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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101-10"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Silvia Dall'olio
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 8:30 AM 10:20 AM
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 Editore 9788820133481     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Gramm.it for English SpeakersG. Iacovoni - N. Persiani - B. FiorentinoBonacci978 88 7573 4305  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Partecipazione, compiti e "Lezione in città" 15%
esami (3) 30%
Esercizi di scrittura (3) 15%
Esame orale di midterm 10%
Esame orale finale  10%
Esame scritto finale 15%
"Cinema italiano" 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
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 TU

Jan 20

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

 

2 TH

Jan 22

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

 

3 TU

Jan 27

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

 

4 TH

Jan 29

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

 

5 TU

Feb 3

U.2

- Personal information

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

6 TH

Feb 5

Review and Exam 1

 

7 TU

Feb 10

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

 

8 TH

Feb 12

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

 

9 TU

Feb 17

U.4
- City directions: Dov’è?

 

10 TH

Feb 19

U.4
- Time-related information

 

11 TU

Feb 24

U.5

- Order food and drinks, Ti piace?

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

12 TH

Feb 26

U.5
- Interact in a store

 

13 TU

Mar 3

Review and Exam 2

 

14 TH

Mar 5

Midterm oral exam

 

15 TU

Mar 10

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

 Cinema italiano Reflection 1 due

16 TH

Mar 12

U.6
- Talk about free time and the weather

 

17 TU

Mar 17

U.7
- Talk about one's home

 

18 TH

Mar 19

U.7
- Furniture and appliances

 

19 TU

Mar 24

U.8
- Clothing

 

20 TH

Mar 26

U.8
- Money exchanges

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

21 TU

Mar 31

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

 

22 TH

Apr 2

U.9
- Make reservations

 

 

Apr 6-10

SPRING BREAK

 

23 TU

Apr 14

Review and Exam 3

 

24 TH

Apr 16

Final oral exams

 

25 TU

Apr 21

U.10
- Family

 

26 TH

Apr 23

U.10
- Describing people

 

27 TU

Apr 28

Review

Prepare Review

28 TH

Apr 30

 Review

Prepare Review.
Cinema italiano Reflection 2 due

 

 

 

 

 

May 2-8

Final written exams