The course is designed to meet the needs of beginner students participating in a study abroad program. The course will introduce the students to the most frequent everyday situations to make them able to communicate and function in a new environment. Grammar and vocabulary will always be presented, analyzed and practiced in a context which is meaningful to the students. Oral skills will be emphasized while a foundtion in grammar will consolidate the understanding and use of the language structures. Vocabulary is based on everyday situations.
Prerequisites:
Additional requirements:
Additional student cost:
Attendance policy:
Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course students will be able to:
communicate simply but effectively with native speakers about topics related to daily life and needs
write short texts in present and past tense
understand main topics of simple written texts
follow key topics of simple conversations
understand and discuss various aspects of Italian culture
Method of presentation:
Classes are taught with a communicative approach to help students learn by using their own resources and to develop confidence and familiarity with the target language. The instructor will lead the students through the process of learning using various techniques. Working in pairs is especially emphasized. Students are expected to use only Italian in class.
Field study:
Starting from the first week and throughout the rest of the course students will be assigned various independent "on site" interactive activities, to encourage them to use the language in practical situations, to interact with locals and with their Italian student companions in order to find out about Italian life style and culture. The "findings" of the activities will be presented in class. Detailed instructions will be given in class.
Required work and form of assessment:
Exclusive use of Italian language in class, active participation to all class activities, homework, interactive activities regularly completed as indicated by the instructor, oral and written tests and exams, attendance and punctuality. Attendance is mandatory. Absences are to be considered justified only in case of illness (written medical certificate required) and IES academic events. If students miss class it is their responsibility to find out about homework and material covered in class. No make-upswill be given for exams, midterm, or final unless the student can provide a valid written medical certificate or special approval by the Director.
Class participation, engagement and homework (30%); Field assignments (10%); Oral competence, including one oral test (20%); Mid-term exam (20%); Final exam (20%).
Details of Required Work
Be aware that this class is taught exclusively in Italian.
Oral competence: Oral production and comprehension is crucial to a language course such as this one which has the goal of enabling students to communicate in a new language. The students’ oral competence is assessed constantly throughout the course as well as through the oral tests by the course instructor. Students’ oral competence is a result of different components: correctness, fluency, vocabulary and listening comprehension.
Class participation and engagement: Class participation is crucial for a course such as this one based on communicative teaching methods. Students might be used to different language teaching approaches, therefore a clarification follows of what is meant by participation and engagement:
Speaking only and always in ITALIAN in class
Trying to use structures and vocabulary studied in class as much as possible
Working in pairs or groups according to instructions given in class
Helping other students while working together
Participating in homework correction
Asking questions every time something is not clear
Memorizing and widening vocabulary, even if not listed
Participating in all class activities
Speaking Italian with your classmates, even if you finish your task before the others.
Not falling asleep in class
content:
Grammar
Affirmative negative and interrogative sentences, articles, nouns, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns, adverbs of frequency, past time expressions, verb tenses: present and past of regular and most frequent irregular verbs
Communicative Functions
Introducing oneself; asking the meaning and translation of a word; asking informations; ordering in a bar; ordering in a restaurant; asking information about people; asking for prices; cosa c’?/cosa non c’?; “fare la spesa”: talking about foodshopping; describing things and actions; talking about yourself: what do you do in your free time?; expressing likes and dislikes; describing your apartment; talking about how often you do something; the time; the days of the week; at the restaurant; “com'??”: describing people and places; talking about a past experience; talking about a trip; planning a trip; “sei mai stato a ...?”; the seasons; the months.
Handouts will be given out in class.
Week 1 - Day 1 Introduction
Course presentation, syllabus and schedule, tests, classes, books, commitment and expectations
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 5-11): greeting people (ciao and buongiorno); introducing oneself; asking the meaning and translation of a word; asking informations
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 6-11): alphabet, phonetic, pronunciation and spelling; useful sentences in classroom; question words; verb essere and avere; numbers 0-20
Week 1 - Day 2 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 12-17): numbers 20-100; ordering in a bar, ordering in a restaurant, in a “tabaccheria”; asking information about people
Week 1 - Day 3 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 18-21): asking for prices; cosa c’?/cosa non c’?
Dimmi, Unit? 3 (p. 48-49): “fare la spesa”: talking about foodshopping, useful expressions
Week 1 - Day 4 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 23-24): describing things and actions
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 23-29): adjectives, colors, use of buono/bello/bravo/bene
Outdoors
Il mercato: Campo dei fiori
Field Assignments: Al bar, in tabaccheria; Al mercato di Campo dei Fiori
Week 2 - Day 1 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 25-32): talking about yourself: what do you do in your free time?; expressing likes and dislikes; describing your apartment
Week 2 - Day 2 - MIDTERM Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 33-34): talking about how often you do something; the time, the days of the week; at the restaurant
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 40-44): adverbs of frequency
Week 2 - Day 3 - Cooking Lesson Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 35-39); Unit? 2 (p. 51-52): “com'??”: describing people and places
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 45-53): irregular verbs (fare, andare and stare); idiomatic expressions with fare
Field Assignments
Il mio migliore amico
Un ristorante romano
Week 3 - Day 1 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 64-65): talking about a past experience; talking about a trip
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 88-95): Passato prossimo with essere and avere
Week 3 - Day 2 Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 72-80): planning a trip; “sei mai stato a ...?”; the seasons, the months
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 96-105): irregular past participle; past time expressions
Beginning Italian
The course is designed to meet the needs of beginner students participating in a study abroad program. The course will introduce the students to the most frequent everyday situations to make them able to communicate and function in a new environment. Grammar and vocabulary will always be presented, analyzed and practiced in a context which is meaningful to the students. Oral skills will be emphasized while a foundtion in grammar will consolidate the understanding and use of the language structures. Vocabulary is based on everyday situations.
At the end of the course students will be able to:
Classes are taught with a communicative approach to help students learn by using their own resources and to develop confidence and familiarity with the target language. The instructor will lead the students through the process of learning using various techniques. Working in pairs is especially emphasized. Students are expected to use only Italian in class.
Starting from the first week and throughout the rest of the course students will be assigned various independent "on site" interactive activities, to encourage them to use the language in practical situations, to interact with locals and with their Italian student companions in order to find out about Italian life style and culture. The "findings" of the activities will be presented in class. Detailed instructions will be given in class.
Exclusive use of Italian language in class, active participation to all class activities, homework, interactive activities regularly completed as indicated by the instructor, oral and written tests and exams, attendance and punctuality. Attendance is mandatory. Absences are to be considered justified only in case of illness (written medical certificate required) and IES academic events. If students miss class it is their responsibility to find out about homework and material covered in class. No make-ups will be given for exams, midterm, or final unless the student can provide a valid written medical certificate or special approval by the Director.
Class participation, engagement and homework (30%); Field assignments (10%); Oral competence, including one oral test (20%); Mid-term exam (20%); Final exam (20%).
Details of Required Work
Be aware that this class is taught exclusively in Italian.
Oral competence: Oral production and comprehension is crucial to a language course such as this one which has the goal of enabling students to communicate in a new language. The students’ oral competence is assessed constantly throughout the course as well as through the oral tests by the course instructor. Students’ oral competence is a result of different components: correctness, fluency, vocabulary and listening comprehension.
Class participation and engagement: Class participation is crucial for a course such as this one based on communicative teaching methods. Students might be used to different language teaching approaches, therefore a clarification follows of what is meant by participation and engagement:
Grammar
Affirmative negative and interrogative sentences, articles, nouns, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns, adverbs of frequency, past time expressions, verb tenses: present and past of regular and most frequent irregular verbs
Communicative Functions
Introducing oneself; asking the meaning and translation of a word; asking informations; ordering in a bar; ordering in a restaurant; asking information about people; asking for prices; cosa c’?/cosa non c’?; “fare la spesa”: talking about foodshopping; describing things and actions; talking about yourself: what do you do in your free time?; expressing likes and dislikes; describing your apartment; talking about how often you do something; the time; the days of the week; at the restaurant; “com'??”: describing people and places; talking about a past experience; talking about a trip; planning a trip; “sei mai stato a ...?”; the seasons; the months.
Handouts will be given out in class.
Week 1 - Day 1
Introduction
Course presentation, syllabus and schedule, tests, classes, books, commitment and expectations
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 5-11): greeting people (ciao and buongiorno); introducing oneself; asking the meaning and translation of a word; asking informations
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 6-11): alphabet, phonetic, pronunciation and spelling; useful sentences in classroom; question words; verb essere and avere; numbers 0-20
Week 1 - Day 2
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 12-17): numbers 20-100; ordering in a bar, ordering in a restaurant, in a “tabaccheria”; asking information about people
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 12-19): nouns; indefinite and definite articles
Week 1 - Day 3
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 18-21): asking for prices; cosa c’?/cosa non c’?
Dimmi, Unit? 3 (p. 48-49): “fare la spesa”: talking about foodshopping, useful expressions
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 20-22): adjectives
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 12-17): verb avere; composed expressions of avere; verb fare idiomatic
Week 1 - Day 4
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 23-24): describing things and actions
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 1 (p. 23-29): adjectives, colors, use of buono/bello/bravo/bene
Outdoors
Il mercato: Campo dei fiori
Field Assignments: Al bar, in tabaccheria; Al mercato di Campo dei Fiori
Week 2 - Day 1
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 25-32): talking about yourself: what do you do in your free time?; expressing likes and dislikes; describing your apartment
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 32-34): present tense of regular verbs; verb piacere
Assignment
Il mio appartamento a Roma
Week 2 - Day 2 - MIDTERM
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 33-34): talking about how often you do something; the time, the days of the week; at the restaurant
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 40-44): adverbs of frequency
Week 2 - Day 3 - Cooking Lesson
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 35-39); Unit? 2 (p. 51-52): “com'??”: describing people and places
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 2 (p. 45-53): irregular verbs (fare, andare and stare); idiomatic expressions with fare
Field Assignments
Il mio migliore amico
Un ristorante romano
Week 3 - Day 1
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 64-65): talking about a past experience; talking about a trip
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 88-95): Passato prossimo with essere and avere
Week 3 - Day 2
Topics and Communicative Functions
Dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 72-80): planning a trip; “sei mai stato a ...?”; the seasons, the months
Grammar
Praticamente dimmi, Unit? 4 (p. 96-105): irregular past participle; past time expressions
Week 3 - Day 3
REVIEW
Assignments
Un viaggio in Italia
Una cartolina