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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 202-2"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Angela Eliseo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement into IT 202 through the JCU placement test, or IT 201 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment, after class
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:

Italian 201, which is conducted solely in Italian, is designed to review and study in-depth the following grammar points:

pronomi personali diretti, indiretti e combinati, pronomi e aggettivi possessivi, aggettivi comparativi e superlativi, differenza tra imperfetto e passato prossimo, condizionale semplice (Review);

trapassato prossimo, futuro, condizionale passato (o composto), congiuntivo presente e passato, indicativo vs. congiuntivo, imperativo, verbi impersonali, aggettivi e pronomi indefiniti (in-depth).

Class discussion is an important part of the course and participation is necessary to determine the final grade.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

 

Understand written and spoken Italian at the intermediate level

Participate in conversations on a variety of topics using present, past, conditional, future and some subjunctive tenses

Ask for and obtain information

Express opinions, feelings, needs, approval and disapproval

Comprehend the general meaning and details of intermediate level texts.

Produce brief texts on a variety of topics using present, past, future, conditional, imperative 

 

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 affresco italiano B2Trifone - Scaglione Mondadori9788800807197  Hard Copy  
Gramm.it for English-speakersIacovoni-Persiani-Fiorentino Loescher editore9788875734305   Hard Copy  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Tests (2)Tests evaluate vocabulary and structures learned together in class, on Moodle, or by self-study.10%
Class Participation and homework Students are expected to come prepared to class, 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 on different and new topics. Homework will be assigned at the end of each session, and will be visible on current Moodle Week at the label called "Homework". Possible types of Homework: writing or recording on Moodle Forum, answering questions in the Moodle assignment activity, work on specific exercises on the online grammar book, listening practice, specific online exercises, reading, writing sentences or vocabulary lists. The activity completion and the login activity will be tracked by the platform.15%
Final exam The 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.30%
Midterm Exam The Midterm Exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.20%
Oral Proficiency One Presentation (10%); one Oral Exam (10%).20%
Compositions (2) 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:
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

Week 1                      (2, 4 September)

Handouts from Unit 1 “Piazza Italia”

Introduction to the course; reading and talking about Italian language and society

Grammar and structures – Past tenses: passato prossimo, imperfetto, trapassato prossimo

 

Week 2                (9, 11 Sept.)         

Handouts from previous volume, “Leggiamo il giornale”

Expressing own opinions

Grammar and structures – Present subjunctive

 

 Week 3                      (16, 18 Sept.)

Handouts from previous volume, “Posso farle una domanda?”

Expressing own opinions; asking and answering questions

Grammar and structures – Past subjunctive; formal imperative

 

Week 4                    (23, 25, 26 Sept. Make-up day)       

Review and practice

TEST 1 on Thursday

 

Week 5                (30 Sept, 2 Oct.)

Unit 2 “Un nuovo mondo”

Talking about immigration, reading biographies of historical figures

Grammar and structures – intro to Passato remoto

 

Week 6                     (7, 9 Oct.)

Unit 3 “Leggere è volare”; Unit 4 “Tutti in aula”

Reading and discussing excerpts from Italian literature; Italian education system

Grammar and structures – Congiuntivo imperfetto and Congiuntivo trapassato

Composition 1 due

 

Week 7                (14, 16 oct.)           

Handouts

Grammar and structures – Condizionale passato

 ORAL EXAM on Thursday

 

Week 8                   (21, 23 Oct.)    

Review

 MIDTERM EXAM on Thursday in class

Week 9                     (28, 30 Oct.)

Unit 5 “La nuova economia”

Describing different and new professions; reading about Italian economy

Grammar and structures –  IF clause (I, II type)

 

Week 10                    (4, 6 Nov.) 

Unit 6  “Ciak si gira!”

Writing a review; learning about main points of the history of Italian cinema

Grammar and structures –  IF clause (III type)

 

Week 11                     (11, 13 Nov.)             

Unit 8 “Ultime notizie”

Reading and discussing the News

Grammar and structures – Agreement of tenses (Indicativo and congiuntivo)

 Composition 2 due by Thursday

 

Week 12                          (18, 20 Nov)

TEST 2 on Tuesday

Review 

 

Week 13                    (25 Nov.) 

Unit 9 "Cucina, ricette e gusto"

Cultural and social aspects of Italian food; typical regional recipes

Grammar and structures - The passive form

 

Week 14                      (2, 4 Dec.)

Review

ORAL EXAM 2