JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101-3"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2017
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Mauceri Trimnell
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 9:00 AM 9:50 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 60
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to give students basic communicative ability in Italian. By presenting the language in a variety of authentic contexts, the course also seeks to provide an introduction to Italian culture and society. Students work on all four language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Note: This course carries 4 semester hours of credit during the Fall and Spring terms, 3 hours in Summer.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:

  • Satisfy a limited number of immediate needs.
  • Understand and convey some spoken Italian through the knowledge and usage of familiar and memorized structures, on the most common features of daily life that require the interchange of simple and direct information.
  • Understand the general meaning of oral announcements and brief texts on familiar subjects with simple morphology and lexicon.
  • Produce one-paragraph texts with limited formulaic information by using elementary functions
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Listening

  • In-class listening activities: Students will listen to the instructor and to recorded texts the duration of which will be at least 250 words. Students will have to answer (orally and in writing) an increasing number of questions that test their comprehension of what they have heard.

Speaking

  • In-class oral activities and exams: Students will be examined singularly and in pairs. The type of tests will be: conversation between two students, monologues, role playing. The multiplicity of situations and the request to express personal opinions will increase from elementary level to advanced level. Conversations, monologues and role playing will be elicited by visual stimuli, texts, or questions from the instructor.

Reading

  • In-class activities and exams: Students will have to read an increasing number of texts of increasing length, complexity and of different genres. They will have to answer in writing several questions that test their comprehension of what they have read.

Writing

  • Homework assignments and exams: Students will have to answer written questions and produce written texts of increasing length, formality and complexity on topics of every day life.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
NUOVO Espresso (libro)Luciana Ziglio, Giovanna RizzoAlma Edizioni Firenze9788861823181      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
TestsThe three tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading comprehension and written ability.25%
Final examThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and the written ability25%
Oral Proficiency and presentationsIn-class oral activities and presentation. Students are examined singularly and in pairs or small groups. The types of tests are: conversation between the two students or the small groups, monologues, role playing. Conversations, monologues and role playing are elicited by visual stimuli or questions from the instructor.15%
Class participation and Homework Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice.10%
Midterm examThe midterm exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.25 %

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AExcellent command of the language consistent with the level of proficiency. Appropriate command of sentence structure, lexis, register and idiom.
BGood command of the language, consistent with the level of proficiency. Competent manipulation of sentence structure, with some evidence of development and complexity; small occurrence of grammatical errors. Work will be broadly coherent and comprehensible, good manipulation of sentence structure; grammatical and other errors will not impede comprehension.
CEvidence of the ability to control the language for the purpose of effective communication, consistent with the level of proficiency. Work will be comprehensible; sentence structure will be very simple and grammatical and other errors will be frequent but not as serious to impede comprehension
DLittle evidence of the ability to control the language for the purpose of making oneself understood. Little awareness of sentence structure and numerous grammatical and other errors
FNo evidence of the ability to control the language; failure to make oneself understood.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed three  absences. The final grade will be lowered by 2 points for each additional absence.

Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. 

If you should miss a class, please contact another student to find out what was covered that day so that you will be prepared for the next class. 

DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT:

- leave the room as it is distracting to the professor and to your classmates;
- answer your cell phone, read or send text messages; 
- use your computer for anything not related to the class (e.g. Facebook)
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

WEEK 1  January 16, 17, 18, 19

PRIMI CONTATTI   

Introducing yourself.  Introducing a person (formal and informal).

Greetings, expressions for keeping a conversation going.

Asking for and giving phone numbers, saying where you are from, addresses and personal information. Asking people to repeat information

WEEK 2  January 23, 24, 25, 26

IO E GLI ALTRI

Present tense of the verbs Essere, Chiamarsi , Avere, Stare, Fare and Present tense of regular verbs ending in –are.

Definite  and indefinite singular articles

Nouns ending in –o, –a and –e.

Nationality adjectives.

Prepositions a, in.

The negative and interrogative forms.

The Italian Alphabet. Pronunciation. Numbers from 0 to 100.  

WEEK 3  Jan. 30, 31, February 1, 2

BUON APPETITO

Ordering food and drinks.

Present tense of regular verbs ending in –ere; volere, preferire.

Asking for and telling the time.

Plurals of nouns and plural articles.

Interrogatives: Che cosa, quali, quanti.

Bene/Buono

FEBRUARY 2 TEST 1

WEEK 4 February 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (FEBRUARY 11 MAKE UP FOR APRIL 17)

TEMPO LIBERO

Talking about free time. Expressing likes and preferences.

Present tense of regular verbs ending in –ire; andare, giocare, leggere, uscire.

Mi piace, Mi piacciono (I like)

Adverbs of frequency and days of the week.

Interrogative: Perché.

WEEK  5 February 13, 14, 15, 16

IN ALBERGO

Make a hotel reservations; asking for information, prices; complaining.

Talking about your home and furniture.

Renting a house.

The Present Tense of potere, venire.

There is and there are (C'è - ci sono); prepositions + articles.

Interrogative: Quanto.

WEEK 6 February 20, 21, 22, 23

IN GIRO PER L’ITALIA

Describing a place. Asking for and giving directions.

Opening hours of public places.

The Present Tense of dovere, sapere.

Interrogatives: Quando, Quale.

Time and place prepositions.

Agreement of adjectives and nouns.

  FEBRUARY 23 TEST 2

WEEK 7 February 27, 28, March 1, 2, 3 (MARCH 3 MAKE UP FOR APRIL 25)

VITA QUOTIDIANA (UNIT 9)

Talking about a typical day and week. Talking about how often you do something.

Greetings; Italian Celebrations.

Present tense of reflexive verbs 

Frequency and time adverbs

WEEK 8 March 6, 7, 8, 9

VITA QUOTIDIANA (UNIT 9) (cont.) MARCH 8 MIDTERM REVIEW

MARCH 9 MIDTERM EXAM

WEEK 9 March 13, 14, 15, 16 (first oral proof on March 16)

ANDIAMO IN VACANZA

Talking about a trip. Describing past events.

Talking about the weather

Past tense of regular verbs (passato prossimo).

WEEK 10 March 20, 21, 22, 23

ANDIAMO IN VACANZA (CONT.)

Talking about past experiences. Asking about and saying what you did yesterday (last week, last month etc.)

Past tense of irregular verbs time adverbs.

Superlatives 

WEEK 11  March 27, 28, 29, 30

SAPORI D’ITALIA

Grocery shopping.

Describing food and eating habits.

Asking for the price and quantity.

Asking about a recipe.


APRIL 3-7 SPRING BREAK

WEEK 12 April 10, 11, 12, 13 (April 13 TEST 3)

SAPORI D’ITALIA (cont.) 

Direct pronouns and ne.

LA FAMIGLIA

Talking about your family

Possessive adjectives 

TEST 3

WEEK 13 April 18, 19, 20

LA FAMIGLIA (cont.)

Articles +Possessive adjectives

WEEK 14 April 24, 26, 27

APRIL 26               Oral presentation
APRIL 27               Final review