Beginners in Italian or German receive an intensive language course which brings them, in a year, to the level of post-A-level students; in both languages great emphasis is placed upon oral and written language skills, with extensive use of modern teaching techniques such as online language learning; oral teaching is conducted in small groups by native German and Italian speakers; the School of Modern Languages also offers special training for linguists with its core skills module for language learners; at the end of the year students normally take a 3-week summer programme in Germany or Italy, subsidised by the university.