The course is designed to review and study in-depth the following grammar points: verb tenses in the indicative and subjunctive moods, sequence of tenses, “if” clauses, the imperative, relative pronouns, passive and impersonal forms, indefinite adjectives and pronouns, indirect discourse, and the use of prepositions and conjunctions. The course concentrates on consolidating specific communicative tasks, including stating opinions and constructing hypotheses, in both speaking and writing. Specialized vocabulary is expanded and appropriate variables in register are introduced in expository writing and conversation..

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

 *Understand written and spoken Italian at the upper intermediate level

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

 *Ask for and obtain information in a variety of settings

 *Express opinions, feelings, needs, approval and disapproval

 *Comprehend the general meaning and details of upper-intermediate level texts

 *Produce written texts on a variety of topics, using present, past, conditional, and future tenses

 *Understand and use the subjunctive mood

 *Express possibility and impossibility

 *Make conjectures

A/A- = Excellent command of the language consistent with the level of proficiency. Appropriate command of sentence structure, lexis, register and idiom.

B+ = Very good command of the language consistent with the level of proficiency, showing facility and very few errors. Ability to handle sentence structure naturally, and to demonstrate some awareness of stylistic variation.

B = Good 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- = Satisfactory  command of the language, consistent with the level of proficiency. Work will not be coherent but comprehensible; sentence structure will be simple; medium frequency of grammatical and other errors

C+ = Evidence 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, C- = Some evidence of the ability to control the language for the purpose of effective communication, consistent with the level of proficiency. Some awareness of sentence structure and high frequency of grammatical and other errors.

D = Little 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.

F = No evidence of the ability to control the language; failure to make oneself understood.

Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation.Students are allowed three unjustified absences. The final grade will be lowered by 2 points for each additional absence. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.