This course presents the first principles of Italian language, geography and culture.

Comprehension:

-          Listening:  students will be able to understand familiar words and basic sentences concerning themselves and familiar topics when people speak slowly and clearly.

-          Reading: students will be able to read short, simple texts, such as advertisements, menus, brief articles from magazines. They will be able to develop reading strategies to find specific, predictable information in texts and brief personal communications.

Production:

-          Speaking: students will be able to use the target language with a basic level of conversational fluency on familiar topics. They will be able to ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on familiar topics.

-          Writing: students will be able to write short, simple messages dealing with everyday issues and to describe, in basic sentences, themselves, their friends and families, their immediate surroundings and their daily routines.

Cultural Awareness:

Students will be able to identify some characteristics of the target language culture(s) and distinguish between patterns and stereotypes. They will be able to note similarities and differences between target cultures and their own and to reflect, in English, on personal experiences while learning a new language and living in a different culture. Students will be able to give examples of the relationship between language and culture.

Reflectivity:
Students will be able to reflect, in English, on personal experiences while learning a new language and living in a different culture. They will work towards identifying their personal learning style.

A: 94-100

A-: 90-93

B+: 87-89

B: 83-86

B-: 80-82

C+: 77-79

C: 73-76

C-: 70-72

D+:67-69

D: 63-66

D-: 60-62

F= 0-59

-          A:  Work 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.

-          B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

-          There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

-          C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

-          D:  This 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.

-          F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

Students are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule.

Students are allowed three unexcused absences. The final grade will be lowered by 2 points for each additional absence. Seven or more additional absences (a total of ten unexcused absences or more) will likely result in failure of the course (“F” grade).

Make-ups: The Midterm and Final Exam and Tests can only be made up with approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs. Notify your professor as soon as possible if you must miss a scheduled assignment.

Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.