Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 103"
COURSE NAME: "Intensive Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Franceschi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 90
CREDITS: 6
PREREQUISITES: This course, which is the equivalent of IT 101 + IT 102, carries 6 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course meets four times per week and covers the equivalent of a full year of elementary language study (Introductory Italian I and II) in one semester. Designed for highly motivated students who wish to develop communicative ability in Italian in a relatively short time.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

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

- understand written and spoken Italian, through the knowledge of simple structures. Situations will be varied, but general and such as to require an interchange of every day information and routine tasks.

- participate in simple, direct conversations on generally predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment.

- satisfy simple personal needs and social demands to survive in the target language culture

- comprehend the general meaning and some details of texts on familiar topics

- produce brief texts on topics of personal interests and social needs, primarily in the present, past, and imperative.

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 Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
Percorso Italia A1-A2	Patota-Romanelli	Garzanti Linguistica	9788848040419
Gramm.it	Iacovoni-Persiano-Fiorentin	Bonacci	9788875734305

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
6 quizzes	The six quizzes are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and written ability. (one quiz will be dropped)	20%
Midterm exam	The 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.	20%
Final exam	The final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and the vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.	20%
Oral proficiency	In-class oral activities and 2 oral presentations. Students are examined singularly, in pairs and in a small groups.The types of tests are: conversations between the two students or the small groups, monologues, role-playing. Conversations, monologues and role-playing are elicited by visual stimuli or questions from instructor.	20%
Class participation and Homework	omework Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice	20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until May 8.

Students are supposed 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 eight 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. Arriving in class with more than 5 minutes late will be considered half absence.

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

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION

Week 1

January 22,21,22,23

Introducing yourself . Present tense of the verbs Essere (to be), Chiamarsi (my name is....), Avere ( to have), Abitare (to live), and Studiare (to study). The Italian Alphabet. Pronunciation of soft and hard sounds. Numbers from 0 to 20. Idiomatic expressions with Avere or Essere.
UNIT 1
Greetings. Introducing a person (formal and informal). Present tense of the verb Presentare (to introduce). Asking and telling a phone number.

Week 2

January 27,28,29,30

UNIT 2

Asking nationality. Nationalities. Ordering in a caffè. Present tense of regular verbs and verbs in _ISC. Undefinite aticles. Nouns ending in –o and –a. Nouns ending in –e. Prepositions a, di, da. Numbers from 20 to 100.

JANUARY 30 QUIZ 1

Week 3

February 3,4,5,6

UNIT 3

Talking about work. Jobs. Asking for address. Talking about family. Telling age and asking for age. Family nouns. Present tense of Avere (to have) and Fare (to do). Definite articles.

Week 4

February 10,11,12,13,14

UNIT 4

Talking about a typical day.Talking about how often you do something. Asking and tellina time. Days of the week. Present tense of reflexive verbs. Adverbs of frequency. Present tense of irregular verbs andare (to go), uscire (to go out) and stare (to stay/to be).

FEBRUARY 13 QUIZ 2

FEBRUARY 14 MAKE UP FOR MONDAY APRIL 13

Week 5

February 17,18,19,20

UNIT 5

Enrolling in a class. Seasons and months. Asking and giving timetable information. Writing a letter. There is and there are. Simple prepositions. Compound prepositions. Present tens of Volere (to want).

Week 6

February 24,25,26,27

UNIT 6

Talking about leisure time. Expressing likes and preferences. Inviting someone. Best wishes and congratulations. Present tens of modal verbs. Mi piace/mi piacciono (I like). In direct pronouns. Present continuous.

UNIT 7

Grocery shopping. Describing food and eating habits. Direct pronom ne. Ci vuole/ci vogliono (you need).

FEBRUARY 27 QUIZ 3

Week 7

March 2,3,4,5

UNIT 8

Asking and giving directions. Talking about the weather. Present tense of sapere and conoscere (to know).

MARCH 3 ORAL PRESENTATION

MARCH 4 MIDTERM REVIEW

MARCH 5 MIDTERM

9-13 MARCH SPRING BREAK

Week 8

March 16,17,18,19

UNIT 11

Talking about a trip. Past tense. Past tense time adverbs.

Week 9

March 23,24,25,26

UNIT 11

Past tense of irregular and reflexive verbs.

UNIT 9

Ordering in a restaurant. Asking for the check. Talking about food. Numbers 100-1.000.000.000. Direst pronouns. Adjectives.

MARCH 26 QUIZ 4

Week 10

March 30, 31 April 1,2

UNIT 10

Describing a house. Superlatives. Possessive adjectives.

UNIT 11

Shopping for clothes. Giving a physical description of someone. Giving a description of someone’s personality. Clothes. Colors.

Week 11

April 6,7,8,9

UNIT 12
Talking about vacations. Booking an hotel room. Planning a trip. Giving advises. Comparatives. Agreement of the past participle with the direct pronoun. Informal imperative.

APRIL 9 QUIZ 5

Week 12

April 14,15,16

UNIT 2 (Book 2)

Talking about childhood. Describing past situations. Talking about habitual activities in the past. Imperfect.

APRIL 13 HOLIDAY

Week 13

April 20,21,22,23

UNIT 2 (Book 2)

Talking about past events. Imperfect vs passato prossimo.

APRIL 23 QUIZ 6

Week 14

April 27,28,29,30

APRIL 29 Oral presentation
APRIL 30 Final review

May 4-8 Final Examination