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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 301"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Angela Eliseo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 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, or 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
Il nuovo utile e dilettevole B2-C2T. Anna Pellegrino and Elettra Ercolino Loescher9788858341612  Hard CopyFeltrinelli, Largo di Torre Argentina 5/A 
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.10 %
Oral presentation One oral presentation (with a vocabulary list)10%
2 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.15%
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%
Midterm Exam 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 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. 2, 4)

Introduction to the course. Placement test

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 1: Passato e trapassato remoto

Reading and talking about historic events

 

WEEK 2 (Sept. 9, 11)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 1, cont.; Unità 8: Articoli e preposizioni

Reading and writing a biography

Talking about Italian society “Il mito della mamma italiana”

 

WEEK 3 (Sept. 16, 18)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 2: La concordanza dei tempi – indicativo

Writing a story in the past

Graded Composition 1

 

WEEK 4 (Sept. 23, 25)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 3: Condizionale
Condizionale semplice e composto/usi del condizionale

Reading the News

Test 1 on Wednesday

 

WEEK 5 (Sept. 30, Oct. 2)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 3, cont.  

 

WEEK 6 (Oct. 7, 9)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 9: Nomi, aggettivi e avverbi

 

WEEK 7 (Oct. 14, 16)

Oral Presentation on Monday

General Review

 

WEEK 8 (Oct. 21, 23)

Midterm Exam on Monday

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 4: Congiuntivo
Review of subjunctive, use and forms

 

WEEK 9 (Oct. 28, 30)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 5: La forma passiva

Talking about important inventions in History

 

WEEK 10 (November 4, 6)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 6: Il periodo ipotetico
Il periodo ipotetico della realtà/possibilità/irrealtà

Reading and talking about important woman in science

Graded composition 2

 

WEEK 11 (November 11, 13)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 7: Modi indefiniti

Discussing different eating habits, advantages and disadvantages

Test 2 on Wednesday

 

WEEK 12 (Nov. 18, 20)

Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 10: Pronomi relativi.

Reading and finding info about Italian cities and their history and traditions

Individual Activity due

 

WEEK 13 (Nov. 25, 27)

 Il nuovo utile e dilettevole Unità 11: discorso diretto e indiretto 

 

WEEK 14 (December 2, 4)

General review

Oral Exams

 

FINAL EXAMS