CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITALIAN 112 SPRING 2013

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1 CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITALIAN 112 SPRING 2013 COURSE DESCRIPTION The course is intended for intermediate beginners. A thorough grounding is given in all the language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Vocabulary and grammar are presented through teaching materials (dialogues, articles, etc) which refer to situations relevant to the students' experience in Italy as practiced through role- playing, street assignments, researching and report, discussions. In the first intensive part of the course, situations that often represent obstacles to newcomers in Italy, are presented to assist students in learning to insert themselves into a new country and a new culture. The first part of the course also includes cultural activities such as orientation, concerts, theatre, exhibitions, and cooking classes. The second part of the course will consist of three meetings per week. Students will further the study of structures and vocabulary, developing all linguistic skills: speaking, understanding, reading and writing. Different class activities will be organized to encourage the students to practice oral Italian through conversations and discussions about different topics. Students are expected to participate as actively as possible to the activities and to give their contribution with suggestions, ideas and presentations. SCHEDULE: Part One: Part Two: Two weeks of intensive Italian instruction that begin two weeks ahead of the rest of the classes. Classes run from to 1:00 pm. and from 2.00 pm. to 3.30 pm. Three classes per week: Tue, Wed, Fri, from 2.00 pm to 3.15 pm which continue for the remainder of the semester. : Italian Espresso 2 (textbook+workbook) written by Italiaidea INSTRUCTORS: Raffaella Ferragni Costanza Marino GRADING: 4 quizzes 20% Midterm exam (written) 15% Final exam (written) 15% Oral competence (including oral exams) 20% Homework and fieldtrip assignment 15% Class participation and commitment 15% For a total of 100% Attendance is mandatory. Each unmotivated absence will determine 1.5% less on the total score (absences during intensive part will determine 4.5 % less) Paolo Bultrini, the academic head can be contacted by mail at

2 Please, read our letter to the student in order to become more familiar with the Italiaidea teaching methodology and philosophy. Dear Student, We d like you to reflect upon these points during your course of study with us. Language is not only a set of rules to learn, but is also an instrument for doing, communicating, understanding, and expressing oneself. Language rules are acquired while one uses a language; it is not sufficient to study and know rules abstractly. It is necessary to practice continuously always aware of the whole process of acquiring another language. Don t be afraid to make mistakes and don t expect perfection. Rather, try to participate as actively as possible in class: the more you speak and the more you listen, the more quickly you will absorb real, living language in depth (and, in that way, will absorb all that a language consists of: vocabulary, grammatical structures, syntax, etc.) Grammar In the process of acquiring a foreign language, grammar should not be a goal, but rather a means by which you will learn to express yourself correctly and appropriately. You may find yourself re- studying grammar you have already studied before but have not yet absorbed, because it is not enough to simply study a structure, but to learn how to use it appropriately. The Role of the Teacher The teacher stimulates the active participation of the student continuously. The classtime we share together becomes the space in which it is possible for you to use linguistic structures and related vocabulary. The teacher will help you maximize your use of materials which, at first, may seem very difficult and may seem over your head (for instance, real world materials) as opposed to materials designed specifically for students of a foreign language. This is just the material you need; it is what is most precious and richest for a person studying a foreign language. Work in Small Groups or in Pairs Exchanges and interactions with other people form a vital foundation for learning a foreign language because doing so gives you the appropriate and gradual increments of a linguistic system and helps remove any continuing obstacles plaguing you. For the following reasons in particular, group work represents the ideal situation to help a rich variety of problems emerge which might otherwise escape individual study: - working in pairs or in groups has the advantage of equal and fair confrontation, removing the fear of making errors. It also gives you the chance to make conversation more freely than working always with an instructor - the difficulties others have will help clarify your own points - all students are able to participate actively and simultaneously during the lesson - everyone works at the same time which makes optimal use of the class time together

3 GRADING DESCRIPTION All classes are taught exclusively in Italian. 4 Quizzes: 15% They consist of a series of written exercises based on grammar and most relevant vocabulary covered in class Midterm exam: 15% It consists of a series of written exercises based on grammar and most relevant vocabulary covered in class, listening and reading comprehension, according to the course level. Final exam: 15% See above Oral competence: 20% Oral production and comprehension is crucial to a language course which has the goal to enable students to communicate in a new language. Oral competence is assessed constantly throughout the course by the course instructor. Students oral competence is a result of different components: correctness, fluency, vocabulary and listening comprehension. Homework: 15% Homework is given to reinforce topics studied in class. Although vocabulary lists are not used in the Italiaidea teaching system, students are expected to memorize, use and build her/his own vocabulary, according to their level. Written homework can be corrected in class with different methods: on the board or orally altogether with the instructor, working in pairs, working in smaller groups. The correct answers are not necessarily written on the board or checked one by one; it is the students responsibility to ask questions in case of doubts or confusion. Class participation and engagement: 20% Class participation is crucial for our courses, which are based on experiential learning and communicative teaching methods. We understand that students might be used to different language teaching approaches, therefore we would like to clarify what we mean by participation and engagement: Speaking only and always in ITALIAN in class Trying to use structures and vocabulary studied in class as much as possible Working in pairs or groups according to instructions given in class Helping other students while working together Participating to homework correction Asking questions every time something is not clear Memorizing and widening vocabulary, even if not listed Participating to all class activities Speaking Italian with your classmates, even if you finish your assignment/task before the others.

4 Paolo Bultrini, the academic head can be contacted by mail at PROGRAMMA DEL CORSO PARTE INTENSIVA Lezione di revisione Descrivere un posto Revisione presente indicativo Lezione 1 Incontri Parlare di situazioni passate Avere ed essere con i modali Passato prossimo e Imperfetto Pronomi diretti indiretti e riflessivi pg 4-9,esercizi n 1-15 Lezione 2 Progetti futuri Parlare di progetti futuri- fare ipotesi Il futuro - frasi ipotetiche con indicativo pg 10-15,esercizi n 1-14 Lezione 3 Che dovrei fare secondo te Dare e chiedere un consiglio I verbi bastare e servire- Imperativo informale e pronomi pg 16-21,esercizi n 1-16 QUIZ 1 Lezione 4 Mens sana Dare istruzioni e consigli in una situazione formale- fare comparazioni Imperativo formale- pronomi combinati- comparativi e superlativi irregolari pg 22-27,esercizi n 1-14

5 Lezione 5 Do you speak Italian Raccontare esperienze passate- chiedere dare informazioni. Trapassato prossimo - pronomi relativi pg 30-35,esercizi n 1-14 Lezione 6 Vivere in città Descrivere una città- Esprimere critiche lamentele, rimpianti. Condizionale passato- passato remoto pg 36-38, esercizi n 1-8 QUIZ 2 PROGRAMMA DEL CORSO PARTE ESTENSIVA Lezione 6 Vivere in città Descrivere una città- Esprimere critiche lamentele, rimpianti. Condizionale passato- passato remoto pg 39-41,esercizi n 9-13 Lezione 7 Luoghi comuni Esprimere opinioni personali Congiuntivo presente e passato- Aggettivi e pronomi indefiniti pg 44-49,esercizi n 1-15 ESAME DI META CORSO MID TERM Martedì scritto Mercoledì orale Lezione 8 Parole, parole Riferire opinioni personali passate- discutere e argomentare. Congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato- connettivi pg 50-55,esercizi n 1-12

6 Lezione 9 "Invito alla lettura Descrivere un libro- esprimere giudizi, scopi e obiettivi. Congiuntivo in dipendenza da connettivi- forma passiva- perché con il congiuntivo o indicativo pg 56-61,esercizi n 1-13 Lezione 10 La famiglia cambia faccia Fare previsioni- discutere- riferire notizie incerte Avverbi- congiuntivo in dipendenza da congiunzioni- uso del condizionale per riferire notizie incerte. pg 64-69,esercizi n 1-12 QUIZ 3 Lezione 11 Tradizioni italiane Descrivere feste e tradizioni- esprimere desideri- descrivere fatti passati Pronomi relativi, altri usi di cui- segnali discorsivi e connettivi- condizionale passato come futuro nel passato- avverbi pg 70-75,esercizi n 1-10 Presentazione del Talent Show Lezione 11 Tradizioni italiane Descrivere feste e tradizioni- esprimere desideri- descrivere fatti passati Pronomi relativi, altri usi di cui- segnali discorsivi e connettivi- condizionale passato come futuro nel passato- avverbi pg 70-75,esercizi n 1-10

7 Lezione 12 Salviamo il nostro pianeta Fare ipotesi- discutere, lamentarsi Frasi ipotetiche pg 76-78,esercizi n 1-6 Preparazione del Talent Show Lezione 12 Salviamo il nostro pianeta Fare ipotesi- discutere, lamentarsi Frasi ipotetiche pg 79-81,esercizi n 7-12 Mercoledì 3 aprile QUIZ 4 Preparazione del Talent Show Martedì 9 Mercoledì 10 aprile Lezione 13 Noi e gli altri Lamentare, protestare, giustificarsi- esprimere desideri e preferenze- fare richieste in modo cortese. Concordanza dei tempi del congiuntivo- congiuntivo in dipendenze dal condizionale pg 82-84,esercizi n 1-8 Lezione 14 Italia da scoprire Raccontare un viaggio - descrivere un luogo. Si impersonale pg 88-92,esercizi n 1-10

8 TALENT SHOW!!!! ESAME FINALE Martedì scritto Mercoledì orale Paolo Bultrini, the academic head can be contacted by mail at