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Certification
of Italian as a Foreign Language (CILS)
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School Porta d'Oriente is
officially recognized by the University for foreigners of Siena as seat for CILS
examination
(University for foreigners of Siena)
Università per Stranieri di Siena
Centro Certificazione CILS
Via Pantaneto 105
53100 Siena / Italy
Tel. +39
05.77.24.04.67
Fax +39 05.77.24.04.61
e-mail: cils@unistrasi.it
The Certification of Italian as
a Foreign Language (CILS) is the official title that denotes the degree of
linguistic competency of Italian as a foreign language. The CILS is awarded
by the University of Siena for Foreigners and is recognised by the Italian State
on the basis of an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Levels. The CILS covers four levels: ONE, TWO, THREE and FOUR. Each of
these represents a progressively higher level of linguistic and communicative
ability. Each CILS level is autonomous and complete: the certification for each
level represents a degree of communicative ability which is adequate for
specific social, professional and scholastic contexts.
To obtain the Certificate in one of the four levels, it is necessary to pass an
exam composed of five sections with tests in listening comprehension, reading
comprehension, analyses of the structures of communication, writing skills and
speaking skills.
Applicants. All foreign citizens, Italian citizens residing abroad (descendants
of Italian emigrants) and foreign immigrants in Italy may request to take the
CILS exam. There are no age limits and applicants are not obliged to possess
educational certificates or degrees, nor is it necessary to have obtained lower
levels of the CILS in order to attempt the attainment of a higher level. The
CILS exams are not bound to the study of specific methods or forms of Italian
language courses. Each candidate can prepare for the CILS exams in the ways
deemed most appropriate and suitable in accordance with the demands of the level.
The CILS is useful to those who study Italian, who work and study within an
Italian context, and to those who wish to measure their capacity in Italian.
Each CILS level denotes an ability to communicate which may be used in different
contexts and situations. The ability of each level of certification for
foreigners who wish to undertake activities in relation with Italian
institutions for professional or scholastic purposes is established in the
document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled "Coordinated system of
Certificates of Italian for Foreigners", Rome 1998. Level ONE
denotes the ability to communicate in daily situations. Level TWO
allows holders to enrol in Italian universities without the obligation of taking
the pre-entry language proficiency test. Foreign students with a Level THREE
or Level FOUR certificate may obtain extra points on University admission
lists. At the University of Siena for Foreigners, the Level THREE is a requisite
for enrolling in the Advanced Courses in Italian Language and Culture, Courses
in Italian Language and Didactics for Teachers and Advanced Courses in Italian
Literature and Art History. Level FOUR enables holders to enrol in the Advanced
Course in Didactics for Teaching Italian to Foreigners and in the School of
Specialisation in the Didactics of Italian as a Foreign Language. Level FOUR
denotes the communication skills that a foreigner should possess in order to use
the Italian language in the professional world. For example, it is the level
necessary to teach Italian as an L2. Many Italian companies that work abroad or
that wish to hire foreigners, or foreign companies that do business with Italy,
require that their employees possess a CILS certificate, in accordance with the
work they are required to perform. For example, Level TWO is accepted as the
minimum level of competence required by the Italian Railway Company for
employees involved in security.
Exams and scores. All exams are produced and evaluated by the
Certification Centre of the University of Siena for Foreigners on the basis of
European standards set by the Council of Europe. Each of the five sections is
worth 20 points, and in each section it is necessary to score at least 11 points.
The highest total score possible is 100 points, and the lowest passing score is
55 points. Candidates must obtain at least the minimum score in each section to
be awarded the CILS. If a candidate obtains the minimum score in only some
sections, then the candidate may take subsequent exams in those sections in
which he or she had not obtained the minimum score. The sections of the exam
that have been passed are valid for one year from the date of the first exam.
Sites and dates of the exams. Outside of Italy, the exam may be taken at Italian
Institutes of Culture as well as at other selected venues. In Italy, the exam
takes place at the University of Siena for Foreigners and in other selected
sites (at the Centri Territoriali di Educazione Permanente in Tuscany and in
other regions, at the Language Centres of certain universities, etc.). Our
school is a selected site: that means that you can do the exam in Otranto. The
CILS exams are scheduled twice a year, at the beginning of June and December, on
the same day for all test sites.
A fee is charged for sitting the exam.
The next exams are scheduled for:
first week of June 2003; enrollment within 10 Mai
first
week of December 2003; enrollment within 4 November
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