Italian: Upper Intermediate Conversation



Overview

Whether you're looking to improve your fluency, master different registers, or expand your lexical repertoire and grammar structures, this course will refine your ability to converse spontaneously and effectively in both everyday and professional contexts. To benefit from the course, participants should have done one of the following:

1. Studied Italian for approximately four years.

2. Completed Parts 1 and 2 of our Italian: Upper Intermediate level or have equivalent proficiency.

3. Achieved or are near the B2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages.

Programme details

Course starts: 22 Apr 2026

This upper intermediate conversation course aims to consolidate your listening and speaking skills in a variety of complex and nuanced contexts. You will engage in discussions on a variety of topics, including current affairs, cultural issues, and professional scenarios, enhancing your ability to express opinions and arguments more fluently and effectively. We will explore idiomatic expressions, different registers, and sophisticated grammar structures. Through interactive discussions, debates, multimedia resources, and tutor feedback, you will refine your language and gain confidence in conversational skills.

Our open-access courses cater for mixed-ability groups, fostering collaborative learning where students work together to achieve their learning goals. The weekly course schedule below provides an overview of the main topics likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change at the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: A journey to Italy: Piemonte.

Week 2: Cultural landscapes: innovation and tradition.

Week 3: Talking about art, past and present.

Week 4: Food as culture: regional variety.

Week 5: Italian society: current affairs.

Week 6: Shopping and fashion: formal and informal wear.

Week 7: Italy: a multicultural and multi-ethnic country.

Week 8: All about books: discussing genres, plots, expectations, trends.

Week 9: Talking about cinema.

Week 10: Idiomatic expressions in practice.

Key grammar points

- The sequence of tenses in the past

- The uses of the subjunctive

- Verbs with prepositions

- The conditional, past and present

Key functions

- Expressing opinions in diverse scenarios

- Formulating hypotheses

- Using Italian idioms in conversation

- Adapting to formal and informal communicative contexts

Textbooks

No Course book required. All course materials will be provided by the course tutor.

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £300.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Francesca Magnabosco

Francesca graduated from the University of Turin, Italy (BA; MPhil) and obtained her DPhil in Italian literature from the University of Oxford. For the University of Oxford, she works as lecturer in Italian Renaissance literature (Pembroke College), and as tutor in Italian, for both the sub-Faculty of Italian and the Department for Continuing Education. She is also a writer and translator.

Course aims

Enhance learners' conversational ability to communicate fluently and effectively in a variety of real-life complex and nuanced contexts.

Course objectives:

1) Develop the ability to comprehend detailed spoken language delivered at a natural pace, including a variety of accents.

2) Explore advanced vocabulary items, idiomatic expressions, grammar structures and phrases to express ideas precisely and clearly.

3) Encourage learners to articulate their thoughts and arguments effectively in discussions and debates.

4) Provide insights into cultural nuances and social etiquette to enhance communication in diverse settings.

Teaching methods

Our language courses foster collaborative learning, encouraging peer interaction and real-life activities. We will navigate different registers, from casual to formal, and apply appropriate language in various contexts. Authentic multimedia resources and interactive tasks, such as role-plays, discussions, and debates, will help refine pronunciation, grammar, and register. The course has been structured to help you primarily to develop your speaking and listening skills.

Join us to improve your proficiency and conversational skills in a supportive and stimulating environment!

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:

1. Understand and follow lines of argument across a variety of topics including current affairs, cultural issues, and professional scenarios.

2. Engage in spontaneous conversations with native speakers effectively, handling various topics without strain.

3. Present clear, detailed descriptions and arguments, using appropriate discourse markers to enhance clarity.

4. Participate in discussions and debates, articulating and defending viewpoints effectively.

Assessment methods

Formative assessment will be implemented through a series of class activities, such as discussions, debates, role-plays, and presentations. Comprehension tasks using audio and video materials may be used to assess learners' understanding of spoken language. Participants are encouraged to participate in class activities to benefit from tutor feedback.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Level and demands

Find your language level

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support