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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

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

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Franceschi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 3:05-4:25 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
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 TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
New Italian Espresso Workbook beginner Gruppo ItaliaideaAlma Edizioni9788861825123     
New Italian Espresso Textbook beginner Gruppo ItaliaideaAlma Edizioni9788861826830     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
4 quizzesThe four 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)15%
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.15%
Final examThe 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.15%
Oral proficiencyIn-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 HomeworkStudents are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice20%
ActivitiesMoodle activities (forum, assignments, wiki) , outside activities, cultural activities.15%

-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:
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 December 14.

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 unexcused 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

 

SCHEDULE

 

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

 

 Week 1 

 

September 21,22,23,24

First Class

Competencies: Introducing yourself and a friend.

Grammar: Present tense. Alphabet. Pronunciation. Numbers from 0 to 20.

Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions with Avere or Essere.

 

UNIT 1    Primi contatti            

Competencies: Introducing a person (formal and informal). Greeting people. Asking about pronunciation and spelling. Asking and giving phone number.

Grammar: First conjugation verbs. Preposition di, in.

Vocabulary: Greetings. Classroom objects. Adjectives of nationalities.

Culture: Saluti.

 

UNIT 2      Buon appetito!

Competencies: Ordering in a café and in a restaurant. Asking in a polite way. Asking for the bill. Asking for price.

Grammar: Plural and singular nouns. Interrogatives che cosa?,quanto?. Definite articles. Indefinite articles. Numbers from 20 to 100.

Vocabulary: Food and beverage. Meals.

Culture: Ristorante, trattoria, o…..?

 

 

Week 2

 

September 28,29,30, October 1,2

 

UNIT 2 Cont.

 
UNIT 3  Io e gli altri

Competencies: Introducing someone. Describing people’s activities. Asking for age and profession. Telling dates.

Grammar: Singular forms of present tense. Prepositions in, a, per. Formal.

Vocabulary: Professions. Days of the week. Workplaces.

Culture: Notizie dall’Italia.

 

ACTIVITY  1

OCTOBER 2 MAKE UP DAY

 

 

Week 3 

 

October 5,6,7,8,9

 

UNIT 4         Tempo libero

Competencies: Talking about free time. Talking about how often one does something. Talking about people’s interests. Expressing preferences.

Grammar: Plural persons of present tense. Adverbs of frequency. Interrogatives. Present tense of irregular verbs.

Vocabulary: Leisure activities. Parts of the day. Expressions with the verb avere.

Culture: I luoghi più visitati d’Italia.

 

UNIT 5   In giro per l’Italia

Competencies: Describing a city. Submitting a questionnaire. Following and giving directions. Asking and telling time.

Grammar: Present tense of irregular verbs. Prepositions a, in. C’è, ci sono. Adjectives. Noun-adjective agreement.

Vocabulary: Italy cities and monuments. Street directions. Shops and stores.

Culture: Una strada molti nomi.

OCTOBER 8 QUIZ 1

OCTOBER 9 MAKE UP DAY


 

 Week 4 

 

October 12,13,14,15,16

UNIT 5 Cont.

UNIT 6  In albergo

Competencies: Describing one’s favorite hotel. Describing a room. Asking for information on accommodation. Talking about one’s holiday activities. Describing a perfect vacation.

Grammar: Present tense of modal verbs. Preposition a + time. Compound prepositions.

Vocabulary: Hotel room types and features. Time expressions. Home furniture and features. Months and seasons. Leisure activities.

Culture: Mancia e scontrino, come funziona?

 

ACTIVITY 2

OCTOBER 16th MAKE UP DAY

 

                       

 Week 5 


October 19,20,21,22

 

UNIT 7      Un finesettimana

Competencies: Describing a perfect weekend. Talking about past actions. Understanding descriptions of past events. Specifying when a past event took place.

Grammar: Past tense passato prossimo .Forms and agreement of past participle. Irregular past participle. Ci vuole, ci vogliono.

Vocabulary: Weather conditions. Time expressions.  

Culture: Dove Andiamo in vacanza?

 

 Week 6 

 

October 26,27,28,29

 

UNIT 7 Cont.

 

UNIT 8  Vita quotidiana

Competencies: Describing one’s work habits. Describing and asking about someone’s daily routine. Congratulation someone on special occasions and holiday. Saying the date.

Grammar: finire di, cominciare a. Prepositions da, a. Present tense of reflexive verbs. Possessive adjectives mio, tuo.

Vocabulary: Everyday actions. Congratulations and wishes.

Culture: Cosa regalano gli italiani.

 

OCTOBER 27th          QUIZ 3

 

 Week 7 


November 2,3,4,5,6

UNIT 8 cont.

 

NOVEMBER 3th ORAL PRESENTATION

NOVEMBER 4th MIDTERM REVIEW

NOVEMBER 5th  MIDTERM

 NOVEMBER 6th MAKE UP DAY

 

 

 Week 8 

 

November 9,10,11,12,13

 

UNIT 9      La famiglia

Competencies: Describing a family tree. Talking and writing about family. Talking about past events.

Grammar: Possessive adjectives. Past tense (passato prossimo) of reflexive verbs.

Vocabulary: Family relationships

Culture: I gesti degli italiani.

 

UNIT 10      Sapori d’Italia

Competencies: Talking about one’s eating habits. Writing a shopping list. Talking about typical Italian recipes. Doing grocery shopping. Indicating quantities.

Grammar: Direct pronouns.

Vocabulary: Food and dishes. Measurement units. Food packaging.

Culture: L’Italia nel piatto

ACTIVITY 3

NOVEMBER 13th MAKE UP DAY

 

 Week 9

 

November 16,17,18,19

UNIT 11        Fare acquisti

Competencies: Talking and asking  about events in the future. Shopping for clothes and shoes. Making a polite request.

Grammar: Future tense. Direct and indirect pronouns. Piacere + indirect pronoun. Present conditional.

Vocabulary: Colors. Clothing. Clothing and shoes sizes.

Culture: La moda italiana.

 

UNIT 12     Noi e gli animali.

Competencies: Understanding a survey. Talking about animals. Describing past situation and actions that occurred repeatedly. Talking about one’s childhood. Write a short story.

Grammar: Past tense imperfetto. Passato prossimo vs imperfetto. Agreement between direct pronouns and past participles.

Vocabulary: Animal nouns. Time expressions.

Culture: Gli animali

 

NOVEMBER 19th QUIZ 4

 

 Week 10

 

November 23,24,25,26

 

UNIT 12 cont.

 

UNIT 13     Non è bello ciò che piace…

Competencies: Understanding and giving physical descriptions. Describing one’s personality. Making, accepting and refusing an invitation. Describing actions which are going on.

Grammar: Superlativo assoluto. Present progressive.

Vocabulary: Nouns and adjectives for physical and personality descriptions.

Culture:  Italiani celebri

ACTIVITY 4

 Week 11 

 

November 30, December 1,2,3

 

UNIT 14          Casa dolce casa

Competencies: Understanding and giving home descriptions. Expressing wishes. Expressing likes and dislikes. Giving advice.

Grammar: Comparative. Present conditional.

Vocabulary: Home features and furniture. House types.

Culture: Tipi di abitazione.

 

DECEMBER FIRST QUIZ 4

 

 

 Week 12

 

December 7,9,10

 

UNIT 15 

Competencies: Comparing Italian social habits and traditions with those of one’s country. Understanding and giving order, recommendations and instructions.

Grammar: Imperativo informale.

Vocabulary: Italian habits and traditions.

Culture: Gelato, che passione!

DECEMBER 9th                          ORAL PRESENTATION
DECEMBER  10th                              FINAL REVIEW

December 11-14 Final Examination