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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 101-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I (Summer: This course carries three semester hours of credit.)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Rosa Napoli
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 9:00 AM 10:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: Monday\Wednesday 1100-1200 or by appointment
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. Note: This course carries 4 semester hours of credit during the Fall and Spring terms, 3 hours in Summer.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course is designed to give students basic oral and written communicative ability in Italian while building a strong grammatical foundation.

By presenting the language in a variety of authentic contexts, the course seeks to provide an introduction to Italian culture and society. Students work on all four language skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing
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
NUOVO Espresso (libro)Luciana Ziglio, Giovanna RizzoAlma Edizioni Firenze9788861823181     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
TESTSThe three tests are designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar, vocabulary coverd, their reading and listening comprehension and written ability.30%
Final ExamThe final exam is designed to evaluate the student's knowledge of the grammar and vocabulary covered,their reading and listening comprehension, and the written ability.30%
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.20%
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.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
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 ____________

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 three 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)

MAKE-UPS

The Tests and Final Exam can only be made up with approval from the Dean of Academic Affairs (Please see the John Cabot University Catalog and Student Handbook).

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

WEEK 1 May 25 - 28

Introducing yourself. Introducing a person (formal and informal).

Greetings, expressions for keeping a conversation going.

Asking for and giving phone numbers, saying where you are from, addresses and personal information. Asking people to repeat information

Present tense of the verbs Essere, Chiamarsi , Avere, Stare, Fare and Present tense of regular verbs ending in –are.

Definite singular articles

Indefinite articles un, uno, una , un’. Nouns ending in –o, –a and –e.

Nationality adjectives.

Prepositions a, in.

The negative and interrogative forms.

Interrogatives: Dove, Di dove, Come, Quanti, Chi, Qual, Che.

The Italian Alphabet. Pronunciation. Numbers from 0 to 100.

 

WEEK 2 June 1 - 4 (Holiday: June 2)

Ordering food and drinks.

Talking about free time. Expressing likes and preferences.

Asking for and telling the time

Plurals of nouns and plural articles.

Present tense of regular verbs ending in –ere and –ire; volere, preferire, andare, giocare, leggere, uscire.

Mi piace, Mi piacciono (I like)

Adverbs of frequency and days of the week.

Interrogative: Perché.

TEST 1 (Thursday, June 5)

WEEK 3 June 8 -12 (Make-up day for Tuesday, June 2)

Make a hotel reservations; Asking for information, prices.

Complaining.

Talking about your home and furniture.

Renting a house.

Describing a place. Asking for and giving directions.

Opening hours of public places.

There is and there are (C'è - ci sono)

The Present Tense of potere, venire, dovere, sapere.

Interrogatives: quanto, quando, quale.

Time and place prepositions.

Agreement of adjectives and nouns.

· TEST 2 ( June 12 )

WEEK 4 June 15 -18 

Talking about a trip. Describing past events.

Talking about the weather

Talking about past experiences. Asking about and saying what you did yesterday (last week, last month etc.)

Past tense (passato prossimo).

Past tense time adverbs.

Superlatives

· ORAL PRESENTATION 1: Describe your hometown - 3-5 minute presentation. (Monday, June 9)

· TEST 3 (Thursday, June 18)

WEEK 5 June 22 – 26

Grocery shopping.

Describing food and eating habits. Asking for the price and quantity.

Asking about a recipe.

Talking about a typical day and week. Talking about how often you do something.

Greetings; Italian Celebrations.

Direct pronouns and ne.

Reflexive verbs

Selected constructions with fare.

Possessive adjectives

Final review

· ORAL PRESENTATION 2: My experience in Italy - 5-7 minute presentation (Thursday, June 25)

FINAL EXAM Friday, June 26