BIOGRAPHY
I have been working as a College Language Teacher of Italian since 1994. In that time I have collaborated to enhance and foster the teaching and learning of the Italian language, both in itself and as a compliment to the culture-related elements of the undergraduate and postgraduate program.Before taking up that position I had spent several years abroad, including a period of 9 months in France (October 1989 – June 1990) working as a language assistant. I have also been to Italy on several occasions, each with the help of a scholarship. Firstly, in the summer of 1988 I won a scholarship offered by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs with the aid of which I attended a two-month language course at the Scuola di Lingua per Stranieri in Siena.
Subsequently I spent another two month period in Italy in the summer of 1991 at the Laboratorio internazionale di comunicazione sociale, linguistica e letteraria, a summer school affiliated to the Catholic University of Milan.I again won a scholarship from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (this time of an eight-month duration: October 1991 - May 1992) which enabled me to undertake extensive research for the topic of my thesis at the National Library in Florence. In 1997 I attended a course for foreign teachers of Italian held at the Università per stranieri in Perugia, which gave much help and advice on teaching methodologies and techniques which can be applied to the teaching of Italian as a second language. From April to June 2002 I completed a CELTA teacher training course in EFL, which has proved very useful in providing insights and practical assistance in my role as language teacher. Most recently, in August 2004, I attended a Teacher-Training Course for Teachers of Italian L2 at the Università per stranieri di Siena.
Research Interests
n/aProfessional Activities
Education
| Year | Instituion | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | University College Cork | BA (Hons) | Music | |
| 1992 | University College Cork | MA | Italian | |
| 1989 | University College Cork | BA (Hons) | French & Italian |
Languages
| Language | Reading | Writing | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | Functional | Functional | Functional | |
| Italian | Fluent | Fluent | Fluent |
Outreach Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
As part of the 2012 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival I gave a talk entitled 'Tuneful Monsters - the Castrato Voice on the London Stage 1707-1740' on 30 March 2012 in The O'Rahilly Building Room 1.01 |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
Within the Department of Italian at University College Cork I am involved in the design, teaching and assessment of all undergraduate language courses and several language-related courses at post-graduate level. The post-graduate courses that most interested me were those pertaining to translation, an area which has great interest for me. I have also for many years been co-ordinator of all Second Year language teaching (module code IT2101 Intermediate Italian Language), a role which involves frequent syllabus and curriculum review and update, preparation of ancillary materials and booklets; it moreover places me in a position of authority over and responsibility for all other teachers of Second Year language, as well as exam preparation and correction of all Second Year language courses. I have also been involved since the beginning of my career in the provision of extracurricular evening and summer courses to those interested in studying Italian informally, a role which I have always valued as rewarding and stimulating in itself, as well as promoting the study of Italian in the wider community.
Modules Taught
| Term (ID)) | Title | Link | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Intermediate Italian Language | IT2101 | Intermediate Italian Language |
