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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 102-3"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elisa Marani
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 5:00 PM 6:50 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 60
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit. Prerequisite: Placement or IT 101(As of Fall 2022: Placement or IT 101 with a grade of C or above)
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A continuation of IT 101. This course aims at developing and reinforcing the language skills acquired in Introductory Italian I, while placing special emphasis on oral communication.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

 

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

  • understand written and spoken Italian, through the knowledge of simple structures. Situations will be varied, but general and such as to require an interchange of every day information and routine tasks.
  • participate in simple, direct conversations on generally predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment.
  • satisfy simple personal needs and social demands to survive in the target language culture.
  • comprehend the general meaning and some details of texts on familiar topics.
  • produce brief texts on topics of personal interests and social needs, primarily in the present, past, and future.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Global: Students at this level can understand sentences and frequently-used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). They can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on simple routine matters. They can describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Listening Proficiency Scales: At the 102 level, students can identify the main point on TV news items reporting. They can understand enough to manage simple, routine exchanges without too much effort and can generally identify the topic of discussion around them which is conducted slowly and clearly. They can generally understand clear, standard speech of familiar matters, although in a real life situation they might have to ask for repletion or reformulation. They can understand enough to be able to meet concrete needs in everyday life, and can understand phrases and expressions related to immediate needs. They can understand the essential information from short recorded passages dealing with predictable everyday matters.

Reading Proficiency Scales: They can understand short, simple texts containing the most common words, including some shared international words, those written in common everyday language and those related to their activities. They can find specific information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, brochures, menus and timetables. They can identify specific information in simple written material such as letters, brochures and short newspaper articles describing familiar topics and can understand simple instructions on equipment encountered in everyday life. They can understand everyday signs and notices in public places, such as streets, restaurants, railway stations and in workplaces.

Speaking Proficiency Scales: Students at the level 102 can construct phrases on familiar topics with sufficient ease to handle short exchange. They can produce brief everyday expressions in order to satisfy simple needs of a concrete type: personal details, daily routines, wants and needs, requests for information. They are able to use basic sentence patterns and communicate with memorized phrases, groups of a few words and formulae about themselves and other people, what they do, places, possessions etc. They have sufficient vocabulary for the expression of basic communicative needs and for coping with simple survival needs. They can control a narrow repertoire dealing with concrete everyday need and use some simple structures correctly. It is usually clear what they are trying to say. Pronunciation is generally clear enough to be understood.. They can expand learned phrases through simple combinations of their elements, can tell a story or describe something in a simple list of points and can link groups of words with simple connectors. They can make and respond to invitations, suggestions and apologies, can ask for attention and can reasonably fluently relate a straightforward narrative or description as a linear sequence of points.

Writing Proficiency Scales: They can give short, basic descriptions of events and activities and can write simple notes and messages relating to matters of everyday life, can describe plans and arrangements and can explain what they like or dislike about something. They can describe their family, living conditions, schooling, present or most recent job and can describe past activities and personal experiences.

    Upon completion of this course, students will be able to use the following:

    Functions / notions: Describing habits and routines; describing people and things; requests; suggestions; advice; invitations; present continuous for arrangements; obligations and necessity; describing places; describing past experiences and storytelling.

    Discourse markers: Linkers: sequential - past time

    Verb forms: Imperative; Imperfect; Passato prossimo & Imperfect; Present continuous; Past continuous; Future; Conditional of to want and to like; Present tense of regular and irregular verbs; present and past of to like; modals

    Grammar: Direct and indirect pronouns; singular and plural of irregular nouns; agreement past participle - direct pronouns; prepositions of movement; past tense of reflexive verbs; relative pronoun chearticolo partitivo; indefinite adjectives and pronouns; adverbs of quantity; the particle ne; Imperative with pronouns; comparative and superlative adjectives.

    Lexis: Italian documents; monuments and places; professions; famous people; holidays and vacations; transportations; at the station; vacation activities; meeting points; leisure activities; shopping; at the restaurant; menu and recipes; physical activities and sports; body parts; childhood and school activities; house problems; books; movies; music; projects for the future.

     

    TEXTBOOK:
    Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
    Spazio Italia 2Tommasini - DiacoLoescher 978-88-201-3349-8     
    REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
    NONE

    RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
    NONE
    GRADING POLICY
    -ASSESSMENT METHODS:
    AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
    2 Tests 20 %
    Midterm Exam 20 %
    2 Presentations 20 %
    Final Exam 30 %
    Attendance, Participation, and Homework 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 cour
    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:
    ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
    You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
    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  Jan. 20 – 22

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Review of definite and indefinite articles, regular and irregular nouns, agreement with adjectives

    Vocabulary for the permit to stay and Italian documents

     Discussion on the Italian university system

    Present tense of regular and irregular verbs

     

     

     

    WEEK 2  Jan. 27 – 29

                           Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Present tense of Piacere (to like)

    Vocabulary for Art and exhibitons

    Discussion on a famous person from your country

    Review of the Past tense (Passato prossimo)

     

    WEEK 3  Feb. 3 – 5

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Present  Conditional of Volere and Piacere ( to want and to like)

     Vocabulary for travelling by train

     Discussion on how Italians spend their vacations

     

    Presentation of the Review packet, and practice for  the first test

                                                                                    TEST 1: Febr. 5

    WEEK 4  Feb. 10 – 12

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Past tense (Passato prossimo) of reflexive verbs

     Vocabulary for shopping

    Discussion on how Italians spend their leisure time               

    Agreement Past participle /direct pronouns

     

     

    WEEK 5  Feb. 17 – 19

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

     Present continous (Stare + Gerundio)

    Food shopping vocabulary

     Discussion on the Italian cuisine               

     Some and any (Partitivo) in Italian 

     

     Direct pronoun Ne

     

    WEEK 6  Feb. 24 – 26

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Review chapters 1 - 5               

     

    Presentation of the Review packet, and practice for the Midterm Exam

     

    WEEK 7  Mar. 3 – 5

                                                                                    ORAL PRESENTATION 1     Marc. 3

                                                                                    MIDTERM EXAM                   Marc. 5

    WEEK 8  Mar. 10 – 12

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Imperative

    Vocabulary of body parts, medicines, and medical check up

     Discussion about sports in  Italy            

    Imperative with reflexive verbs

     

    WEEK 9  Mar. 17 – 19

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Imperfect

     Vocabulary to describe your  childhood

    Discussion on the Italian school system       

     

    WEEK 10  Mar. 24 – 26

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Imperfect Vs Passato prossimo

    Vocabulary for emergency in your apartment

    Discussion about public services in Italy           

     Imperfect of Volere, Potere, and Dovere (want, can, and must)

     

    Presentation of the Review packet, and practice for test 2

    TEST 2   Mar. 26

    WEEK 11                  Mar. 31 – Apr. 2

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

     Comparatives

    Vocabulary for talking about someone famous

    Discussion on a famous Italian singer       

     

    -------------------------------------------    SPRING BREAK APRIL 6 – 9   ---------------------------------------

     

    WEEK 12                  Apr. 14 – 16

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Future tense

     Vocabulary for talking about future plans

     Discussion about what young Italians want to do in their future

     

    WEEK 13                  Apr. 21 – 23

    Grammar

    Lexis

    Culture & Discussion

    Review chapters 6 – 10

     

     

    WEEK 14                  Apr. 28 – 30

    Presentation of the final review, and practice for the Final Exam

     

                                                                                    ORAL PRESENTATION 2     Apr. 30

     

                                                                                    FINAL EXAM (TBD)