This course on Italian reading and translation covers the essential grammar and vocabulary to prepare you for your Italian graduate-level translation exam or other research. When you have completed this course, you will have a solid foundation in the Italian language. Textbook included.

While no prior knowledge of the language is required, familiarity with common grammar terminology in English is highly recommended. Basic to high-intermediate Italian speakers can use the course to review essential grammar, build vocabulary and increase accuracy in translation. The higher level of Italian you have, the more you will gain from this course.

This course is open to all. You do not have to be a UW–Madison student to register. The graduate student fee is applicable to graduate students from any institution.

Note: You will not be able to view the course on your Canvas Dashboard or access the materials until the course start date.

Course overview

This course will give you systematic approaches to analyzing Italian text and the tools with which you can expand your understanding. Using texts from various disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, you learn the fundamentals of Italian grammar and how to use a dictionary and how to decipher the meaning of a text. You will learn how knowing certain grammar points, knowing how sentence structures work and knowing essential vocabulary words will give you the keys to understanding Italian.

Using our Open Educational Resource (OER), Italian for Reading Knowledge, the course will introduce scholars with no background in Italian to important grammatical concepts, reading strategies and vocabulary for scholarly reading. There are no synchronous class sessions and you will work through the weekly material at your own pace.

With the aim of preserving the essence and integrity of the original text, you will become proficient at understanding, critically analyzing and accurately translating from Italian to English.

No prior knowledge of Italian is required.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Read and understand, with the help of a dictionary, scholarly texts pertinent to their field of research.
• Identify fundamental Italian grammatical structures and syntax.
• Recognize essential Italian vocabulary words.
• Have increased confidence in translation abilities.

Required reading

• Italian for Reading Knowledge
• Italian/English dictionary

Is this course right for you?

If you answer "yes" to the following questions, you are a good candidate for our online course:

• I am a skilled reader who is at ease with written instructions and lessons.
• I am a self-directed learner, with the initiative to visit a course site regularly.
• I am comfortable participating in a course in writing.
• I can continue learning independently while waiting for feedback on assignments.
• I am organized and able to meet deadlines.
• I enjoy working on a computer.
• I have 5 to 12 hours weekly that I can devote to this online course.

If these statements do not accurately describe you, please consider taking an in-person class.