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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101-12"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Sarah Franceschi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 12:30 PM 2:20 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 give students basic communicative ability in Italian. By presenting the language in a variety of authentic contexts, the course also seeks to provide an introduction to Italian culture and society. Students work on all four language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

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

  • satisfy a very 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-paragraph texts with limited formulaic information by using elementary functions.



LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Listening

·         In-class listening activities: Students will listen to the instructor and to recorded texts the duration of which will be at least 250 words.  Students will have to answer (orally and in writing) an increasing number of questions that test their comprehension of what they have heard.

Speaking

·         In-class oral activities and exams: Students will be examined singularly and in pairs. The type of tests will be: conversation between two students, monologues, role playing. The multiplicity of situations and the request to express personal opinions will increase from elementary level to advanced level. Conversations, monologues and role playing will be elicited by visual stimuli, texts, or questions from the instructor.

Reading         

·         In-class activities and exams: Students will have to read an increasing number of texts of increasing length, complexity and of different genres. They will have to answer in writing several questions that test their comprehension of what they have read.

Writing

·         Homework assignments and exams: Students will have to answer written questions and produce written texts of increasing length, formality and complexity on topics of every day life.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Percorso Italia A1-A2Patota, RomanelliGarzanti linguistica9788848040419     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
4 quizzesThe four tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.20%
Midterm examThe midterm exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge on the grammar and vocabolary covered up to this point, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.20%
Final examThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge on the grammar and vocabolary covered, their reading and listening comprehension and the written ability.25%
Oral proficiencyIn-class oral activities and presentation.Students are examined singularly and in pairs or small groups.The types of tests are: conversation between the two students or the small groups, monologues, role playing. Conversation, monologues and role playing are elicited by visual stimuli or questions from the instructor15%
Class partecipation and HomeworkStudent are expected to come prepared to class and partecipe in all activities. Active partecipation is crucial, since the pearning process requires considerable practice.20%

-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:
Students are supposed to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation.Students are allowed four (six if it’s a six-credit course) 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.
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 13,15

UNITA’ 1                 

Incontri

Salutare e presentare una persona

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Pronomi personali soggetto

Presente indicativo: essere-chiamarsi-presentare (prime tre persone)

Numeri 0-20

Interrogativi: Come ? Qual è ?

Week 2

 

Jan. 20,22

UNITA’ 2

Fare conoscenza                       

Chiedere e dire la provenienza, la nazionalità

Ordinare al bar

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Presente indicativo verbi regolari.

Verbo essere

Preposizioni a,di,in, per

Numeri 20-100 Articoli indeterminativi Preposizioni a in, di.

Numeri  20-100.

Nomi

Frasi negative /interrogative.

Week 3 

 

Jan 27,29

UNITA’ 3

Che lavoro fai?

Chiedere che lavoro fa una persona

Chiedere e dire l’indirizzo

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Presente indicativo dei verbi avere-fare

Articoli determinativi 

 

January 29           QUIZ 1

 Week 4 

 

Feb. 3,5

UNITA’ 3 (continuazione)

Parlare della famiglia

Dire e chiedere l’età

Nomi di famiglia

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Interrogativi che? quanto? quale?

                       

 Week 5 

 

Feb. 10,12                    

UNITA’ 4

Un giorno in famiglia

Descrivere un giornata tipo

Chiedere e indicare l’ora e i giorni della settimana

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Verbi riflessivi- Presente indicativo di andare, stare, uscire

Avverbi di tempo- avverbi di frequenza

Preposizioni articolate con a

Giorni della settimana, parti della giornata

 Week 6 

 

Feb. 17,19

UNITA’ 5 

A scuola di italiano

Iscriversi a un corso

Indicare un periodo di tempo

Esprimere la frequenza di un’azione

Esprimere la data

Scrivere l’indirizzo

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

C’è, ci sono

Preposizioni articolate

Tutti i giorni, ogni giorno

Presente indicativo del verbo volere                 

Feb. 19            QUIZ 2

 Week 7 

 

Fe. 24,26        

Midterm Review

February 26    MIDTERM

Week 8

 

March 3,5

UNITA’ 6

Nel tempo libero

Parlare del tempo libero

Esprimere i propri gusti

Esprimere accordo e disaccordo

Descrivere un’azione in svolgimento

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Presente indicativi di leggere, giocare, volere, potere, dire

Verbo piacere

Pronomi indiretti

Moltissimo, abbastanza, per niente, affatto

Presente progressivo 

         

Week 9 

 

March 10,12

UNITA’ 11

Raccontare eventi passati

Descrivere un oggetto

Fare acquisti in un negozio di abbigliamento

Descrivere l’aspetto fisico di una persona

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Passato prossimo

I colori

Uso di quello pronome e aggettivo

MARCH 17-21   SPRING VACATION

 Week 10 

 

March 24,26

UNITA’ 11 CONT.

March 26             QUIZ 3

 Week 11 

March 31, April 2,4

UNITA’ 7

Fare le spesa

Chiedere qualcosa in un supermercato

Chiede il prezzo

Esprimere la quantità. Capire messaggi promozionali/Leggere annunci economici

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Partitivi

nterrogativi quanto quanta quanti quante

Ci vuole, ci vogliono/ serve, servono

UNITA’ 8

In giro per Siena

Chiedere e dare indicazioni di luogo

Localizzare nello spazio

Parlare del tempo atmosferico

CONTENUTI LINGUISTICO-GRAMMATICALI

Determinazioni di luogo: qui, lì, di fronte, a vicino, a desta, a sinistra

Presente indicativo del verbo sapere

Uso delle preposizioni con i nomi di luogo

Numerali ordinali       

APRIL 4 MAKE UP DAY FOR MONDAY APRIL 21

 

 Week 12 

April 7,9 

UNITA’ 8 CONT.

 Week 13

April 14,16

April 14                      QUIZ 4

April 16                      Oral presentation

 Week 14

               

April 23                      Final Review

April 26-May 2 Final Examination