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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 102-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Franceschi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement into IT 102 through the JCU placement test, or IT 101 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
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:
This course presents the first principles of Italian language, geography and culture in a student-centered learning environment.
Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:
• Satisfy a limited number of immediate needs.
• Understand and convey some spoken Italian through the knowledge and usage of familiar and memorized structures, on the most common features of daily life that require the interchange of simple and direct information.
• Understand the general meaning of oral announcements and brief texts on familiar subjects with simple morphology and lexicon.
• Produce one-paragraphtexts with limited formulaic information by using elementary functions
Students will study in depth the following grammar points:

Present tense of regular and irregular verbs; Past tense (Passato Prossimo- Imperfetto);

Possessive adjectives; Present and Past tense of reflexive verbs. Direct\ Indirect Pronouns; Imperative.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

    * understand written and spoken Italian, through the knowledge of simple structures. Situations will be varied, but general and such as to require an interchange of every day information and routine tasks.

    * participate in simple, direct conversations on generally predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment.

    * satisfy simple personal needs and social demands to survive in the target language culture

    * comprehend the general meaning and some details of texts on familiar topics

    * produce brief texts on topics of personal interests and social needs, primarily in the present, past, future, and imperative.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
New Italian Espresso_Textbook_Beginner and pre-intermediate Updated edition TextbookGruppo ItaliaideaAlma Edizioni9788861827240  Hard Copy  
New Italian Espresso Textbook beginner workbookGruppo ItaliaideaAlma Edizioni9788861827288  Hard Copy  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
4 TestsThe tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and written ability.40%
Class participation and HomeworKStudents are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial since the learning process requires considerable practice.20%
Oral proficiencyOral proficiency In-class oral activities and an oral presentation. Students are examined singularly, in pairs and, in small groups.The types of tests are: conversations 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%
Final examThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and the vocabulary covered, their reading and listening comprehension, and written ability.25%

-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 MAY 8TH.
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

SCHEDULE 

 

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

 

 Week 1   

 

January 19, 21 

 

Daily life, introduce yourself and ask about others, express your preferences, what you like and what you don’t. 

Present tense of regular, irregular (Review) - article / name / adjective agreement (Review). Use of verb “piacere”. 

 

Week 2  

 

January 26, 28 

 

UNIT 8  Vita quotidiana 

Competencies: Describing one’s work habits. Describing and asking about someone’s daily routine. Congratulating someone on special occasions and holidays. Saying the date.  

Grammar: finire di, cominciare a. Prepositions da, a. Present tense of reflexive verbs. Possessive adjectives mio, tuo. 

Vocabulary: Everyday actions. Congratulations and wishes.  

Culture: Cosa regalano gli italiani. 

 

 

Week 3   

  

February 2, 4, 6 

 

UNIT 7      Un finesettimana 

Competencies: Describing a perfect weekend. Talking about past actions. Understanding descriptions of past events. Specifying when a past event took place. 

Grammar: Past tense passato prossimo .Forms and agreement of past participle. Irregular past participle. Ci vuole, ci vogliono. 

Vocabulary: Weather conditions. Time expressions.   

Culture: Dove Andiamo in vacanza? 

 

FEBRUARY 4 TEST 1 

 

FEBRUARY 6, MAKE-UP DAY FOR MONDAY APRIL 6 

 

 

 Week 4   

 

February 9, 11  

 

UNIT 7 cont. 

 

 Week 5   

 

February 16, 18 

 

UNIT 9      La famiglia 

Competencies: Describing a family tree. Talking and writing about family. Talking about past events. 

Grammar: Possessive adjectives. Past tense (passato prossimo) of reflexive verbs. 

Vocabulary: Family relationships 

Culture: I gesti degli italiani. 

 

 

 

 Week 6   

 

February 23, 25 

 

UNIT 9 cont. 

 

FEBRUARY 25 TEST 2 

 

 

 

 Week 7   

 

March 2, 4 

 

UNIT 10      Sapori d’Italia 

Competencies: Talking about one’s eating habits. Writing a shopping list. Talking about typical Italian recipes. Doing grocery shopping. Indicating quantities. 

Grammar: Direct pronouns. Ne 

Vocabulary: Food and dishes. Measurement units. Food packaging. 

Culture: L’Italia nel piatto 

 

 

MARCH 9- 13  SPRING BREAK 

       

 

 

Week 8  

 

March 16, 18 

 

UNIT 11        Fare acquisti 

Competencies: Shopping for clothes and shoes. Making a polite request.  

Grammar: Direct and indirect pronouns. Piacere + indirect pronoun.  

Vocabulary: Colors. Clothing. Clothing and shoes sizes. 

Culture: La moda italiana 

           

Week 9   

 

March 23, 25 

 

 

UNIT 12     Il mondo che cambia 

Competencies: Talking about technology and your relationship with it. Describing past situation and actions that occurred repeatedly. Talking about your younger days. Write a short story. 

Grammar: Past tense imperfetto. Passato prossimo vs imperfetto. Agreement between direct pronouns and past participles. 

Vocabulary: Technology. Travels. Time expressions. 

Culture: La storia dell’Italia moderna in 6 oggetti 

 

MARCH 25 TEST 3 

 

 

 

 Week 10   

 

March 30, April 1 

 

UNIT 12 cont. 

 

 

 Week 11   

 

April 8 

 

UNIT 13     Come siamo 

Competencies: Understanding and giving physical descriptions. Describing one’s personality. Making, accepting and refusing an invitation. Describing actions which are going on. 

Grammar: Superlativo assoluto. Present progressive. 

Vocabulary: Nouns and adjectives for physical and personality descriptions. 

Culture:  Italiani celebri 

 

 

 Week 12   

 

April 13, 15 

 

UNIT 13 cont. 

 

APRIL 15 TEST 4 

 

 

 Week 13  

 

April 20, 22 

 

APRIL 22 ORAL PRESENTATION 

 

 

 Week 14  

 

April 27, 29 

 

UNIT 15            Vivere in Italia 

Competencies: Comparing Italian social habits and traditions with those of one’s country. Understanding and giving orders, recommendations and instructions. 

Grammar: Imperativo informale. 

Vocabulary: Italian habits and traditions. 

Culture: Che differenza….! 

    

APRIL 29   Final Review 

 

 

 

May 4- 8 Final Examinations