JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 203"
COURSE NAME: "Intensive Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Rosa Napoli
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 90
CREDITS: 6
PREREQUISITES: This course, which is the equivalent of 201 + 202, carries 6 semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Placement, IT 102 or IT 103
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 1030- 1130 or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

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

  • understand and express themselves in oral and written Italian with a good degree of correctness
  • narrate and describe in major time frames with good control and confidence
  • participate actively in long conversations in most informal and some formal settings on any concrete and some abstract topics
  • To obtain indirect and direct information from texts and conversations
  • Express their own opinions efficiently on personal and social experiences with a good degree of confidence and linguistic precision
  • Produce, with good control of the most frequently used structures, narratives, descriptions, and summaries of factual nature

 
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Course Description:  IT 203 covers the equivalent of a full year of intermediate language study (IT 201 and IT 202). The language is presented in a variety of authentic contexts including short stories, music, newspaper and magazine articles, and films. Class discussions are an important part of the course and participation is necessary to determine the final grade. Students will also give oral presentations and write compositions based on the topics discussed in class.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Assessment Tools:

Listening

·       In-class listening activities and exams: Students listen to the instructor reading texts, usually from the required textbook or other material, the duration of which will be of at least 1000-1200 words. Students answer (in writing) to an increasing number of questions that test their comprehension of what they have heard.

Speaking

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

Reading         

·       In-class activities and exams: Students read an increasing number of texts of increasing length, complexity and of different genres, ranging from public to personal opinions; from narrative to informative; from argumentative, and explicative, to cultural and academic. They answer in writing to several questions that test their comprehension of what they have read.

Writing

·       Homework assignments and exams: Students answer written questions and produce written texts of increasing length, formality and complexity on topics of every day life, personal feelings, impressions, and  professional experiences and opinions of common and social interest.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Percorso Italia B1-B2G. Patota, N. Romanelli De Agostini Scuola9788848040426     
Gramm.it for english speakerGruppo CSCBonacci editore9788875734305     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
TESTS and COMPOSITIONSThe five tests and two compositions are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.25%
Midterm examThe midterm exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered up to this point, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.25%
Final ExamThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered during the all course,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. Conversations, monologues and role playing are elicited by visual stimuli or questions from the instructor.15%
Class participation and HomeworkStudents are expected to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice.10%

-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 cours
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. Active participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed six  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.

If you should miss a class, please contact another student to find out what was covered that day so that you will be prepared for the next class.

DURING CLASS, PLEASE DO NOT:

- leave the room as it is distracting to the professor and to your classmates;
- answer your cell phone, read or send text messages;
- use your computer for anything not related to the class (e.g. Facebook)

 
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

 

                     Week 1

Introduce yourself.

 Review:  Passato Prossimo,  Imperfetto.

 Direct, indirect and reflexive pronouns. Possessive adjectives and pronouns.   

                     Week 2

Unit 3 - What sort of person are you?

 Describe people, and make comparisons. Share an experience abroad.

 Use comparative and superlative adjectives.

Unit 4 – Life in the city

 Express desire and hopes. Ask for and give recommendations and suggestions. 

 Form and use of present conditional.

                     Week 3

Unit 4 – Life in the city

 Express wishes, possibilities. Ask for and give advice.

 Present conditional. Combined pronouns. Use of ne

TEST 1

                     Week 4

Unit 5 – An apple a day

 Learn body parts and Italian gestures. Talk about health.  Express opinions.

 Form and use of present subjunctive.

                     Week 5

Unit 6 - The world of work

 Read job ads. Learn how to write a curriculum vitae in Italian. Ask for and give advice

 Indefinite pronouns. Form and use of the informal imperative with pronouns.

 Use of Trapassato prossimo. Use of Ci.

TEST 2

                     Week 6

Unit 7 – News for all

 Read Italian newspapers. Talk about future plans. Speaking of unrealized projects.

 Form and use of simple future.  Present subjunctive. Use of perfect conditional .

                     Week 7

 

 Review

 In class composition

 ORAL PRESENTATION

MIDTERM  Written exam

                     Week 8

Unit 8 – To look for a house

 Give advice. Give an order. Talk on the phone. Complain and apologize.

 Formal imperative; Imperatives & pronouns. Introduction to the past subjunctive    

                     Week 9

Unit 9 -  Lets go to the movies

 Express your opinion about a movie. Read a review.

 Subjunctive Imperfetto.  The relative pronoun Che. Adverbs ending  in -mente

TEST 3

                     Week 10

Unit 10 - Reading and readers

 Talk about books. Express doubts and personal opinions.

 Use of the future. Conjunctions

 Passato Remoto

                     Week 11

Unit 11 - Italians

 Espress your point of view on a topice. Express contrast.

 Relative pronoun il quale.

 The passive form.

TEST 4

                     Week 12

Unit 12 - Italian for all

 Expressing hypothetical situations. Summarize information. Reporting what others said.

 Subjuntive trapassato. Hypothetical situations. Indirect speech.

                     Week 13

Unit 12 - Italian for all

 ... contined.

TEST 5

                     Week 14

In class composition

ORAL PRESENTATION

 General review.    

                                                                                    Final exam