SCHOOL OF ITALIAN STUDIES AND LINGUISTICS DEPARTMENT OF ITALIAN LANGUAGE COURSE TITLE: ITALIAN LANGUAGE INTERMEDIATE II COURSE CODE: IS IT II 250 3 CREDITS 1. DESCRIPTION This level is for those students who already have an active knowledge of elementary language structures (i.e. the expression of past actions and events), who can communicate simple and routine tasks, discuss familiar and routine topics and describe his/her background and who can understand clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. After taking this course, students will be able to use more complex pronouns both in spoken and written Italian and will have a basic grasp of Subjunctive in all four tenses. Prerequisites: Students entering at the intermediate level or above are required to take a placement test. 2. OBJECTIVE During the course emphasis will be given to all four different abilities to be developed while learning a language: Listening Speaking, Reading Writing. Students will be encouraged to try to speak both in and outside class, to have them become more familiar with the Italian language and culture environment in which they are immersed. Grammar Acquire the ability to use the comprehensive structures of the language, being able to correlate facts and events in the past, present and future and the ability to express doubts and desires. Vocabulary Use vocabulary to talk about and describe basic communicative needs and some personal experiences. Recognise the meaning of words useful in common everyday conversations. Listening Understand phrases and expressions related to areas of the most immediate priority (e.g. personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Understand explanations and instructions.. Speaking Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information in familiar and routine matters to do with work and free time. Tell a short simple story or describing something in a list of points. Reading Comprehend information contained in practical texts. 1
Understand short, simple texts containing the highest frequency vocabulary with simple connectors. Writing Produce simple and brief texts relating to matters in areas of immediate need. 3. REQUIREMENTS 4. METHOD Prerequisites: Two semesters of Italian language or equivalent, the last course of which should have been taken in the last academic year. Students must take the Italian Language Placement Test. s are held in Italian Individual study of the notes, the readings, the handouts etc. at home is required after every class. Students will be assigned homework on a regular basis and it should always be completed before class. No eating is allowed in class. At all times cell phone must be turned off. A responsible and active class participation is expected at all times and activities. The teaching method is based on a communicative approach, while part of the study also will be dedicated to the Italian grammar. In order to facilitate the learning progress special emphasis will be given to conversational techniques and communication skills. Classes will be interactive with the additional use of newspapers, handouts, etc. TUTORING SCHEDULE: Small group tutoring sessions are offered. Individual tutoring can be provided if requested by the instructor. SIGN UP IS REQUIRED: Please visit the front desk for days, time and details. 5. TEXT BOOK COURSE TEXT BOOK Texts required for this course: Matteo La Grassa, Marcella Delitala, Fiorenza Quercioli L'italiano all'università 2, Corso di lingua per studenti stranieri B1-B2, Edizioni Edilingua Webster or Oxford Italian English Dictionary These texts have been pre-ordered and should be purchased after the first class meeting at FEL- TRINELLI, Via de' Cerretani 30/32/r. You will receive a 15% discount upon showing this syllabus. Open Monday to Friday from 9 to 7:30 pm and on Saturday from 10:30 to 7:30 pm. FUA LIBRARY Florence University of the Arts and Apicius Library: The library is located on the first floor of Corso Tintori, 21. Please consult the posted course schedules for official opening times. Please note that both libraries are consultation only and thus it is not possible to remove texts. 6. VISITS TRIPS Upon instructor's decision and with class agreement, maximum two on-field lessons might be held during the semester. 2
7. MATERIAL LIST N/A 8. ADDITIONAL FEES N/A 9. EVALUATION GRADING SYSTEM Final Grade Breakdown 10% Attendance 10% Participation 20% Quizzes 20% Midterm Exam 20% Final Written Exam 10/% Oral Presentation 10% Assignments Please note that a detailed explanation of the above is found in Section 11. Grading Scale A = 100 93% A - = 92 90% B+ = 89 87% B = 86 83% B- = 82 80% C+ = 79 77% C = 76 73% C- = 72 70% D = 69 60% F = 59 0% 10. ATTENDANCE PARTICIPATION Academic integrity and mutual respect between instructor and students are central to Palazzi s academic policies. This is reflected in the attendance policy. Class attendance is mandatory and counts towards the final grade. Roll will be taken at the beginning and end of each class. Coming late and leaving earlier affects the attendance and participation grade. It is important that students come to class on time.two delays will be considered as one absence. Each absence from class will negatively impact your final grade (Attendance). One to Two Absences: Will result in lowering of the Participation and Final Grade as per the grading system. Three Absences: Will result in the final grade being lowered one full letter grade. (Example 90% / A will become 80% / B -) Four Absences: Will result in an automatic failure. It is always the student's responsibility to know how many absences they have in a course. Travel is NEVER an excuse for absence from class. PARTICIPATION Learning a foreign language is an incremental process. The rewards will be great only if you are actively involved: students are expected to prepare for each class in advance. Insufficient practice may result in a lower grade. Your participation in class activities is a crucial component of the course and will give you the opportunity to develop your listening and speaking skills in a collaborative, friendly and enjoyable setting. The assessment is as follows: A full and enthusiastic participation in class activities, understanding of the linguistic structures, and ability to manipulate such structures with accuracy and creativity in communicative situations. 3
Consistent, timely and accurate work in textbook and workbook. B Active participation in class, great efforts to understand the linguistic structures, which are not fully assimilated in a consistent manner, ability to manipulate such structures with a few errors in communicative situations. Work in textbook and workbook regularly and carefully completed. C Reactive participation in class activities (student answers willingly and correctly when called on), basic ability to use the linguistic structures to understand others and make oneself understood in communicative situations. Errors corrected when pointed out. Work in textbook and workbook regularly completed and errors carefully revised. D Limited class participation. Inability to manipulate structures, which are not assimilated. Great difficulties in making oneself understood in all the communicative activities. Work in textbook and workbook irregularly completed, with lack of care. Inability to correct errors when prompted. F Lack of interest in class activities, inability or carelessness to answer when called upon. Work in textbook and workbook poorly completed or not at all. 11. EXAMS PAPER EXAM CALENDAR Quiz 1: Lesson 5 Quiz 2: Lesson 10 Oral Presentation: Lesson 14 Final Exam: Lesson 15 ASSIGNMENTS Maximum of 3 - Assigned in class by your instructor Note: the date and time of the exams cannot be changed for any reason. so please organize your personal schedule accordingly. No show at the exam F = 0 Credits Should issues of academic dishonesty arise (plagiarism and so on), the instructor will refer to the institutional written policy on such matters. EXAM ASSESSMENT: Quiz 1 counts for 10% of the final grade The first quiz is cumulative and will be based on grammar topics presented in class from the beginning of the semester to date. The number of points given for each exercise will be clearly stated at the top of the exercise itself. Midterm Exam counts for 20% of the final course grade. The Midterm exam is cumulative and will be based on grammar topics presented in class from the beginning of the semester to date. The Midterm Exam consists of multiple choice questions, fill-in the blanks, vocabulary exercises, reading with true/false replies a listening comprehension and a composition exercise (writing). The number of points given for each exercise will be clearly stated at the top of the exercise. Quiz 2 counts for 10% of the final grade The first quiz is cumulative and will be based on grammar topics presented in class from the Midterm exam to date. The number of points given for each exercise will be clearly stated at the top of the exercise. 4
Oral Presentation counts for 10% of the final grade. Please note: this grade also covers conversation exercises done in class during the semester. The topic(s) will be decided in class with the instructor. The oral presentation will be graded according to: Vocabulary knowledge and appropriate in usage Comprehensibility Pronunciation Content (not reading from notes) Being able to answer instructor/classmates' questions during class Complete all tasks assigned Final Exam counts for 20% the final course grade. The Final Exam is cumulative and will be based on grammar topics presented in class from the beginning of the semester to date. The Final Exam consists of multiple choice questions, fill-in the blanks, vocabulary exercises, reading with true/false replies a listening comprehension and a composition exercise (writing). The number of points given for each exercise will be clearly stated at the top of the exercise. Assignments count for 10% of the final grade They will consist of different tasks assigned in class by the instructor There will be a maximum of 3 throughout the whole semester They have to be handed within the deadline as per the calendar The main objective of these assignments is to support students in improving their vocabulary, structure knowledge and writing skills (e.g. spelling) All the Italian quizzes and exams are scheduled and announced in advance and no make-up exams will be given. 12. LESSONS LESSON 1 Presentazione del corso e del sillabo: informazioni su metodo, obiettivi, esami, assignments e oral presentation. Breve ripasso dei principali argomenti grammaticali LESSON 2 Unità 1: Hai visto come sono vestiti? Descrivere come è vestita una persona Raccontare eventi passati Narrare due azioni contemporanee nel passato Narrare un evento passato interrotto da un'azione più breve Ripresa del passato prossimo (ausiliare e accordo) e dell'imperfetto Rapporto imperfetto / passato prossimo Congiunzioni ma, quindi, oppure Espressioni idiomatiche Abbigliamento, calzature, accessori Parole dell'industria della moda 5
Reading: lettura relativa alla moda italiana La moda italiana LESSON 3 Unità 2: Allora, ti sei iscritto in palesta? Fare un paragone (Esempio: I bambini praticano più sport degli adulti) Esprimere una qualità (Esempio: Il calcio è lo sport più popolare) Comparativi e superlativi, regolari e irregolari Attività sportive LESSON 4 Unità 2: Allora, ti sei iscritto in palesta? Dare un consiglio (Esempio: o al posto tuo farei un po' di sport) Fare un'ipotesi (Esempio: La boxe non sarà pericolosa come sport?) Esprimere un desiderio (Esempio: Mi piacerebbe andare in palestra) Esprimere un dolore fisico (Esempio: Ho mal di testa) Condizionale presente Ripresa del futuro semplice: futuro con valore modale Sia...sia, né...né, neppure, neanche Le parti del corpo umano Sport e attività sportive in Italia LESSON 5 Unità 3: La mia ex moglie... Raccontare azioni passate con rapporto di anteriorità e posteriorità Parlare di un decennio (Esempio: gli anni '70) Trapassato prossimo La famiglia allargata 6
Separazione e divorzio Assignment ASSIGNMENT NUMERO 1 QUIZ 1 LESSON 6 Unità 3: La mia ex moglie... Esprimere disagio o difficoltà (Esempio: non ce la faccio, non ci riesco, ecc.) Pronomi relativi: chi, che, cui Condizionale passato (coniugazione) In seguito, inoltre, oltre a, poi Però, mentre, a differenza di... I diversi ruoli di uomini e donne nella società italiana La separazione e la nuova famiglia LESSON 7 Unità 5: Ma sei davvero così superstizioso? Esprimere un'opinione, una speranza Congiuntivo presente (coniugazione) Congiuntivo passato (coniugazione) Uso del congiuntivo presente e passato con verbi che indicano opinione, speranza Penso che.../ Credo che... Prima di tutto, per prima cosa, inoltre La scaramanzia I segni zodiacali e l'oroscopo Superstizione e credenze in Italia LESSON 8 Cultural Attività pratica on-site walk Assignment ASSIGNMENT NUMERO 2 7
LESSON 9 Unità 6: Scusa, mi passi la teglia? Dare istruzioni Dare ordini, comandi, esortazioni Attirare l'attenzione di qualcuno (Senta.../Guardi...) Scrivere una ricetta Ripresa dell'imperativo informale affeermativo e negativo Imperativo formale Lei Imperativo + pronomi Gli utensili e le espressioni usate in cucina La cucina e l'alimentazione + Exam LESSON 10 Unità 6: Scusa, mi passi la teglia? Scrivere un decalogo Imperativo formale Lei Pronomi combinati I cinque sensi Gli errori più comuni dell'alimentazione italiana QUIZ 2 LESSON 11 CINEMA ITALIANO: visione di un film italiano LESSON 12 Unità 7: Puoi comprare I biglietti per il concerto? Esprimere un'opinione, una speranza, un desiderio al passato Parlare di musica 8
Congiuntivo imperfetto: coniugazione regolare e verbi irregolari essere, dare, stare Pensavo che.../ Credevo che.../ Speravo che / Vorrei che... Strumenti musicali Assignment ASSIGNMENT NUMERO 3 LESSON 13 Unità 7: Puoi comprare I biglietti per il concerto? Visione di video musicali italiani Presentare un cantante italiano Congiuntivo trapassato (coniugazione) Uso del congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato con verbi che indicano opinione, speranza e con vorrei Connettivi avversativi: al contrario, anzi, bensì, comunque, eppure, invece Musica e dischi La musica italiana contemporanea La storia del festival di Sanremo FUNZIONI COMUNICATIVE + Ripasso generale in preparazione al Final Exam. Exam Lesson 14 ORAL PRESENTATION Lesson 15 Exam FINAL EXAM ALTERNATIVE LESSON: In the case of the instructor s absence, a substitute will carry out an alternative lesson during the regular course time. 9