Mirko Tavoni

Teaching Italian Language and Culture via the Internet

IcoN (Italian Culture on the Net) Consortium, Italy
tavoni@ital.unipi.it

Italiano

The ICoN (Italian Culture on the Net) Consortium is an inter-University consortium composed of 23 Italian universities (Bari, Cassino, Catania, Florence, Genoa, State University of Milan, Padua, Parma, Pavia, University for Foreigners in Perugia, Pisa, Rome "La Sapienza", Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome III, Salerno, University for Foreigners in Siena, Teramo, Turin, Trento, Venice, Private University of Language and Communication IULM of Milan, Oriental University Institute of Naples, École Supérieure of University Studies "S. Anna" of Pisa, NET:T:UNO Consortium) whose aims is to promote knowledge, dissemination and enhanced awareness of Italian language and culture by means of the Internet.

ICoN has established a telematic university course, totally run via the Internet, which - from October 1, 2001 - offers its services to students resident abroad and will award a three-year legally recognised Italian degree in Italian Language and Culture for Foreigners. The contents of this university course are: language, literature, art, architecture, music, cinema, theatre, history, geography, classical studies, politics, philosophy, fashion, lifestyles, sport, design, etc. ICoN also offers courses for special or vocational purposes - such as the teaching of written Italian for businesses and banks - aiming at favouring the use of the Italian language for trade and exchange relations both by Italian and foreign operators.

The presentation will concentrate on the particular balance that ICoN has chosen and is experimenting between two ideally opposite approaches to its teaching mission: the materials based approach and the computer conferencing approach: the first approach relying upon prepackaged resources, piloted on typical learners, structured on the logic of the subject matter, less interactive, less motivating and more cost-affordable; the second approach aiming rather at the development of skills than the dissemination of knowledge, being more learner-centred, more interactive, more motivating, more supporting, and much more expensive.