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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Gina Siddu Pilia
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 3:40 PM 5:30 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS: Tutoring Center, Tiber Campus, 2nd Fl.
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.
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

Students will study in depth the following grammar points:

        Definite and indefinite articles; Agreement nouns / adjectives; Present tense of regular and irregular verbs; Possessive adjectives; Past tense

        (Passato prossimo); Present and past tense of reflexive verbs; Simple and combined prepositions.
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
Spazio Italia, livello A1Tommasini & DiacoLoescher9788820133481     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Oral Presentation 30%
Final Exam 30%
2 tests 30%
Participation and Homework 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 cour
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 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 3 unjustified 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.
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

Chapter 1 - Introducing yourself - Present tense of  the verbs Essere (to be), Chiamarsi (my name is....), Stare ( to be - to stay), Abitare ( to live), and Studiare (to study) - The Italian Alphabet - Pronunciation of soft and hard sounds - Numbers from 0 to 20.               
Chapter 2 - Singular feminine and masculine nouns ending in -a -o -e - Singular definite articles - Indefinite articles - Adjectives ending in  a - o - e  and agreement with nouns -  Restaurant Vocabulary - Numbers from 20 to 1000 - Singular and plural personal pronouns - Present tense of Avere ( to have) - Idiomatic expressions with Avere - Dates, days of the week, and months - Vocabulary for a coffee shop.

WEEK 2

Chapter 3 - Plural definite articles, nouns, and adjectives - Present tense of Essere (to be) - Directions vocabulary - Description of people - Present tense of Piacere (to like) in  I and You forms - Infinitive of the most important verbs. Test 1 review         
Chapter 4 - Present tense of regular verbs ending in -ARE - Introduction to the 3 conjugations - Food shopping vocabulary - How much is it? - The present tense of the verb Andare ( to go) - Vocabulary for the 3 meals.      
TEST 1 ON WED, JULY 12

WEEK  3

 Chapter 5 - Vocabulary to describe an apartment - Vocabulary to describe a town - There is and there are (C'è - ci sono) - The Present Tense of the 3 regular conjugations -  Time adverbs.      

WEEK 4                             
Chapter 6 - Present tense of verbs in -ISC (pulire / to clean; finire / to finish; preferire / to prefer; capire / to understand) - Vocabulary to interact at the university - What time is it? - Present tense of Fare (to do, to make) - Idiomatic expressions with Fare - Review of regular and irregular verbs.     
Chapter 7 - Vocabulary to talk about family members- Possessive adjectives - Vocabulary for shopping - Colors - Clothes - Vocabulary for a clothing store - Intro to direct pronouns - Difference between Conoscere and Sapere ( to know).  Test 2 Review (chapters 6 - 7)

 TEST 2 ON WED, JULY 26

 WEEK 5

 Chapter 8 - Vocabulary for making plans on the phone - Present tense of Dovere, Potere, and Volere (must, can, and to want) - Vocabulary for house works - The seasons - Present tense of the irregular verbs Uscire (to go out) and Venire (to come) - Simple and combined prepositions.

 Chapter 10 - Vocabulary for talking about daily activities - Present tense of reflexive verbs. Final review           

PRESENTATION ON THUR, AUGUST 3
FINAL EXAM ON FRI, AUGUST 4