Department of Italian

Modern & Medieval Languages

Department of Italian

Resources

Independent language study

The Language Centre on the Downing Site provides a wide range of Italian language learning materials, including live access to the Italian television channel Rai Uno. In addition, programmes broadcast during the evening on this channel are recorded for viewing on the following day. You will also be able to watch selected programmes or extracts (in digital form) on a computer terminal by logging on to the relevant Language Centre facility.

All students of Italian will be introduced to the Italian-related resources of the Centre by Dr Natali after the Departmental meeting held on the first Wednesday of the first term (the Michaelmas term) of their first year.

A further important resource for both teaching and independent language study is the Computer-Assisted Language Learning Facility (CALL), which is located on the first floor of the Raised Faculty Building, where you can pick up an explanatory leaflet. Several Italian language-learning programmes are currently available, including programmes for independent practice at grammar revision, translation, and listening comprehension. Italian-related resources on the World Wide Web may also be accessed with any browser, and in the CALL Facility.

The MML Library holds a large stock of major Italian films, which are useful for language learning as well as for the formal study of film topics within the Tripos papers. These may be borrowed for one week from the MML Library.

Library provision

The Modern Languages Library, also in the Raised Faculty Building, is well stocked with essential texts, most of which may be borrowed. If you wish to have books ordered for the Italian section of the library, you should submit details to the Departmental Office. The MML Library also holds borrowable DVD's for the Part II paper on Modern European Film, and provides access through its terminals to Italian-related materials on the World Wide Web. Tours of the Library for freshers are conducted at the beginning of the Michaelmas term.

The University Library has excellent holdings in Italian subject areas. You will find full details of the Italian Collections at this link: http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/deptserv/italian/.

Tours of the UL are conducted at the beginning of the Michaelmas term, and you are strongly advised to take advantage of these and to apply for a reader’s ticket as soon as possible. The UL contains a great deal that cannot be found elsewhere in Cambridge, and regular use of it will much enhance your learning experience.

College Libraries vary in their holdings of Italian books. However, College Librarians are usually willing to buy books on student recommendation when supported by a member of the Department. You should refer College Librarians to Dr Sanson if they wish to consult on these matters.

Other libraries you may wish to use at some point in your studies of Italian are the Art History Library in Scroope Terrace, and the Faculty Libraries of English and History, on the Sidgwick Site, which all of which have holdings of Italian-related material.

More widely, the following libraries may be of use:

Book purchase

If you want to buy Italian books for yourself, remember that copies of some of the principal texts on the syllabus are available from the Departmental Office. Of the Cambridge bookshops, Heffers (tel: 01223 568568) and Dillons (tel: 01223 351688) have the best selections of Italian books. Far wider selections are available from specialist London bookshops such as:
 

Grant and Cutler Ltd

55-57 Gt. Marlborough St.

London W1V 2AY

Tel: (020) 7734-2012

 The Italian Bookshop

7, Cecil Court

London WC2N 4EZ

Tel: (020) 7240-1634

 The European Bookshop

5, Warwick Street

London W1R 6RH

Tel: (020) 7734-5259.

All these shops are happy to deal with mail-order enquiries.

You can also order books online from the following Italian bookstores:

The Italian Society

At a less formal level you will be able to maximise your contact with Italian life, language and culture by supporting the student-run Italian Society, which holds regular social and cultural events, ranging from screenings of Italian-language films to samplings of Italian food and wine. For more information, go to the stall at the Freshers’ Fair at the beginning of the Michaelmas term or look in your C.U.S.U. handbook.

Independent Study In Italy

It is clearly important to spend as much time as possible in Italy during your first two years of study. Unfortunately the Department has no travel grants to offer, but Colleges are usually ready to provide some assistance. Your College Tutor or Director of Studies will be able to give advice on this.

Information about obtaining jobs or vocational placements in Italy is available from the Central Bureau for International Education and Training, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, tel: (020) 7389-4004. The Bureau has its own website at www.centralbureau.org.uk.

Final-year students returning from their year abroad in Italy often have useful suggestions and contacts, and the Department will organise a social evening to encourage the informal exchange of information.

If you are thinking of following a vacation coursein language or culture in Italy, you will find all the brochures received by the Department on the wall by the noticeboard on the 2nd floor North landing of the Raised Faculty Building. When making your choice, you should consider carefully which part of Italy might suit you best. Florence, Rome, and Venice offer obvious attractions (and a very wide range of courses), but it may be harder to meet Italians there than in other less popular Italian cities such as Bologna, Verona, Padua, Siena, or Pisa.

The Italian Department has an affiliation with the British Institute in Florence, which offers high-quality language and cultural courses throughout the year and organises a tailor-made course for Cambridge Part IA and IB students in the Easter vacation (at preferential rates). For details consult Dr Natali in the Lent term.
 

 

 

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