Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 202-1"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Anna Mauceri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
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:

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:

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

· Ripasso passato prossimo con imperfetto e trapassato prossimo

· Passato remoto (solo riconoscimento)

· Forma passiva, si passivante e si impersonale

· Congiuntivo presente, passato, imperfetto e trapassato

· Congiunzioni subordinanti con congiuntivo

· Indefiniti con congiuntivo

· Concordanza dei tempi del congiuntivo

· Imperativo formale

· Ripasso condizionale presente

· Condizionale passato

· Periodo ipotetico

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:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Tests (2)	The two tests evaluate vocabulary and structures learned in class, on Moodle, or by self-study.	20%
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.	10%
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%
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.	25%
Oral Proficiency	Two oral presentations	15%
Written Compositions (2)		10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AExcellent command of the language consistent with the level of proficiency. Appropriate command of sentence structure, lexis, register and idio A = 94-100 A- = 90-93
BBGood command of the language, consistent with the level of proficiency. Competent manipulation of sentence structure, with some evidence of development and complexity; small occurrence of grammatical errors. Work will be broadly coherent and comprehensible, good manipulation of sentence structure; grammatical and other errors will not impede comprehension. B+ = 87-89 B = 83-86 B- = 80-82
CEvidence of the ability to control the language for the purpose of effective communication, consistent with the level of proficiency. Work will be comprehensible; sentence structure will be very simple and grammatical and other errors will be frequent but not as serious to impede comprehension. C+ = 77-79 C = 73-76 C-= 70-72
DLittle evidence of the ability to control the language for the purpose of making oneself understood. Little awareness of sentence structure and numerous grammatical and other errors. D+=67-69 D = 63-66 D-= 60-62
FNo evidence of the ability to control the language; failure to make oneself understood. F= 0-59

-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

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE PROFESSOR’S DISCRETION

Week 1
September 1, 3
REVIEW

Communication: Reactivating past-level functional, grammatical, and lexical knowledge.

Grammar: Review of basic tenses and forms.

Vocabulary: Core past level vocabulary.

Week 2
September 8, 10
CULTURA POPOLARE

Communication: Talking about popular culture; describing famous Italian songs, TV series and classic films; understanding plots and events from the past.
Grammar: Comparatives; Trapassato prossimo.

Vocabulary: Film and TV-related terms.

Week 3
September 15, 17
PROBLEMI

Communication: Expressing opinions; dealing with practical problems while travelling or banking.
Grammar: Indirect speech in present tense; use of dovere to express hypothesis; combined pronouns.
Vocabulary: Refunds, complaints, banking and money terms.

Week 4
September 22, 24
IN VIAGGIO

Communication: Describing travel habits; expressing opinions and hope; asking for/giving advice; handling problems on the road; talking about popular events.
Grammar: Congiuntivo presente (regular and irregular).
Vocabulary: Road signs, weather, holidays, celebrations.

Sept. 24 — Test 1

Week 5
September 29, October 1
IN VIAGGIO (cont.).

TRADIZIONI

Communication: Talking about Italian traditions and superstitions; telling stories about cultural differences; reacting with surprise and irony.
Grammar: Impersonal forms (si, uno).

Vocabulary: Religion, taboos, idiomatic exclamations.

Week 6
October 6, 8

NON SOLO LIBRI

Communication: Expressing opinions about books, giving reading recommendations, describing reading habits; talking about news.
Grammar: Congiuntivo passato and Congiuntivo imperfetto; magari, prima che + congiuntivo.
Vocabulary: Literary genres, news and media expressions.

Oct. 8 — Composition 1

Week 7
October 13, 15
Review

Oct 15 — Midterm Exam

Week 8
October 20, 22
NON SOLO LIBRI (cont.)

Expressing opinions about books, giving reading recommendations, describing reading habits; talking about news.
Grammar: Congiuntivo passato and Congiuntivo imperfetto; magari, prima che + congiuntivo.
Vocabulary: Literary genres, news and media expressions.

Week 9
October 27, 29
UN AMBIENTE PREZIOSO

Communication: Talking about the environment and sustainability; making and discussing hypotheses; weighing pros and cons.
Grammar: Concessive clauses; Periodo ipotetico (1st and 2nd type).

Vocabulary: Nature, animals, the environment.

Oct. 29 — Oral Presentation 1

Week 10
November 3, 5
UN AMBIENTE PREZIOSO (cont.)

Communication: Talking about the environment and sustainability; making and discussing hypotheses; weighing pros and cons.
Grammar: Concessive clauses; Periodo ipotetico (1st and 2nd type).

Vocabulary: Nature, animals, the environment.

Week 11
November 10, 12
LA CITTÀ ETERNA

Communication: Describing urban life, discussing city problems; building arguments; giving opinions and suggestions.
Grammar: Indefinite + Congiuntivo; Congiuntivo trapassato (handout).
Vocabulary: City, inhabitants, administration, architecture.

Nov. 12 — Composition 2

Week 12
November 17, 19
LE FORME DELL’ARTE

Communication: Judging and describing artworks; defining terms; expressing unrealized wishes; reporting thoughts.
Grammar: Condizionale passato.
Vocabulary: Painting, sculpture, museums, art periods.

Nov. 19 — Test 2

Week 13
November 24, 26
LE FORME DELL’ARTE (cont.)

Communication: Judging and describing artworks; defining terms; expressing unrealized wishes; reporting thoughts.
Grammar: Condizionale passato.
Vocabulary: Painting, sculpture, museums, art periods.

Week 14
December 1, 3
Final review

Dec. 1— Oral Presentation 2