After completing the course, students are able to:
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engage in basic conversation about a variety of topics such as personal history, personal experiences, study and university life,
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participate in simple conversations on topics beyond the most immediate daily needs,
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read texts in various domains
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write in an uncomplicated form on a variety of familiar topics, personal topics, everyday/general events, and concrete descriptions, write personal letters;
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identify, name and describe different events, and analyze and compare texts in English on those items;
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combine reading in English with reading selected texts in Italian on topics studied during the course and/or found on the internet;
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trace, find, study, criticize and use English and Italian secondary material, both in word and in image, in libraries, museums, and on the internet;
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question and discuss their material, in English and to some extent, in Italian;
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express their findings both orally and on paper, in English as well as in Italian;
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explain the background of some selected current items on culture, history and language presented to them in Italian.
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The language part of the course aims to improve and develop linguistic skills and strategies that enable you to communicate with native speakers of the language, and focuses on teaching the functional tools for establishing and maintaining contacts with Italian speaking persons.
The cultural part of the course provides you with information that enables you to understand some cultural aspects of the Italian society. We propose some choices, but as the course proceeds, you are most welcome to pursue your own preferences and study areas of your personal curiosity. Hopefully the materials that we suggest make you discover where your own interests lie. The starting point is Italy today: the current society and the issues it faces. Materials used could be short stories, (extracts from) novels, films, newspaper and magazine articles, advertising material, and items from the mass media (videos from YouTube, blog posts, and more).
Format
In the language classes the classroom language is Italian, though some explanations could be given in English when necessary. The main activity is the use of Italian in a variety of oral and written communication tasks performed in small groups, in pairs or with the whole class. The instructor supplies you with input, instruction and explanations concerning these tasks and helps you to prepare executing the tasks. Upon completion of these tasks, you analyze the strategy, grammar and vocabulary, with the help of the instructor. What is necessary for a functional command of the language at the required exit level is built up in the work planner and in the learning materials. Wherever possible, Italian is the language of communication in class. You are expected to come to class with your own questions and analyze your own learning problems and learning needs.
In the “culture” lectures issues are introduced and debated. Information about Italian culture, society, history and art is studied in English (translations), laid out on a weekly basis in the course description. On occasion, students are to discuss specific aspects of particular themes, and review them from various angles. In doing so, argumentations and considerations behind the Italian approach to various matters in Italian culture can be explored. Creativity and originality (e.g. in terms of an intercultural approach) are highly esteemed in this section of the course. The work planner marks pace and progress through the semester. Please read through the whole semester program and makes notes for you to start preparing work that you will deliver later on during the semester.
Grades
The tests for the language component of the course together (60%) must average at least a C-. If this average is under a C-, then the student cannot move on to the next level. If a student nonetheless wants to continue to Language & Culture I, course admission needs to be approved by the instructor, who may ask for extra work to be completed.
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