of a teaching proposal based on an authentic text and, finally, the sharing and discussion of the work produced.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographical references will be provided at the start of and during the workshop.

Teaching methods

The workshop will last 8 hours (2 sessions of 4 hours each) and will be both theoretical and practical in nature.

 

Each session will include a theoretical part, an analysis of existing teaching materials, and a practical component. During this final phase, the students will be organised into working groups to design and create micro-teaching modules. Each group will have the opportunity to work on different types of text relevant to the two school levels under consideration, with the aim of experimenting with and reflecting on a wider variety of texts, and sharing their work with the whole group. For this reason, students are encouraged to use their own digital devices in the classroom.

Assessment methods

The final assessment involves the completion of a written assignment, the structure of which will be explained at the start of the workshop and throughout its duration, and which will be consistent with the work carried out during the workshop sessions. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted for this assignment.


The following will be taken into account for the final assessment:

- participation and cooperation during the workshop sessions;
- the ability to present content clearly and coherently, using appropriate language;
- the ability to reflect (relevance of content, development of concepts) in the drafting of the individual report (final paper) of no more than 2 pages, in which students are asked to analyse the theoretical content of the workshop in relation to the National Curriculum Guidelines and the teaching activities carried out in the working groups.

The final assessment comprises four grades:

+1 (very good)
0 (good)
-1 (sufficient)
fail (unsufficient: in this case, the workshop must be repeated again).

Teaching tools

Printed materials, multimedia presentations, applications, and digital texts – both online and offline.

Office hours

See the website of Monica D'Argenzio