JCU Logo

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101-9"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Silvia Dall'olio
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 6:30 PM 8:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 60
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide beginner students with a variety of tools to develop their communicative competence in the four major language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Cultural awareness and understanding of Italian communities and traditions are explicitly promoted.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course presents the first principles of Italian language, geography and culture in a student-centered learning environment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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. They 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. Particular emphasis will be placed on awareness and use of language learners’ strategies.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Spazio Italia. Corso di italiano per stranieri. Livello A1M.F. Diaco - M.G. TommasiniLoescher Editore9788820133481     
Gramm.it for English speakersG. Iacovoni - N. Persiani - B. FiorentinoBonacci978-88-7573-430-5     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Partecipazione, compiti e quiz 15%
esami (3) 30%
Esercizi di scrittura (3) 15%
Esame orale di midterm 10%
Esame orale finale  10%
Esame scritto finale 15%
Contributi al blog 5%

-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 co
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:

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 partecipazione grade will be lowered by a letter grade 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).

Please be aware that three late arrivals into class equal one absence, and that three early departures from class equal one absence.

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.

 

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

Lesson #

Date

In class

At home

1 M

14 Jan

U.1
- Greetings, expressions for keeping a conversation going

 

2 G

16 Jan

U.1
- Introductions: Come stai?, Ti presento, Di dove sei?

 

3 M

21 Jan

Uu.1-2
- Express possession and "there is/are": Ho…, Che cosa c’è?

 

4 G

23 Jan

U.2
- Exchange personal information: Qual è il tuo indirizzo/…?, Di chi è?, Le presento

 

5 M

28 Jan

U.2

- Personal information

Writing assignment 1: Esercizio di scrittura 1 (70 words)

6 G

30 Jan

Review and Exam 1

 

 

4 Feb

NO CLASS – moved to Fri Feb 21

 

7 G

6 Feb

U.3
- Talk about one's day: Com’è la tua/sua giornata?, Che ore sono?

 

8 M

11 Feb

U.3
- Talk about time: A che ora…?, Che giorno è?

 

9 G

13 Feb

U.4
- City directions: Dov’è?

 

10 M

18 Feb

U.4
- Time-related information

 

11 G

20 Feb

U.5

- Order food and drinks, Ti piace?

Writing assignment 2: Esercizio di scrittura 2 (120 words)

12 V

21 Feb

U.5
- Interact in a store

 Lesson around the city

13 M

25 Feb

Review and Exam 2

 

14 G

27 Feb

Midterm oral exam

 

15 M

4 Mar

U.6
- Make and accept invitations: Vuoi uscire?

 

16 G

6 Mar

U.6
- Talk about free time and the weather

 

17 M

11 Mar

U.7
- Talk about one's home

 

18 G

13 Mar

U.7
- Furniture and appliances

 

 

March 17-21

SPRING BREAK

 

19 M

25 Mar

U.8
- Clothing

 

20 G

27 Mar

U.8
- Money exchanges

Writing assignment 3: Esercizio di scrittura 3 (160 words)

21 M

1 Apr

U.9
Tell events in the past: Che hai fatto nel weekend?

 

22 G

3 Apr

U.9
- Make reservations

 

23 M

8 Apr

Review and Exam 3

 

24 G

10 Apr

Final oral exams

 

25 M

15 Apr

U.10
- Family

 

26 G

17 Apr

U.10
- Describing people

 

27 M

22 Apr

Review

Prepare Review

28 G

24 Apr

Review

Prepare Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 26 - May 2

Final written exams