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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 102-4"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elena Grillo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
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: 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:

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.

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
New Italian Espresso TX_Textbook_Beginner and pre-intermediategruppo italiaideaAlma Edizioni98788861827240  Hard CopyFeltrinelli bookstore Largo Torre Argentina 5/A 
New Italian Espresso WB Workbook_Beginner and pre-intermediategruppo italiaideaAlma Edizioni9788861827288  Hard CopyFeltrinelli bookstore Largo Torre Argentina 5/A 
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Tests (2)The two tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.20%
Compositions (2)2 Short Written compositions in class10%
Oral ProficiencyIn-class oral activities and 2 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.15%
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 ( assignments, videos, written assignments 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).15%
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. 20%
Midterm ExamThe midterm exam is cumulative and is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and the written ability.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:
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

 

 

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

 

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

 

UNIT 7

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

UNIT 10

Composition 1

Talking about one’s eating habits

Talking about typical Italian recipes

Describing one’s favorite recipe

Grocery shopping

Indicate quantities

Organizing a picnicfood 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

 

Unit 11

 

Oral presentation 1

Talking and asking about eventsthat 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 sta?

 

Week 8

 

Unit 11

 

Midterm exam

Shopping for clothes and shoes

Making a polite request

Describing one’s look on special occasions

Colors, fabrics and fabricpatterns

Clothing and shoe sizes

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

Clothing- Fashion in Italy

Week 9

 

UNIT 12

Describing past situationsand actions that occurredrepeatedly

Talking about one’s childhood

Past tense: Imperfetto regular and irregular forms

Animals and metaphors in Italian

Week 10

 

Unit 12

Composition 2

Writing a short news story

 

 

Passato prossimo vs. imperfetto

Agreement between direct pronouns and past participles

 

Week 11

 

Unit 13

TEST 2

Understanding and givingphysical descriptions

Describing one’s personality

Reading one’s horoscope

Making, accepting and refusingan invitation

Describing actions which aregoing on right now

Writing a short fiction story

Avere with cominciare andfinire

Superlativo assoluto with molto +

adjective or suffix -issimo

Molto (adjective and adverb)

Progressive form with stare +gerundio

Present gerund forms of regularand irregular verbs (dire, fare,bere)

Famous Italians

Week 12

 

Unit 15

Understanding travel brochuresand travel blogs

Understanding and givingorders, recommendations andinstructions

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

 

Unit 15 cont

Writing a short article on thedo’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

 

 

ORAL PRESENTATION 2

Final Review

 

 

Week 15

 

Final exam