Course purpose

To propose students approaches for competent communication in formal communication situations; independent decision-making in mediating linguistic, historical or administrative specifics into another culture; productive use of Italian and independent work in everyday workplace context.

Content (Syllabus outline)

Students gain specialised competence of modern Italian language and Italian culture within the main business communication situations.

Communication situations:

• formal and business communication
• spoken and written language

Business Italian:

• argumentation of a new business idea
• presenting of a market analysis
• advantages and disadvantages of entrepreneurship in Italy
• regulation of formal status and social rights in Italy
• negotiation strategies to achieve business results
• linguistic strategies for team building
• linguistic strategies in resolving conflicts in a professional environment
• business communication on social networks (Twitter, blog)

Presenting local culture in the italophone world:

• resuming essential advantages and disadvantages
• argumentation in discourse (agreeing, disagreeing, causes, consequences)