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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 202"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Gina Siddu Pilia
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 201 (As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 201 with a grade of C or above)
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT 201. While continuing the review of grammar, the course emphasizes the development of reading and composition skills. Short stories, newspaper articles, and films supplement the textbook.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course concentrates on consolidating specific communicative tasks, including stating opinions and constructing hypotheses, in both speaking and writing. Specialized vocabulary is expanded and appropriate variables in register are introduced in expository writing and conversation.

The course is designed to review and study in depth the following grammar items:

  • Subjunctive mode: present, past, imperfect, and trapassato: Indicative Vs. Subjunctive

  • Passato prossimo, Imperfect, Trapassato prossimo

  • Passato Remoto

  • Past and present Conditional

  • If clause (periodo ipotetico)

    Passive voice, impersonal forms, and Si passivante

  • Direct and indirect discourse

  • Relative pronouns

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

Understand written and spoken Italian at the upper intermediate level

Participate in complex conversations on a variety of topics, using present, Past,

Conditional, Subjunctive, and Future.

Ask for and obtain information in a variety of settings

Express opinions, feelings, needs, approval and disapproval

Comprehend the general meaning and details of upper-intermediate level texts

Produce written texts on a variety of topics, using present, past, conditional, and future tenses

Understand and use the subjunctive mood

Express possibility and impossibility

Make conjectures

Ask for and obtain information in a variety of settings of upper-intermediate level texts

Produce written texts on a variety of topics, using present, past, conditional, and future

 

 

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Spazio Italia 4Tommasini & DiacoLoescher9788820133511     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Oral Presentation3-minute Power Point presentation on a given subject without reading10%
Final ExamThe Final exam is divided in 4 parts: Listening, Grammar and Vocabulary in context, Reading comprehension, and Composition.25%
Participation and HomeworkHomework compositions and presentations will be graded10%
Midterm ExamThe Midterm Exam id divided in 4 parts: Listening, Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading comprehension, and Composition.25%
2 TestsGrammar and vocabulary; listening; reading comprehension; composition.20%
CompositionIn-class 250-words written composition on a given subject10%

-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. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule. Please be aware that you are allowed to three (3) unjustified absences. Your final grade will be lowered for any additional unjustified absences.  

Please be informed that:

The JCU Foreign Language Resource Center offers tutoring sessions free of charge. The FLRC is located at the Tiber Campus on the first floor. To schedule an appointment with a tutor (or a writing coach for upper-level courses), please use the online booking system.

How to get the most out of your tutoring session:

  • Come early in the semester. You will benefit more from tutoring if you come when you first begin having problems. 
  • Come prepared. Bring your textbook, notes, and review sheets with you. 
  • Attend classes regularly. Tutoring is designed to supplement class instruction, not to replace it.
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

Grammar and Lexicon

 

Week 1

Introduction to the course; Presentations; Talk about past events

Imperfect, Passato prossimo, and Trapassato prossimo (review)

Week 2

Opinions about Italy and Italians

Present and Past Subjunctive (review)

Week 3

Express your opinion about a movie you saw; reading a review

Imperfect Subjunctive; Relative pronoun che; Adverbs ending in -mente

Week 4

TEST 1 ON TH, SEPT. 28

Express a hypothesis

If clause to express possibility

Week 5

Talk about books; read a narrative text

Particular uses of the Future tense; neither…nor in Italian; quando, altrimenti, allora, per esempio, insomma, in fondo: Passato Remoto

Week 6

Express agreement and disagreement

The relative pronoun cui

Week 7

MIDTERM EXAM ONTH, OCTOBER 19

 

Review

 

Week 8

Report information; express your point of view

anche se, nonostante, sebbene, malgrado; relative pronoun il quale

Week 9

 

Passive voice and impersonal forms; passive si

Week 10

TEST 2 ON TUE, NOV. 7

Talk about learning a foreign language

Trapassato subjunctive

Week 11

Express a hypothesis (2)

If clause to express impossibility

Week 12

Report what someone else said

Direct and indirect speech

Week 13

 

Relative pronoun chi

Week 14

PRESENTATION TH, DECEMBER 7

FINAL EXAM TBA

 

Final review