ITAL201

Italian 201 (3) and Italian 202 (3) are the second-year continuation of Italian 102.

The primary aim of the courses is to consolidate students’ oral and written proficiency, to improve their reading and comprehension skills and to promote their awareness of Italian culture. To serve that purpose, the courses are complemented by an interactive approach to the review of the main Italian grammatical points, an introduction to and discussion on cultural topics, such as stereotypes on Italian people and on Italy, Italian society, Made in Italy, principles in Italian cuisine, sport and health. Both courses are based on the guidelines provided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. In particular, upon successful completion of Italian 201 course, students “understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance such as basic personal and family information, communicate in routine tasks and describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters of immediate need”, and are working toward achieving the A2 language level.

The various assessments and evaluation methods which include vocabulary and grammar tests, peer reading exercises, 2-stage oral exams, peer writing, blogs and group videos are tied to overall course goals and objectives and are meant to help the students assess their own progress in all four language skills and on their cultural competency as well. Students prepare the assigned material prior to coming to class and are also expected to complete the online exercises for additional practice and to further interactively their cultural competency. Grammar in class will be covered briefly in order to clarify concepts already studied by students on their own and tested to evaluate accuracy.
All activities and class discussions are conducted in Italian.

Note: Starting from 2019, the department also offer a blended/hybrid version of this course, which includes both face-to-face lessons one or two times a week and a blended/hybrid self-paced component to be completed online.

At the end of the semester, students will have received the same preparation offered by a non-hybrid Italian class and will be able to use Italian to talk about themselves, their life, dreams and interests, to describe their likes and dislikes, and to express their thoughts on complex topics. This course includes a number of authentic readings, interviews and videos; it also emphasize vocabulary acquisition and oral and written interactions with the instructor, with other native speakers and classmates. By the end of this course, students are expected to be able to talk in Italian about present, past, and future events, understand complex real-life conversations among native speakers and be able to write on a variety of topics.

Required Texts for Standard 201:
Rosella Bozzone Costa, Chiara Ghezzi and Monica Piantoni, (2014), Nuovo Contatto A2 w/audio CD (Level A2, Common European Framework), Loescher.

Required Texts for Blended 201:
TBC

Prerequisite: ITAL 102. Or successful completion of CEFR Level A1.

Language of instruction:
Italian

The sequence of Italian language courses ITAL 101/102, 201/202, 301/302, 401/402 is designed for non native speakers.

The Department of FHIS reserves the right to refuse enrollment to any of its language courses to a student who has, in the view of the Department, a level of competence unsuited to that course. Enrollment at or below the level the student has already attained is not permitted.

Blended Italian Intermediate Language and Culture

This blended Italian Intermediate Language and Culture course provides students with an interactive learning experience that combines high academic standards with the goal of language comprehension and proficiency. The combination of online and face-to-face activities are engaging and challenging and complement each other. The course is organized in thematic online modules, each focusing on contemporary Italian culture which is explored and discussed through a variety of media, including video interviews, newspaper articles, radio programs and short stories and literary excerpts by some of the best 20th and 21st century Italian writers. Lexicon and grammar reviews and quizzes complement the course and allow students to practice independently. According to the course schedule students are expected to self-direct their learning of the online material for at least two hours a week and complete the assigned homework before attending the one per week face-to-face activities. Time in class will be spent to help students review some of the cultural or communicative aspects, which were presented online and practice their language skills, in small groups of 15 students max.

The various assessments and evaluation methods which include vocabulary and grammar tests, video and audio comprehension tests, 2-stage oral exams, and blogs are tied to overall course goals and objectives and are meant to help the students assess their own progress in all four language skills and on their cultural competency as well. All activities and class discussions are conducted in Italian.

By the end of the course students are expected to “understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance such as basic personal and family information, communicate in routine tasks, describe aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters of immediate need, write short compositions and messages, handle short social exchanges” (CEFR, A2 language level).

Required Material:

To be confirmed.

Prerequisite:
ITAL 102. Or successful completion of CEFR Level A1.

Language of Instruction:
Italian

The sequence of Italian language courses ITAL 101/102, 201/202, 301/302, 401/402 is designed for non native speakers.

The Department of FHIS reserves the right to refuse enrollment to any of its language courses to a student who has, in the view of the Department, a level of competence unsuited to that course. Enrollment at or below the level the student has already attained is not permitted.