PREREQUISITES FOR THE EXAM:

QUALIFICATION

Bachelor’s degree in a specific field (pertaining to language teaching)

TRAINING

Language teaching (minimum 30 hours) that can be satisfied by choosing one of these methods:

1. participation in the DITALS orientation course at the University for Foreigners of Siena
2. attendance of 3 online modules organized by the DITALS Center - University for Foreigners of Siena
3. participation in a course in one of the DITALS monitored centres
4. participation in a university course in the scientific disciplinary sector L-LIN02 (6 university credits)

INTERNSHIP

Minimum 300 hours of teaching (in any subject in either organizations or schools) or student-teaching in classes of Italian for foreigners (in Italy or abroad)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

1. Non Italian native speaker: International C2 level Italian certification of the Common European Framework.
2. Italian mother tongue: possession of a minimum level A2 of the CEFR in a foreign language on the basis of one of the following titles:
   • international certification
   • degree in languages
   • passing a university exam in the chosen language
   • qualification obtained in the country of the chosen foreign language
   • passing a final exam in the chosen foreign language at public or private schools
   • declaration stating the participation in a minimum level A2 course in a foreign language

If you do not have one of the aforementioned requirements, you can contact the DITALS Center to receive information for conducting a self-assessment test for the French, English, Spanish and German languages only.

IT SKILLS

Attested by holding one of the following titles:

• ECDL computer certification or equivalent certification
• degree in computer science
• passing a university computer exam
• passing a computer exam at public or private schools
• declaration certifying participation in a computer course

If you do not have one of the aforementioned requirements, the candidate must contact the DITALS Center and receive instructions on how to take a self-assessment test.

Prerequisites for those in possession of the I level DITALS certification

Those who are in possession of the 1st level DITALS Certification (or CEDILS and DILS Certifications) can access the II level DITALS exam based on one of the following courses:

Degree in humanities + 60 hours of teaching or "monitored training" + 1 supplementary module of minimum 6 hours on the D section

Degree in non-humanistic area + 300 hours of qualified teaching, including a maximum of 60 hours of training + 1 supplementary module of minimum 6 hours on the D section

EXAM STRUCTURE

Section A: Analysis of didactic materials. The candidate must analyze material from the books of Italian for foreigners and be able to answer questions: these are the questions which are intended to verify that the candidate is knowledgeable on the purposes of the various proposed activities (which abilities are stimulated, what skills are tested).

Section B: Analysis and exploitation of an instructional text. The candidate will be provided with a text and other material as it will be used to build a) a lesson plan; b) activities in order to target specific skills; c) verification tests. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to identify the objectives reached through a specific task and to be able to adjust the activity at the students’ level.

Section C: Knowledge of teaching theory. The test verifies the knowledge of the principles and problems of language teaching theory and methodological approaches of the twentieth century; the grasp of fundamental concepts of linguistics and sociolinguistics. The section includes both multiple-choice questions as well as open-ended questions.

Section D: Oral teaching theory competence. The candidate must prepare, using the materials provided, two activities targeted at two different types of pupils. After thirty minutes of preparation, the candidate records, for 10 minutes (5 minutes for each activity), a simulation of what he/she would do in the classroom.

To receive certification of the DITALS II, candidates must reach the minimum score on all sections of the exam. If the candidate receives the minimum score in only certain sections, he/she may capitalize on their results and retake only the sections that were not previously passed (within three years from the first examination).