JCU Logo

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 102-2"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2021
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Rosa Napoli
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 8:30 AM 10:20 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 60
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Placement or IT 101(As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 101 with a grade of C or above)
OFFICE HOURS: M\W 2-3pm or by appointment-

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT101. This course aims at developing and reinforcing the language skills acquired in Introductory Italian I, while placing special emphasis on oral communication.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course presents the first principles of Italian language, geography and culture in a student-centered learning environment.
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-paragraphtexts with limited formulaic information by using elementary functions
Students will study in depth the following grammar points:

Present tense of regular and irregular verbs; Past tense (Passato Prossimo- Imperfetto);

Possessive adjectives; Present and Past tense of reflexive verbs. Direct\ Indirect Pronouns; Future Tense; Imperative.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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 future.

 

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
New Italian Espresso_Textbook_Beginner and pre-intermediate+EBOOK Gruppo ItaliaideaAlma Edizioni9788861826830      
New Italian Espresso_Workbook_Beginner and pre-intermediate_EBOOK Gruppo italiaideaAlma Edizioni9788861825123     
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 and listening comprehension and written ability.30%
Compositions 2 Short Written compositions in class10%
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 ability. The Final will include a final project.20%
Oral ProficiencyIn-class oral activities and 3 Oral presentations. 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.20%
Class attendance\participation\Forum and HomeworkStudents are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial in class since the learning process requires considerable practice. Students must show interest through asking questions, responding to the professor or other students, overcome shyness and showing interest in what they are learning Students must try to use the Italian language in group or pair activities and follow class rules. It is mandatory for the students to have and use both the student’s book and the workbook in the format required. Students are expected to log into the Moodle platform at least once a week and complete all the required Moodle activities (forum, assignments, videos etc.). The activity completion and the login activity will be tracked by the platform . Homework must be done using the dedicated platforms (BlinkLearning and Moodle). 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:
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)

MAKE-UPS

The Midterm and Final Exam can only be made up with approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs (Please see the John Cabot University Catalog and Student Handbook).

Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

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 ____________

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


COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTIONS/VOCABULARY

GRAMMAR

CULTURE

 

Week 1

18-20 January

 

UNIT 1-6

 

Introducing yourself.

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

.


Entrance Test

Review of Present tense Irregular verbs and agreement

 

 

 

Italy's most visited cities

Week 2

25-27 January

UNIT8


Describing a typical day

Describing your daily routine

Everyday actions

 

Talking and writing about one’s family

 

 

Present tense of

reflexive verbs

Position of reflexive

 

ITALIAN Public Holiday

I gesti italiani

Italian gift-giving habits

Week 3

1-3 February

UNIT7

Oral Presentation 1

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

.Past Tense review and use. Past participle regular\irregular . Use of auxiliary essere\avere

 

 

 

Video corso 6 “In vacanza”

Holidays in Italy

Week 4

8-10-12 February

 

UNIT 7 cont.

 

TEST 1

 

Descriptions in the past. Telling past events

Time expressions: stamattina,

ieri, l’altro ieri, scorso, fa, già,

appena, non ancora

Present tense of reflexive verbs Past tense of regular verbs. Transitive\intransitive verbs.

Jobs in Italy

Week 5

15-17 Feb.

UNIT 9

.
Talk about family members\relations

 

Possessive adjectives

• past tense: passato prossimo

form of reflexive verbs

Video corso 8 "L'agenda di Laura

 

Week 6

22-24 Feb

UNIT 10

Composition 1

talking about one’s eating habits

• talking about typical Italian recipes

• describing one’s favorite recipe

• doing grocery shopping

• indicating quantities

• organizing a picnic

• food and dishes

• measurement units: grammo,

chilo, etto, litro

• food packaging

Direct Pronouns forms and position

Direct pronouns and use of NE

Indefinite Pronouns

 

 

Video corso 10 "Il panino perfetto"

 

•History of pasta

Week 7

1-3 March

Unit 11

Oral presentation 2

 

• talking and asking about events

that will occur in the future

• writing a short article on future

fashion styles

 

Future tense regular and irregular forms
Indirect pronouns

Video corso 11 Come mi stà?

 

Week 8

15-17 March

Unit 11

TEST 2

 

• shopping for clothes and shoes

• making a polite request

• describing one’s look on special occasions

• colors, fabrics and fabric

patterns

• clothing and shoe sizes

 

Direct and indirect pronouns
Verbs+ indirect pronouns- Piacere+ indirect pronouns

Clothing- Fashion in Italy

Week 9

22-24 March

UNIT 12

 

 

 

• describing past situations

and actions that occurred

repeatedly

• talking about one’s childhood

 

 

 

Past tense: Imperfetto regular and irregular forms

 

Animals and metaphors in Italian

Week 10

29-31 March

Unit 12

Composition 2

• writing a short news story

 

 

.• passato prossimo vs. imperfetto

• agreement between direct

pronouns and past participles

 

Week 11

7 April

Unit 13

TEST 3

.understanding and giving

physical descriptions

• describing one’s personality

• reading one’s horoscope

• making, accepting and refusing

an invitation

• describing actions which are

going on right now

• writing a short fiction story


avere with cominciare and
nire

• superlativo assoluto with molto +

adjective or suffix -issimo

• molto (adjective and adverb)

• progressive form with stare +

gerundio

• present gerund forms of regular

and irregular verbs (dire, fare,

bere)

Famous Italians

Week 12

12-14 April

Unit 15


• understanding travel brochures

and travel blogs

• understanding and giving

orders, recommendations and

instructions

imperativo informale singolare and imperativo plurale

• position of direct and indirect pronouns with imperativo

• contracted forms of imperative (va’, da’, di’, fa’, sta’)

• irregular forms of imperative (abbi, bevi, sii)

Italians habits and traditions

Week 13

19-21 April

Unit 15 cont

• writing a short article on the

do’s and don’ts for tourists

coming to your country

• underlining cultural differences

• contracted forms of imperative (va’, da’, di’, fa’, sta’)

• irregular forms of imperative (abbi, bevi, sii)

 

 

Week 14

26-28 April

 

ORALPRESENTATION 3

Final Review

 

 

Week 15

3-7 May

Final exam