Italian and German

Why study Italian and German at Aberystwyth University?

• Aberystwyth is a small town with a big heart and a cosmoplitan outlook. As a vibrant and friendly University, we attract students from all corners of the world, and the intimate atmosphere makes it a great place to get to know people.
• You will easily find people with whom to practise your Italian and German and you might want to take advantage of Aberystwyth University's Language Exchange Platform for tandem learning. Learners work together with a partner from another country or with one who speaks the language they wish to learn in an informal setting.
• We're a small, friendly department and we get to know our students well. Our lecturers are always on hand if you need to discuss anything.
• All students in our department thrive in our multilingual environment. We teach most of our modules and classes through the target language, many of our teaching staff are native speakers and all are experts in their respective languages.
• From the outset, you will receive a minimum of 4 hours of language tuition per week in each of the target languages, plus modules on Italian and German culture taught in the target language. All our classes are designed to provide you with the solid foundation to enable you to become fluent in Italian and German and to gain a deep knowledge of German and Italian culture.
• This degree is available to students who wish to study Italian from complete Beginners level together with German post-A level. For the Italian half of the course you will receive intensive language classes to bring you up to post-A level standard in your second year.
• In addition to specific classes in speaking, listening, translation and grammar, all students are offered core and optional modules that explore literature, culture, language, politics and business.
• The highlight of this degree for all of our students is the year abroad. As you will study two languages, you will be required to spend your year abroad (your third year) split equally between Italy (or an Italian-speaking country) and Germany (or a German-speaking country). There are a number of options for your year abroad, including studying as part of the Erasmus programme or undertaking a work placement . Find out what your options are by visiting our Studying Abroad page.

Our Staff

All of the lecturers in the Department of Modern Languages are qualified to PhD level and are research active specialists in their chosen field. We also employ highly qualified and experienced language tutors, and native-speakers, who will ensure that your learning is of the highest possible quality and who will provide you with constant support through your years of study.

Career Prospects

Employability is embedded into our teaching across the Department of Modern Languages. The Year Abroad is what makes our graduates stand out from

the crowd. Students return from their year abroad with a wider skill set, stronger language competencies and the ability to adapt to any situation.

Language skills are in great demand and they open up opportunities across a wide range of careers.

In the Complete University Guide for 2021 (released 9 June 2020) German at Aberystwyth University was ranked 1st out of 37 departments for Graduate prospects.

Here are some of the fields where our graduates have been successful in finding employment:

• Translation and Interpreting
• Broadcasting
• Education
• Marketing
• Human Resources
• Website Development
• International Banking
• Civil Service

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during this four year degree scheme.

In each year you will take a core language module where you will develop your skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and translating, and a number of optional modules.

In the first year, optional modules may cover:

• Introduction to European Film
• Language, Culture and Identity in Europe
• Exploring German Cultural Identity

In your second year you may choose from:

• Extended Essay Module
• The Language of German Drama
• Rethinking Late 20^th Century Italy
• Italian Cities
• Modern Italy
• Short Prose in German
• German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK

In your third year, you will study or work abroad, sharing the time equally between an Italian-speaking and a German-speaking country.

In your final year, you can choose from modules that include:

• Dissertation Module
• Extended Essay Module
• Italian Cities
• Rethinking Late 20^th Century Italy
• The Language of Current Affairs
• Contemporary German Politics
• Autobiography and Life Writing in German
• German-speaking Refugees from National Socialism in the UK

How will I be taught?

A variety of teaching formats are used in class. Lectures will introduce you to topics, while in seminars you will be expected to participate in

discussions.

You will learn through a combination of small-group classes, lectures and a small number of seminars in Year 1, and increasingly seminar-based teaching in later years. Throughout, you will be encouraged to undertake independent reading both to supplement and to consolidate taught learning and to broaden your individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.

You will receive additional support through both assisted and self-access facilities for language learning in the Language Resource Centre.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assesed through oral presentations, listening tests, written reports and increasingly complex translations in language classes, as well as through oral and written exams. In content modules, you might be asked to write an essay, undertake a research project, give an oral presentation, or sit an exam.