First-level Master's Degree in "Teaching Italian as a Non-native Language

The Master's programme aims to:

• provide advanced training for Italian and international graduates working in Italy and abroad in teaching the Italian language to students whose native language is not Italian
• train teaching staff from any disciplinary area in the fields of interculturality and the acquisition/teaching of Italian as a non-native language, offering theoretical and linguistic-cultural knowledge and developing practical skills

The Master's programme is designed to deepen understanding of the structures, usage, and varieties of the Italian language for the teaching of Italian as a mother tongue, as a non-native language, and of the main theories concerning the acquisition of Italian as a second language (L2) and glottodidactic methodologies.

The objectives are to develop specific practical skills for teaching Italian language and culture as a foreign language (Italian abroad) and as a second language (immigrant students).

The possible professional fields in which the degree may be utilised are as follows:

• Linguistic collaborator and specialist at university language centres in Italy, teaching Italian to international university students on mobility programmes
• Italian L2/LS lecturer at Italian Cultural Institutes (IIC) or at foreign universities
• Italian language teacher at public institutions and private and/or accredited schools in Italy or abroad.

Graduation from the Master’s degree programme may also, as permitted by the relevant laws and regulations, lead to the award of additional points or credits for teaching staff in public and private schools and institutions abroad.

This Master's qualification (pursuant to Ministerial Decree 92 of 23/02/2016, MIUR) is also recognised as a specialisation in Italian as a Second Language, valid for participation in competitive selection procedures for chair A-23 “Italian language for foreign language learners (alloglotti)”.

For the provincial rankings (GPS), the note from the Ministry of Education, Department for the Educational System and Education and Training, no. 162 of 02.02.2021 recognises 3 points for specialisation qualifications in Italian L2 as listed in Annex A of Ministerial Decree No. 92 of 23/02/2016.

The University Educational Credits (CFU) / European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) obtained in the Master’s degree may be recognised within universities, both in Italy and abroad (Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree programmes, or equivalent programmes abroad).

Obtaining the Master’s degree in Teaching Italian as a Non-Native Language allows for direct enrolment in the second year of the Master’s Degree Programme in Teaching Italian to Foreigners (ItaS), linguistic track, at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia (refer to the Call for Applications for the Master’s programme). This pathway enables candidates to earn a Master’s degree in one academic year and the Master’s Degree the following year. The two sequential programmes provide graduates with strong preparation and high competitiveness in the field of teaching Italian as a second and foreign language.

Bachelor’s degree under the new system or four-year degree under the regulations prior to Ministerial Decree 509/1999, in any academic field, or a foreign qualification recognised as equivalent.

Foreign applicants are required to provide certification of Italian language proficiency at level B2: CELI, CILS, PLIDA, cert.it (University of Roma Tre).

Foreign applicants are exempt from the requirement of B2-level Italian language certification if they hold:

• a degree obtained in Italy
• a foreign degree that includes at least three years’ study of the Italian language
• a research doctorate obtained in Italy

Scientific Director
Prof. Francesca Malagnini
Curriculum vitae

Scientific Committee
Internal member: Prof. Francesca Malagnini – Full Professor SSD: LIFI 01/A (formerly L-FIL-LET/12)
Internal member: Prof. Letizia Cinganotto – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Internal member: Dr Federica Aucone – Language Expert Collaboration, fixed-term
Prof. Borbala Samu – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Dr Claudia Fedeli – Language Expert Collaboration, fixed-term

Substitute members:
Prof. Roberto Dolci – Full Professor SSD: GLOT-01/B (formerly L-LIN/02)
Prof. Valentina Gasbarra – Associate Professor SSD: GLOT-01/A (formerly L-LIN/01)
Dr Catia Mugnani – Language Expert Collaboration, fixed-term

Mode of online delivery:
6 months (October 2026 – April 2027) of predominantly asynchronous teaching with pre-recorded lectures and 2 months (May 2027 – June 2027) of synchronous teaching.

Language: Italian

Recognised ECTS: 60

Participants: minimum: 20 - maximum: 50

Enrolment fee: €2,800.00 payable in three instalments

The Master's programme comprises 1,500 hours (60 ECTS).

It features a diverse and flexible range of online teaching methods, combining live (synchronous) instruction—which will also be recorded—and asynchronous learning. This variety of approaches, along with e-tivities and discussion forums, is highly beneficial for learning and for developing skills to manage multilingual and multicultural classrooms.

Specifically, the Master's programme is structured across three Educational Clusters:

1. Synchronous teaching activities with remote tutoring
   The synchronous online classes, which will also be recorded, are designed to foster a sense of community among participants. Synchronous sessions enable interactive dialogue and direct engagement with faculty. Key aspects from the classes will also be revisited and discussed in online forums under tutor supervision.
2. Asynchronous teaching activities
   Pre-recorded lectures constitute the programme’s main instructional mode. In order to facilitate direct, real-time interaction with lecturers, approximately two hours of classes will still be delivered synchronously.
3. Monitored remote internship activities
   The Practicum, a cornerstone of the entire pathway, bridges the extensive theoretical content with practical experience. The Practicum is a professionally oriented internship involving intensive teaching practice under the guidance of expert tutor-lecturers, delivered through the EDUNEXT online platform.
   It consists of three stages, during which participants receive continuous support and guidance from tutors:
   1. Monitored Teaching Activities (ADM)
   2. Observation of pre-recorded lessons of different types
   3. Live in-person observation (optional)

A tutor manager will support participants throughout the e-learning pathway and live Teams sessions, serving as a liaison among students, faculty, and Technical and Administrative Staff.

Assessment takes place at the end of each cluster and after synchronous classes; Practicum activities will be evaluated by the Practicum tutors. At the conclusion of the programme, a final examination is required.

Final examination 

Participants must prepare a written report.

The report consists of two parts: a reflective analysis of the overall learning experience or an in-depth study of a chosen topic covered during the Master's programme, and a self-assessment of the internship, with particular focus on both self- and peer-evaluation.

The report will be discussed in front of a panel comprising the Director, faculty members and tutors, and will be graded.

The final grade, expressed out of thirty, is calculated as the average of the marks obtained from the final assessments of the Educational Clusters, synchronous modules on Teams, the Practicum and the final examination (report and discussion).

The distribution of marks is as follows:

• Three Educational Clusters: 55%
• Practicum: 35%
• Final examination: 10%