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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 302"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:40-6:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 301 or permission of the instructor (As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 301 with a grade of C or above or permission by the instructor)
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT 301, this course aims to refine and consolidate a high level of fluency in Italian, while deepening students’ understanding of the language’s cultural and intercultural components. By combining the academic study of advanced-level texts and audiovisual materials with a direct interaction with the Roman and Italian cultural and social environment, the course will acquaint students with a wide range of tools and skills to elaborate appropriate oral and written forms of expression according to context, showing a well-refined awareness of cultural differences and intercultural encounters.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

As the previous level (IT 301), the overarching structure of the course is based on the analysis of a variety of written and audiovisual texts combined with activities developed in strict interaction with today’s Roman and Italian cultural, social, and artistic life. In-class activities and street-assignments will foster students’ ability to effectively communicate their personal, academic and professional interests as well as their capacity to understand and relate with cultural differences. Readings, screenings and discussions will address a wide range of subjects to engage students in a constructive and culturally aware dialogue with Italian traditions, artifacts and practices. The grammar component will include: advanced use of subjunctive in subordinate clauses, connectors and cohesive devices, indefinite verbs (infinitive, participles, and gerundive forms), consecution temporum with different verbal tense and moods. Particular emphasis will be given to the production of written texts on increasingly complex subjects.


Prequisite: IT 301, Placement test or WRITTEN permission by the Instructor. JCU degree-seeking students who have not taken IT 301 before registering for this course are required to take the on-line placement test. Visiting students are strongly encouraged to take the test as well to be sure to enroll in the right level.

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students should possess an advanced proficiency in Italian language corresponding to the C1 benchmark of the European Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In particular, students should be able to:

-Convey finer shades of meaning precisely by using, with reasonable accuracy, a wide range of qualifying devices (e.g. adverbs expressing degree, clauses expressing limitations). 

-Sensitively explain the background to, interpret and discuss aspects of, Italian cultural values and practices, while drawing on intercultural encounters, readings, films, and other audiovisual materials.

-Understand a wide range of recorded and broadcast audio material, including some non-standard usage, and identify finer points of detail including implicit attitudes and relationships between speakers.

-Distinguish the different typologies of texts, and understand and summarize various topics.

-Produce different types of text using complex syntax, appropriate expressions and precise vocabulary. Apply the structures necessary for the production of both creative and practical texts.

-Use different registers of Italian, in relation to the text chosen and to students’ own personal and professional needs.

-Identify ‘sub-standard’ usage of language such as ‘regional’ Italian.

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Nuovo Espresso 5 eBOOKGiorgio Massei, Rosella BellagambaAlma EditoriEan: 9788861825147 If you prefer, you can buy the paper book: libro + CD audio, p.192 Ean: 9788861825062 Both the ebook anf the paper book can be buy on the publisher wesite. https://www.almaedizioni.it/it/catalogo/scheda/nuovo-espresso-5/    
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participation and progress.Your participation grade will reflect your attendance, effort, and progress. Progress means that students are supposed to carefully work on their mistakes and show an active work on incorporating the instructor's corrections in their home and in-class assignment. Students advised by the Instructor to go to the FLRC Writing Center are expected to go there on regular basis. 10%
2 compositions Compositons on topics given by the Instructor. 10%
2 in-class testsTests on the grammar and cultural materials covered in class.10%
midtermIn-class exam composed of reading comprehension, grammar exercises, and a written composition.25%
finalCumulative exam composed of listening and reading comprehension, grammar exercises, and composition. 25%
Homework Students are supposed to regularly do their homework and to submit to the Instructor when due. Late assignments will not be accepted- More than 2 assignments missed will result in an F for this portion of your grade. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THE WRITING ASSIGMENTS MUST BE TYPED (double-space). 10%
2 Individual oral presentation on a topic related to class materials and discussions15 minutes RECORDED oral presentation and 2 pages written report on a topic previoulsy discussed with the Instructor. Instructions on how to record a video https://jcuoncloud.sharepoint.com/teams/IT/SitePages/Record-a-video-using-Microsoft-Teams.aspx 10%

-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 cours
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:
More than 2 classes missed will result in a 2 points taken away from your final grade for each additional 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 CHANGES CAN BE MADE BY THE INSTRUCTOR;

MANDATORY MAKE-UP Friday classes on OCT 9, 16, and NOV. 13

 WEEK 1 (Sept 22, 24). Introduction to the course. Presentation of syllabus, course materials, and learning outcomes. Grammar: Review Subjunctive mood. Cultural Contents: Cosa vuol dire essere italiani oggi?

WEEK 2 (Sept 29, Oct 1). Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 7 “Che figo”. Grammar: Present and Past Infinitive. Communicative Skills: Idiomatic Expressions. Cultural Contents: Language and Gesture.

WEEK 3 (Oct 6, 8, 9). Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 7. CONT. Grammar: Present and Past Gerundive. Communicative Skills: how to used fixed expressions. Cultural Contents: Gender and Italian language.

WEEK 4 (Oct 13, 15, 16) OCT. 13: Composition 1 due. Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 7: Video and grammar practice. Communicative Skills: the word ‘ancora’ and other polysemous words. Cultural Contents: Italian dialects.

WEEK 5 (Oct 20, 22) OCT. 20: Test 1. Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 8 “Tutti all’opera”. Grammar: Infinitive with DA and PER. Communicative skills: talk about music. Cultural Contents: the role of Opera in Italian tradition.

WEEK 6 (Oct 27, 29) Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 8. CONT. Grammar: other uses of the preposition DA; the word ‘addirittura’. Communicative Skills: Express preferences and opinions. Emphasize elements of oral and written communication. Cultural contents: Video and clips from Verdi’s operas.

OCT 29:  Recorded Oral Presentation 1

WEEK 7 (Nov 3, 5). Review for Midterm Exam.. NOV. 5: Midterm Exam

WEEK 8 (Nov 10, 12, 13). In-class creative writing practice. Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 9 “Donne d’Italia”. Grammar: hypothetical sentences in implicit forms. Communicative skills: commenting figures and statistics. Cultural contents: video and discussion on Italian women.

NOV 13: Composition 2 due

WEEK 9 (Nov 17, 19) Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 9. CONT. Grammar: hypothetical connectives. Communicative skills: express opinions and hyphotesis in redundant and attenuating forms.Video and in-class discussion.

NOV. 19: TEST 2

WEEK 10 (Nov 24, 26). Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 9. CONT. Grammar: Pleonastic ‘non’, ‘non solo… ma anche’, ‘non è che…. però’ and other discursive marks. Communicative skills: How to reinforce a concept and an opinion.

WEEK 11 (Dec 1, 3). Nuovo Espresso 5. Unit 10 “L’italiano (mi) cambia”. Grammar: pronominal verbs, use of ‘tanto’, idiomatic superlatives. Communicative skills: understand and use neologism. Cultural contents: Italian society through language.

DEC 3: Recorded Oral Presentation 2

WEEK 12 (Dec 10)

Review for Final Exam