College has received confirmation from EDiSU yesterday that the arrangements for the English Courses have been finalised. The arrangements involve a major and positive change compared to previous years, as detailed below.
Courses
Volta, the first College in Pavia to offer Courses in English language, is committed to give every College student the opportunity to learn English at level C1, a grade that opens the door to postgraduate studies at English and USA Universities and provides a strong foundation for successful applications and interviews for jobs outside Italy and in Italy that require fluency in English language. Starting from this year the English Courses will be offered not by a private school but by the Centro Linguistico of the University of Pavia that will ensure the highest possible level of teaching. Three Courses will be offered at Collegio Volta chosen between the A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 levels. The three levels chosen will depend upon the results of the placement tests (see below). The study of English at Volta is free as the English Courses are funded by EDiSU, as they were last year, and placement and exit tests are funded by the College itself.
Placement Tests
Students who entered College on or after 1 September 2017 have to enter an online placement test in English language. Exceptions are three categories of students, namely: (i) members of Volta whose native language is English, (ii) students who hold a C1 or higher (C2) certification in English in a recent IELTS examination and, (iii) students whose level of English is below a C1 but who opt to enter the College-based French or German language Courses in 2018/19 because they plan to apply for an Erasmus fellowship and placement at a French or German University.
In summary, as discussed at the time of admission, every student who gained a placement in College on or after 1 September 2017, needs to attend one of the language Courses throughout the year. Although the College holds partial data on students who fall in categories (ii) and (iii), these students are asked to confirm their certification and/or the choice of the French or German Courses with a brief email to the College Director before Friday 9th of November 2018 in order to finalise the lists of students entering the English placement test during the weekend (Saturday/Sunda 10/11th of November) and enable these students to sit the test starting from Monday the 12th of November. The placement test in use at Volta is the Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT) developed by Oxford University and delivered by Oxford University Press. A number of students who entered College in 2017/18 sat the placement test last year. These students are requested to resit the test in order to assess the degree of improvement in their level of English as a result of the Course they attended last year.
Finally, all students admitted to Volta before 1 September 2017 are welcome naturaly to sit the placement test and enrol in the English Courses. These students however will not be entered by default and need to confirm their intention to enrol in the English Courses with an email to the College Director before Friday 9th of November 2018. All students due to sit the placement test will receive an email from Oxford University Press confirming the availability of the test and details for access.
Classes
Upon completion of the placement tests and analysis of test results, College will be in the position to confirm the levels of the three Courses offered at Volta in 2018/19 as well as the day(s) of the week, time and rooms in which the Courses will take place.
