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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 201-5"
COURSE NAME: "Intermediate Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elena Grillo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement into IT 201 through the JCU placement test, or IT 102 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT 102. This course focuses on consolidating the student’s ability to use Italian effectively. Emphasis is given to grammar review and vocabulary expansion. Selected readings and films acquaint students with contemporary Italy.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Students who enroll in Italian 201 are supposed to have a strong knowlegde of the topics convered in IT 101 and IT 102. There will be a Placement Test the first day of class: students who have gaps are responsible to make up what they missed in the previous levels. The FLRC can provide tutoring sessions and the Instructor will be provide digital resources to help students in their review.

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

·         Review: Present Perfect and Present Perfect with Modal Verbs

·         Review: Imperfect Tense 

·         Present Perfect Vs. Imperfect 

·         Conditional Tense

·        Review: Future and Futuro di Probabilità (Simple and Perfect)

·         Review: Direct, Indirect, and Reflexive Pronouns

·         Pronouns Ci and Ne

·         Combined Pronouns

·         Informal Imperative with Pronouns

·         Pronominal Verbs
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.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
DIECI A2 -LIBRO+EBOOK INTERATTIVONaddeo /OrlandinoAlma Edizioni9788861826823  Hard Copy  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Test (2) 10%
Midterm Exam 15%
Final Exam 25%
homework  10%
Participation 10%
Oral proficiency 20%
Compositions 10%

-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

SCHEDULE (Please note that the Instructor might make changes to the schedule) 

 

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

Week 1

GIOCHIAMO!

Communication: Reactivating past-level functional, grammatical, and lexical knowledge
Grammar: Review of basic tenses and forms.
Vocabulary: Core past level vocabulary.

Week 2

IMPARARE

Communication: Placing past events in time; indicating duration; Talking about your Italian learning experience.
Grammar: Reflexive verbs in the past; modal verbs, 'Sapere' + infinitive, adverbs 'mai', 'sempre', 'non... ancora'; verbs 'Cominciare' and 'Finire' in the past; absolute superlative (-issimo) and irregular forms (ottimo, pessimo).
Vocabulary: Time expressions; hobbies; education, degrees.

Week 3

COME ERAVAMO

Communication: Describing childhood and life phases; describing appearance and personality, comparing.
Grammar: Imperfect tense (review of regular/irregular forms); comparatives with che or di.

Vocabulary: Life stages; adjectives for appearance and personality.

Week 4

PERSONE CHE CONTANO

Communication: Telling stories about famous people; expressing feelings.

Grammar: Direct pronouns (review); "forme toniche"; Imperfect with 'mentre'.

Vocabulary: Marriage, expressions of time.

Test 1

Week 5

PERSONE CHE CONTANO (cont.)

Communication: Expressing congratulations; expressing incomplete or never done actions.

Grammar: Indirect pronouns; agreement of direct pronouns with past participle; 'Stare + gerundio'; Imperative forms.

Vocabulary: Expressions for surprise, regret; fabrics, patterns, sizes; sales vocabulary.

Week 6

SERVIZI

Communication: Asking for a discount, describing clothing; giving and understanding advice, orders, instructions; reporting problems; talking about a mishap; using the post office, sending a package.
Grammar: ' Stare+gerundio'; pronominal verb 'Averci'; Imperative and imperative with pronouns; partitive 'Ne'.
Vocabulary: Accessories; Post office vocabulary.

Oct. 9 Composition 1

Week 7

Review

Midterm exam

Week 8

CI ANDIAMO?

Communication: indicating interesting things to do in your own country; recommending destinations or cultural events; talking about a film; making and responding to suggestions; making plans.

Grammar: Impersonal verb 'Bisogna', combined pronouns; già (already) and non ancora (not yet) with the passato prossimo and direct pronoun, Trapassato prossimo (handout)
Vocabulary: film genres; phrases to make a proposal and to accept or decline an invitation; musical genres cultural events; expressions for public announcements.

Week 9

VITA E LAVORO

Communication: Describing a working day.

Grammar: Relative pronoun 'Che', pronominal verb 'Metterci'.

Vocabulary: Work-related expressions.

Oral presentation 1

Week 10

VITA E LAVORO (cont.)

Communication: Making predictions - imagining your future; indicating causes; talking about a change; interacting formally on the phone; writing short formal emails.

Grammar: Future tense, linking words.

Vocabulary: Professional titles; opening and closing phrases for phone calls and emails.

Week 11

MI SERVE!

Communication: Describing useful objects.
Grammar: Superlativo relativo.
Vocabulary: Household objects.

Nov. 13 Composition 2

Week 12

MI SERVE! (cont.)

Communication: Requesting politely, suggesting something, expressing a wish.

Grammar: The present conditional: regular, irregular, and contracted forms.

Vocabulary: Household objects, dimensions.

Test 2

Week 13

MI SERVE! (cont.)

Communication: Understanding housing advertisements; describing an apartment; understanding how waste sorting works.

Grammar: the adjective 'bello' placed before the noun; adjectives ending in -ino, -etto, and -one.

Vocabulary: Housing advertisements; houses.

Week 14

Final review

Oral presentation 2