NSU Students Achieve High Results at the International Italian Language Universiade

The Universiade is held annually by the National Association of Teachers of Foreign Languages ANILS (Italy) and brings together students from all over the world studying the Italian language at the university. The tasks are divided into six levels — from A1 to C2 — and include listening, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar skill testing.

— The main feature of the universiade is that absolutely any teacher of the Italian language at a university can become an organizer: you just need to register on the program’s website and at the specified time get access to all the materials. Two months are given for organizing and conducting the competitions. The results are sent to the organizing committee, which after some time sends electronic certificates to all participants and examiners. The same universiade tasks are completed by students all over the world — from Brazil to Siberia.This allows the kids to feel part of a large community of people in love with the Italian language! — notes the director of the Italian Center of NSU, senior lecturer of the Department of Romance-Germanic Philology of the Humanities InstituteOlga Kuznetsova.

Several students of NGU immediately showed high results. A third-year student of the philology departmentAlina Motinascored 90 points out of 100 at the B2 level, a 2nd-year student in the field of linguisticsArina Ulyanovaalso successfully coped with high-level tasks.

—We were offered to participate as a whole group. Last year, we also took part in the Universiade, but at a lower level., — saysAlina Motina.

According to the student, one of the most interesting assignments was a reading text dedicated to an annual event related to the Italian language:

—It was great not only to complete the task but also to learn something new. In general, the entire Universiade was connected with the theme of the Italian language and culture, which was great.

Alina did not undergo special training for the competition:

—She did not prepare separately, she just continued learning the language in university classes, so, of course, studying at NGU helped.

The result obtained is perceived by the student as an indicator of her own progress:

—It’s nice, but that doesn’t mean that my level is that high, because the tasks at the Universiade are not as difficult as, say, on an international exam. Nevertheless, it’s great that I can note my progress.

A special value for her is the opportunity to understand the language and culture of the country more deeply:

—What I like most is the feeling when you understand the language and the people who speak it. It’s as if you gain access to some new and interesting world.

In Alina’s near future plan is to pass the international exam and confirm the B2 level, and later she would like to enter the master’s program in translation with Italian.

For Arina Ulyanova, this Universiade also became her second.

—I participated in the Universiade for the second time, but last year we were offered to complete tasks of A2 level. First and foremost, I was interested in whether I could handle tasks of a higher level and how much more difficult they would be than the previous ones. Of course, after 1.5 years of studying the language, I expect to see that your efforts were not in vain.

The student notes that the assignments allow not only to test knowledge but also to get acquainted with modern Italian culture.

—I like that by completing tasks, you can not only practice language skills but also learn something new about Italian culture. The compilers choose the most relevant and interesting topics: for example, one of the proposed texts was on the topic of the marketing phenomenon Italian Sounding, in which food products not produced in Italy are passed off as Italian, and opinions on this matter were presented in the interview.

Especially, Arina highlights creative assignments:

— The greatest interest is aroused by tasks that require expressing a personal opinion on a given topic. In this regard, it is always interesting to compose an oral statement where there is no strict format, just leading questions that help to give a detailed answer.

According to her, training at NGU directly helps to successfully cope with challenges.

—It helps directly, because it was precisely within the framework of the Italian course at NGU that I began and continue to study this language.

A high result became a pleasantly unexpected surprise for the student.

—I was a little surprised, but very happy with such a score. A high result always boosts confidence and reminds that even despite temporary difficulties, efforts always pay off.

Arina also believes that such projects help to overcome fear in the face of difficult challenges and better understand one’s own level of language proficiency.

—I believe that it is very useful to test yourself in a competition of this level. Studying a foreign language can and should go beyond the usual format. The Universiade is not a frightening exam, but rather an interesting challenge to oneself. Even if you have been learning Italian not for long, participating helps to stop being afraid of “complex” tasks, to see that you understand much more than it seems. And it is also a great opportunity to identify your gaps: where your listening speed was insufficient, where your vocabulary is a bit weak, where a grammatical rule has been forgotten. Thanks to this, it becomes clear what exactly to work on further.

The score of 80 points at different levels was also surpassed:

Level B1:

• Ulyana Rogacheva (linguist, 2nd year);
• Maria Zhuravleva (linguist, 2nd year).

Level B2:

• Maiya Bordukova (Philology, 2nd year);
• Emilia Kolesova (Philology, 3rd year).

Very soon, at the Humanities Institute of NGU, a start will take placeSummer school, where schoolchildren and university applicants will be able to get acquainted with the institute’s fields of study, as well as try themselves in learning foreign languages, including Italian.