A New Start
Italian Studies is part of the Department of Language Studies (2008), previously known as the Department of French, German, and Italian established in 2003. The Department of Language Studies 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 process associated with the understanding and application of languages.
The Department also offers opportunities to study in 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 Department of Language Studies 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 Languages and Literature, French Linguistics, Francophone Studies, Italian Studies, Cinema Studies, Language Teaching and Learning, and Linguistics. These areas of emphasis, coupled with its synergy, place the Department amongst the very best 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.