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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 301"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Angela Eliseo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement or IT 202 or permission of the instructor (As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 202 with a grade of C or above or permission by the Instructor)
OFFICE HOURS: after class, by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to move students forward toward advanced proficiency in Italian language. The course will reinforce students’ oral, writing, listening, and reading skills, while refining grammar structures studied in previous levels. Contemporary literary and journalistic texts, films and film excerpts, newspaper articles and other multimedia materials will acquaint students with central elements of Italian culture and traditions, while individual and group activities drawn from real-life contexts will give them the opportunity to integrate their knowledge and skills through experience.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Topics of discussion will reflect various aspects of modern Italy as well as current events. It is very important that students come well prepared to speak in class. This involves not only reading assignments carefully, but also planning in advance comments or questions about the material.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students should possess an advanced proficiency in Italian language. In particular, students should be able to:

  • Discuss a variety of topics using complex grammatical structures, correct syntax, and appropriate vocabulary;
  • Understand the main ideas of complex texts:
  • Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers;
  • Produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects;
  • Recognize various styles and registers and distinguish between spoken and written usage.

Letter Grades and Numerical Values

A Excellent  94-100

A-  90-93

B+  87-89

B Good  84-86

B-  80-83

C+  77-79  

C Satisfactory  74-76

C-  70-73

D+  67-69

D Poor but Passing  64-68

D-  60-63

F Failing  Below 60

INC Incomplete

P Passing (C or higher)

NP Not Passing (C- or lower)

W Withdrawal 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Nuovissimo PROGETTO italiano 3 - Livello C1Telis Marin, Maria Angela CernigliaroEdilingua978-88-99358-98-3  Hard Copy  
Nuovissimo PROGETTO italiano 3 - C1 Libro degli eserciziTelis Marin, Maria Angela CernigliaroEdilingua978-88-31496-00-1   Hard Copy  
Gramm.it for English-speakersIacovoni-Persiani-Fiorentino Bonacci editore9788875734305  Hard Copy  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participation, preparation, and homework Students are expected to come prepared to class, in-person or in-remote, and participate in all activities (individual, small groups, whole class works etc.). Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Participation also includes cooperation among students, and sharing doubts or ideas about homework, class assignments or new topics that were studied. Self-study is crucial to reinforce what learned in class and to be ready to move on to different and new topics. Homework will be assigned at the end of each session, and will be visible on Moodle. The activity completion and the login activity will be tracked by the platform.15 %
Oral presentation One oral presentation (with a vocabulary list)10%
3 TestsTests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary learned in class, on Moodle, or by self-study, their reading or listening comprehension and written ability.30%
Final Exam 25%
2 graded compositions 5%
Final Oral ExamA dialogue based on vocabulary and skills acquired during the semester.10%
One Individual Activity One Individual Activity in Italian and about Italian culture/society, different for each student, with a short written report in Italian. Topics will be discussed during the first part of semester.5%

-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 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 three unjustified absences. The final grade will be lowered for additional absences.

 

Professors should not receive or see medical documentations from students.

Students seeking an exemption from attendance must submit an online petition to the Academic Dean’s Office. Students missing class or an exam because they have been identified by the Dean of Students’ office as someone with a verified COVID concern do not need to submit this form: they are allowed to attend class remotely after informing their professor by email.

Non-remote students occasionally joining online will be marked as absent.

Two late entrances count as one absence.

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

FLRC

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.


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. Instagram)
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 THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION. 

 

WEEK 1 (Sept. 5, 7)

Introduction to the course.

General grammar review.

 

WEEK 2 (Sept. 12, 14, 15)

Unit 1 “Italia e italiani”.

Talking about Italy and Italian people, opinions, stereotypes, culture and society.

Grammar and structures – present tense of complex irregular verbs; prepositions and articles with geographic and personal names.

 

WEEK 3 (September 19, 21)

Unit 3 “Genitori e figli”.

Talking about possible conflicts with parents. Expressing own opinions and enacting an argument with someone in the family. Writing a short essay.

Grammar and structures – possessive adjectives and family members names; indefinite adjectives and pronouns.

Graded Composition 1

 

WEEK 4 (September 26, 28)

Unit 4 “A caccia di amici”; Unit 5 “Cari animali”; Files on Moodle.

Grammar and structures – modal adverbs; verbs with prepositions; passato prossimo of irregular verbs.

Test 1 on Thursday

 

WEEK 5 (October 3, 5)

Unit 6 “Gli esami non finiscono mai”.

Talking about exams, university, study; comparing past to present times and describing changes.

Grammar: infinite tense (present and past).

 

WEEK 6 (October 10, 12)

Unit 9 “Che bella coppia”; Files on Moodle.

Writing a story in the past.

Grammar: double object pronouns.

WEEK 7 (October 17, 19)

Oral Presentation on Thursday

 

WEEK 8 (October 24, 26)

Test 2 on Thursday

 

Unit 10 “Il lavoro nobilita l’uomo…e la donna!”; Files on Moodle.

Discussing gender inequality; writing an application letter.

Grammar: present and past subjunctive

 

WEEK 9 (October 31, November 2)

Files on Moodle “Congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato”

Grammar: subjunctive tenses (imperfetto, trapassato), conditional tenses (presente, passato) and IF clauses.

 

WEEK 10 (November 7, 9)

Unit 12 “Gossip e Privacy”

Reading and writing a news article.

Grammar: passive form.

Graded composition 2

 

WEEK 11 (November 14, 16)

Unit 16 “Vita digitale”

Grammar – Past conditional used to express the idea of future in the past; Position of adjectives in the sentence.

Test 3 on Thursday

 

WEEK 12 (November 21)

Unit 18 “Scienza e inventori”

Grammar – Passato remoto.

Individual Activity due

 

WEEK 13 (November 28, 30)

Unit 22 “Immigrazione ed emigrazione”

Talking about migrations; reading and writing a short story related to migration.

Grammar – Si passivante; pronominal verbs ending in -sene.

 

WEEK 14 (December 5, 7)

General review

Oral Exams

 

FINAL EXAMS