Italian
was started at UTM when Erindale College first opened its doors in
1967. Its story is one of steady and substantial growth in terms of numbers
as well as breadth and depth. At the beginning there were 8 students; the
present enrolment is about 500. In 1967 the program consisted of a single
course for beginners; at present it includes more than 25 full-course equivalents
that cover all periods of Italian literature, the major aspects of the
Italian language, and significant expressions of Italian culture such as
its cinema and lively contemporary civilization. Major and specialist programs
have been offered since the early 1970's.
In addition to providing a comprehensive
panorama of the established canon, the Italian program at UTM, in keeping
with the fundamental mandate of the young institution to be innovative,
from time to time has offered - and continues to offer - courses that deviate
from the traditional patterns or emphasize subjects that can best be illustrated
in small groups with the help of recent technological innovations. Perhaps
the most innovative attempts have been made in methodology since the department
has always promoted approaches which, in language instruction especially,
give pride of place to direct student participation and call for the guided
and structured use of a wide array of technical aids, from simple maps
and drawings to videos, interactive multimedia and films, without, of course,
abandoning the sound elements of traditional philology. We offer access
to a fully equipped computer/language laboratory and to our own in-house
Italian software.
Over the years, the department has been involved in many endeavours,
designed to foster a better understanding and appreciation of Italian.
It has held film nights and concerts, organized Italian weeks in collaboration
with the very active student club, hosted the Italian High School Contest
on three occasions (in 1976, 1979, 1985) and produced in the last two years
of the 70's and every year since 1986 a play by a variety of Italian playwrights
including Goldoni, Pirandello and De Filippo. The response to the productions,
from the students and the community, has been so positive that the practice
has become a veritable tradition and four credit courses have been created
as a result.
Among the academic pursuits, that naturally take precedence over everything
else, two occasions deserve particular mention: three international symposia,
one on the nineteenth-century Italian novel, one on Aretino and the Renaissance,
and one on "Cross-Cultural Relations and Exile". The events were organized
by the Erindale faculty and brought on campus scholars from Europe and
North America. Their insights and fresh readings, communicated viva
voce to a large audience, have appeared in print (1988 for the novel,
1995 for Aretino, and forthcoming for "Cross-Cultural Relations and Exile").
Many scholarships have
been founded to recognize excellence in the Italian program.
A New Beginning: The French, German and Italian
Department
Italian is now part of the Department of French, German and Italian
(FGI), established on July 1, 2003. The FGI Department is a leader at the
University of Toronto and worldwide in the use of technology to advance
the learning of languages. The department’s faculty members take pride
in their innovative approach to language study in which they combine the
practice of language, the spirit of cultures, and the teaching and learning
processes associated with the understanding and application of languages.
The Department also offers opportunities to study at several locations
in France, Germany, Italy and Quebec.
Rooted in the traditions of three major European languages and in Canada's
French language and culture, the FGI Department bases its mission on the
notion that language and culture are inseparable and that the study of
other cultures also offers new perspectives. By stressing cultural,
linguistic and critical skills, the department prepares students to succeed
in further study and gives its graduates an important advantage as they
pursue careers in an increasingly competitive global environment. The Department
also offers the following programs of study: French Language and Literature,
French Linguistics, Francophone Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies,
Cinema Studies, European Studies, Language Teaching and Learning, and Linguistics.
These are the areas of emphasis that distinguish the Department of French,
German and Italian. Their synergy places it among the nation’s very best
departments in the field. The department is recognized as a leader in literary
and critical scholarship, interdisciplinary innovation in curriculum and
technology, and for its tradition of excellence in teaching and pedagogical
research.
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Italian
was started at UTM when Erindale College first opened its doors in
1967. Its story is one of steady and substantial growth in terms of numbers
as well as breadth and depth. At the beginning there were 8 students; the
present enrolment is about 500. In 1967 the program consisted of a single
course for beginners; at present it includes more than 25 full-course equivalents
that cover all periods of Italian literature, the major aspects of the
Italian language, and significant expressions of Italian culture such as
its cinema and lively contemporary civilization. Major and specialist programs
have been offered since the early 1970's.