This course presents the basic structures of the Italian Language through a communicative and direct approach. The student will become familiar with Italian language and culture through reading, listening and writing activities concerning different aspects of Italian life. Study abroad enhances the chances of communicative competences that are most difficult to foster in a mere classroom setting. As such, students will be exposed to different communicative situations and contexts, so that they will naturally gain confidence outside of class and become more willing to use the language from the very beginning. Speaking and listening activities will be an important part of each class period: particular emphasis will be put on idiomatic and common expressions. By the end of the course students will realize they are better assimilated into everyday Italian life and culture, as they can now meet their everyday needs.
This is a demanding, highly participatory course that rewards daily efforts by students. The pace is quick and lively: those who commit seriously to this adventure will be surprised with the outcomes of their efforts.
This course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of the language.
By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening, and speaking to accomplish a variety of basic everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below.
Prerequisites:
None
Attendance policy:
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Extra information about the field studies such as dates and times will be provided by the teacher in class. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Novice Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below:
I. Intercultural Communication
A. Students will be able to meet basic everyday needs using verbal communication, use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (repetition, body language, etc.), and identify some basic nonverbal communication strategies.
B. Students will be able to recognize basic appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between basic representations of formality and informality in the language.
D. Students will understand that there may be differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and host culture.
II. Listening
A. Students will be able to understand basic statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts’ interactions, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B. Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some basic spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and announcements.
III. Speaking
A. Students will be able to use some basic phrases appropriately in some everyday situations (home, the IES Abroad Center, the community).
B. Students will be able to express some basic needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV. Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand basic sentences.
B. Students will be able to interpret main ideas in short passages and news headlines, but their understanding is often limited to the words or groups of words that they have seen in class.
V. Writing
A. With limited accuracy, students will be able to write short sentences and short paragraphs about basic and concrete topics they have studied, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes and dislikes, and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send basic emails, text messages, postcards, and online posts, and fill out some basic forms.
Method of presentation:
The approach to learning is direct and designed for an immediate use of the Italian language. In class, students are asked to use new communicative strategies in different situations, so that at the end of the lesson, outside of class, they can apply the basic grammar rules they just learned. This learning process stimulates students. They are never considered as passive recipients, but active users of the language for their immediate need.
During class activities, students will often work in pairs or small groups. They will collaborate with each other in order to find out answers and solve problems; this way they also have an opportunity to socialize and learn from classmates in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. This is meant to encourage participation while reducing anxiety; students can help each other to succeed before surrendering and asking the teacher for assistance.
Required work and form of assessment:
Listening comprehension 1: 5%
Final Test Intensive: 10%
Listening comprehension 2: 5%
Listening comprehension 3: 5%
Midterm Exam: 15%
Listening comprehension 4
5%; Oral Exam: 10%
Listening comprehension 5: 5%
Final Exam: 20%
Weekly Assignments: 5%
Class attendance (field studies included), active participation through discussion, reading and writing: 10%
Cultural activities: 5%
On request, after completion of the Midterm exam, students will receive information on their grade breakdown, and they'll discuss it with the teacher.
Students will be required to enter the Moodle course page on a regular basis in order to access readings, exercises, and any other regular or extra material.
content:
CONTENT:
*P.D. = A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Esercizi e Attività, Guerra Edizioni.
**D. = A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Dimmi... Manuale per la Comunicazione – Primo livello, Guerra Edizioni.
Students are expected to go to class having studied in detail the Assignments as indicated on the syllabus and by the teacher in class.
2. Grammatical: alphabet, numbers, to be, to have, pronunciation, definite and indefinite articles, gender and number of nouns and adjectives
3. Vocabulary: common words
4. Culture: Italian greetings
* P.D. Unit 1
** D. Unit 1
Listening Comprehension 1
Ia, IIa, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va
Week 2
* P.D. Unit 2, 4 and 5
** D. Unit 2
1. Functional: talking about yourself, descriptions
2. Grammatical: present tense, present tense of reflexive and reciprocal verbs, adjective and adverb molto, present progressive; general review
3. Vocabulary: home; descriptions
4. Culture: the Italian bar and the tradition of the happy hour
* P.D. Unit 2, 4 and 5
** D. Unit 2
Final Test Intensive
Ia, Ib, Ic, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va
GENERAL COURSE
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding Learning Outcome(s)
Week 1
* P.D. Unit 2 and 4
1. Functional: asking and saying the time.
2. Grammatical: introduction to present perfect
3. Vocabulary: times and parts of the day
4. Culture: the importance of food in Italy
* P.D. Unit 2 and 4
Field Study APERITIVO
Ib, Ic, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 2
* P.D. Unit 3
** D. Unit 3
1. Functional: asking for directions, going shopping
2. Grammatical: prepositions
3. Vocabulary: shops, directions
4. Culture: the Italian love for fashion
* P.D. Unit 3
** D. Unit 3
Listening Comprehension 2
Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 3
* P.D. Unit 4
1. Functional: talking about daily activities
2. Grammatical: present perfect
3. Vocabulary: schedules, leisure and hobbies.
4. Culture: famous and less famous Italian cities
* P.D. Unit 4
Ia, Ib, Ic, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 4
* P.D. Unit 4
** D. Unit 4
1. Functional: traveling, talking about past events
2. Grammatical: present perfect
3. Vocabulary: travelling, childhood
4. Culture: art made in Italy
* P.D. Unit 4
** D. Unit 4
Listening comprehension 3
Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 5
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5
1. Functional: talking about past events
2. Grammatical: present perfect of reflexive and reciprocal verbs, indefinite adjectives and pronouns
3. Vocabulary: self-care
4. Culture: Italian celebrities
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5
IIa, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 6
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5 and 6
1. Functional: talking about family, tastes and preferences
2. Grammatical: possessive adjectives and pronouns
3. Vocabulary: family
4. Culture: the Italian family
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5 and 6
Id, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 7
Intensive review
Midterm Exam
Week 8
* P.D. Unit 6
** D. Unit 6
1. Functional: talking about yourself, telling stories
2. Grammatical: imperfect tense
3. Vocabulary: verb piacere
4. Culture: a night out in Milan
* P.D. Unit 6
** D. Unit 6
I cultural essay
Listening comprehension 4
IIa, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 9
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
1. Functional: tastes and preferences, guessing; oral practice
2. Grammatical: direct pronouns
3. Vocabulary: tastes
4. Culture: differences between Italian life-style and American life-style
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
Oral exam
Id, IIa, IIIa, IIIb, IVb, Va
Week 10
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
1. Functional: back home; talking about future events
2. Grammatical: indirect pronouns; simple future
3. Vocabulary: assumptions
4. Culture: leaving Italy...
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
II cultural essay
IIb, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 11
General review
Listening comprehension 5
Week 12
Final Exam
Final exam
Required readings:
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Dimmi... Manuale per la Comunicazione – Primo livello, Guerra Edizioni (handed out in class by the teacher).
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Esercizi e Attività, Guerra Edizioni (handed out in class by the teacher).
Copies of the below cited grammar textbook will be available for students at the library of center:
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Grammar notes – Glossario, Guerra Edizioni.
Supplementary material will be provided by the teacher or available on the Moodle course page. This may include: games, readings, song lyrics, Italian movies, extra exercises, etc.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Renata Palermo:
After a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences at the University of Catania with a thesis on the Italian literature of the second postwar period (2004), Renata Palermo graduated at the University of Milan in Cultures and Languages for Communication with a degree thesis about the literature of fascist authors (2007). She worked at Dartmouth College (NH, USA) as an Italian Advisor and as a Teaching Assistant for a cinema course and for Italian language courses (2007-2008). While pursuing the MA in Italian Literature (2008-2010) at the University of Virginia (with a MA thesis about the Italian Literature’s masterpiece Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno), she worked as a Teaching Assistant for Italian language courses and a cinema course.
Back in Italy, she has been at IES Abroad Milan as an Italian language teacher since January, 2011.
Anna Belloni:
Anna Belloni graduated from the “Università Statale degli Studi” of Milan in Foreign Languages and Literatures (Portuguese and Spanish) in 2000. From 2001 to 2003 she lived and worked in Mexico where she taught Italian Language and Culture at the University of Puebla (UDLA – Universidad De Las Américas). Back in Italy in 2003, she continued to work as an Italian instructor for several private schools in Milan and at the “Politecnico” University in the Erasmus Programme.
She has been teaching at IES Abroad Milan as an Italian language teacher since January, 2009.
Silvia Gobbi:
Silvia Gobbi has a range of job experiences including Head of Press Office, PR and show room for a Fashion Company, and Journalist responsible for various columns and interviews with figures from the worlds of adventure and extreme sports.
Silvia decided to spend a long period in Rio de Janeiro, where she started teaching Italian as a second language for the Italian Consulate.
Once back in Milan, and after a few months of writing press releases, she returned to school for a Master’s Degree in Italian L2 at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and she received it in 2007.
After having worked for several schools in Milan - private schools and NGO projects - she started working for IES Milan where she had done her Internship during her Master’s program.
Last summer she was awarded a scholarship to participate in Summer Institutes at the University of Minneapolis (CARLA, Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition) from IES Milan.
This course presents the basic structures of the Italian Language through a communicative and direct approach. The student will become familiar with Italian language and culture through reading, listening and writing activities concerning different aspects of Italian life. Study abroad enhances the chances of communicative competences that are most difficult to foster in a mere classroom setting. As such, students will be exposed to different communicative situations and contexts, so that they will naturally gain confidence outside of class and become more willing to use the language from the very beginning. Speaking and listening activities will be an important part of each class period: particular emphasis will be put on idiomatic and common expressions. By the end of the course students will realize they are better assimilated into everyday Italian life and culture, as they can now meet their everyday needs.
This is a demanding, highly participatory course that rewards daily efforts by students. The pace is quick and lively: those who commit seriously to this adventure will be surprised with the outcomes of their efforts.
This course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of the language.
By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening, and speaking to accomplish a variety of basic everyday needs in the host culture as described in the learning outcomes below.
None
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including field studies. Extra information about the field studies such as dates and times will be provided by the teacher in class. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
By the end of the course, students will be able to achieve some of the outcomes for the Novice Abroad level as defined by the MAP for Language and Intercultural Communication. The key learning outcomes from the MAP are summarized below:
I. Intercultural Communication
A. Students will be able to meet basic everyday needs using verbal communication, use compensatory strategies when they do not know the word or expression (repetition, body language, etc.), and identify some basic nonverbal communication strategies.
B. Students will be able to recognize basic appropriate and inappropriate expressions and behaviors in the host language.
C. Students will be able to distinguish between basic representations of formality and informality in the language.
D. Students will understand that there may be differences between cultural stereotypes and generalizations between the home culture and host culture.
II. Listening
A. Students will be able to understand basic statements, requests, descriptions, and questions in specific cultural context relevant to them (hosts’ interactions, Center interactions, studying, shopping, transportation, meals).
B. Students will be able to use context to understand the gist of some basic spoken language they overhear, including the media, conversations between others, and announcements.
III. Speaking
A. Students will be able to use some basic phrases appropriately in some everyday situations (home, the IES Abroad Center, the community).
B. Students will be able to express some basic needs by asking questions, and get what they need in uncomplicated, everyday situations.
IV. Reading
A. Students will be able to identify and understand basic sentences.
B. Students will be able to interpret main ideas in short passages and news headlines, but their understanding is often limited to the words or groups of words that they have seen in class.
V. Writing
A. With limited accuracy, students will be able to write short sentences and short paragraphs about basic and concrete topics they have studied, such as themselves, their families, their friends, their likes and dislikes, and their daily routines.
B. Students will be able to send basic emails, text messages, postcards, and online posts, and fill out some basic forms.
The approach to learning is direct and designed for an immediate use of the Italian language. In class, students are asked to use new communicative strategies in different situations, so that at the end of the lesson, outside of class, they can apply the basic grammar rules they just learned. This learning process stimulates students. They are never considered as passive recipients, but active users of the language for their immediate need.
During class activities, students will often work in pairs or small groups. They will collaborate with each other in order to find out answers and solve problems; this way they also have an opportunity to socialize and learn from classmates in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. This is meant to encourage participation while reducing anxiety; students can help each other to succeed before surrendering and asking the teacher for assistance.
Listening comprehension 1: 5%
Final Test Intensive: 10%
Listening comprehension 2: 5%
Listening comprehension 3: 5%
Midterm Exam: 15%
Listening comprehension 4
5%; Oral Exam: 10%
Listening comprehension 5: 5%
Final Exam: 20%
Weekly Assignments: 5%
Class attendance (field studies included), active participation through discussion, reading and writing: 10%
Cultural activities: 5%
On request, after completion of the Midterm exam, students will receive information on their grade breakdown, and they'll discuss it with the teacher.
Students will be required to enter the Moodle course page on a regular basis in order to access readings, exercises, and any other regular or extra material.
CONTENT:
*P.D. = A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Esercizi e Attività, Guerra Edizioni.
**D. = A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Dimmi... Manuale per la Comunicazione – Primo livello, Guerra Edizioni.
Students are expected to go to class having studied in detail the Assignments as indicated on the syllabus and by the teacher in class.
INTENSIVE COURSE
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding Learning Outcome(s)
Week 1
* P.D. Unit 1
** D. Unit 1
1. Functional: asking questions, introducing yourself
2. Grammatical: alphabet, numbers, to be, to have, pronunciation, definite and indefinite articles, gender and number of nouns and adjectives
3. Vocabulary: common words
4. Culture: Italian greetings
* P.D. Unit 1
** D. Unit 1
Listening Comprehension 1
Ia, IIa, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va
Week 2
* P.D. Unit 2, 4 and 5
** D. Unit 2
1. Functional: talking about yourself, descriptions
2. Grammatical: present tense, present tense of reflexive and reciprocal verbs, adjective and adverb molto, present progressive; general review
3. Vocabulary: home; descriptions
4. Culture: the Italian bar and the tradition of the happy hour
* P.D. Unit 2, 4 and 5
** D. Unit 2
Final Test Intensive
Ia, Ib, Ic, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va
GENERAL COURSE
Week
Content
Assignments
Corresponding Learning Outcome(s)
Week 1
* P.D. Unit 2 and 4
1. Functional: asking and saying the time.
2. Grammatical: introduction to present perfect
3. Vocabulary: times and parts of the day
4. Culture: the importance of food in Italy
* P.D. Unit 2 and 4
Field Study APERITIVO
Ib, Ic, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 2
* P.D. Unit 3
** D. Unit 3
1. Functional: asking for directions, going shopping
2. Grammatical: prepositions
3. Vocabulary: shops, directions
4. Culture: the Italian love for fashion
* P.D. Unit 3
** D. Unit 3
Listening Comprehension 2
Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 3
* P.D. Unit 4
1. Functional: talking about daily activities
2. Grammatical: present perfect
3. Vocabulary: schedules, leisure and hobbies.
4. Culture: famous and less famous Italian cities
* P.D. Unit 4
Ia, Ib, Ic, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, Va, Vb
Week 4
* P.D. Unit 4
** D. Unit 4
1. Functional: traveling, talking about past events
2. Grammatical: present perfect
3. Vocabulary: travelling, childhood
4. Culture: art made in Italy
* P.D. Unit 4
** D. Unit 4
Listening comprehension 3
Ia, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 5
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5
1. Functional: talking about past events
2. Grammatical: present perfect of reflexive and reciprocal verbs, indefinite adjectives and pronouns
3. Vocabulary: self-care
4. Culture: Italian celebrities
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5
IIa, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 6
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5 and 6
1. Functional: talking about family, tastes and preferences
2. Grammatical: possessive adjectives and pronouns
3. Vocabulary: family
4. Culture: the Italian family
* P.D. Unit 5
** D. Unit 5 and 6
Id, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 7
Intensive review
Midterm Exam
Week 8
* P.D. Unit 6
** D. Unit 6
1. Functional: talking about yourself, telling stories
2. Grammatical: imperfect tense
3. Vocabulary: verb piacere
4. Culture: a night out in Milan
* P.D. Unit 6
** D. Unit 6
I cultural essay
Listening comprehension 4
IIa, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 9
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
1. Functional: tastes and preferences, guessing; oral practice
2. Grammatical: direct pronouns
3. Vocabulary: tastes
4. Culture: differences between Italian life-style and American life-style
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
Oral exam
Id, IIa, IIIa, IIIb, IVb, Va
Week 10
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
1. Functional: back home; talking about future events
2. Grammatical: indirect pronouns; simple future
3. Vocabulary: assumptions
4. Culture: leaving Italy...
* P.D. Unit 7
** D. Unit 7
II cultural essay
IIb, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb
Week 11
General review
Listening comprehension 5
Week 12
Final Exam
Final exam
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Dimmi... Manuale per la Comunicazione – Primo livello, Guerra Edizioni (handed out in class by the teacher).
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Esercizi e Attività, Guerra Edizioni (handed out in class by the teacher).
Copies of the below cited grammar textbook will be available for students at the library of center:
A. Battaglia – L. Tarini, Praticamente dimmi... Grammar notes – Glossario, Guerra Edizioni.
Supplementary material will be provided by the teacher or available on the Moodle course page. This may include: games, readings, song lyrics, Italian movies, extra exercises, etc.
Renata Palermo:
After a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences at the University of Catania with a thesis on the Italian literature of the second postwar period (2004), Renata Palermo graduated at the University of Milan in Cultures and Languages for Communication with a degree thesis about the literature of fascist authors (2007). She worked at Dartmouth College (NH, USA) as an Italian Advisor and as a Teaching Assistant for a cinema course and for Italian language courses (2007-2008). While pursuing the MA in Italian Literature (2008-2010) at the University of Virginia (with a MA thesis about the Italian Literature’s masterpiece Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno), she worked as a Teaching Assistant for Italian language courses and a cinema course.
Back in Italy, she has been at IES Abroad Milan as an Italian language teacher since January, 2011.
Anna Belloni:
Anna Belloni graduated from the “Università Statale degli Studi” of Milan in Foreign Languages and Literatures (Portuguese and Spanish) in 2000. From 2001 to 2003 she lived and worked in Mexico where she taught Italian Language and Culture at the University of Puebla (UDLA – Universidad De Las Américas). Back in Italy in 2003, she continued to work as an Italian instructor for several private schools in Milan and at the “Politecnico” University in the Erasmus Programme.
She has been teaching at IES Abroad Milan as an Italian language teacher since January, 2009.
Silvia Gobbi:
Silvia Gobbi has a range of job experiences including Head of Press Office, PR and show room for a Fashion Company, and Journalist responsible for various columns and interviews with figures from the worlds of adventure and extreme sports.
Silvia decided to spend a long period in Rio de Janeiro, where she started teaching Italian as a second language for the Italian Consulate.
Once back in Milan, and after a few months of writing press releases, she returned to school for a Master’s Degree in Italian L2 at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and she received it in 2007.
After having worked for several schools in Milan - private schools and NGO projects - she started working for IES Milan where she had done her Internship during her Master’s program.
Last summer she was awarded a scholarship to participate in Summer Institutes at the University of Minneapolis (CARLA, Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition) from IES Milan.