The Italian language and Italian speaking cultures. Emphasis is on conversational skills with attention to reading, writing, and listening comprehension. Fundamentals of Italian pronunciation and grammar.
Athena Title
Elementary Italian
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will have attained the ACTFL “Novice Low” level in all four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through incremental learning of the basics of the Italian language.
Students will be able to communicate in the present tense using common words and phrases that they have rehearsed. They will also learn familiar cues that enable them to exchange greetings, give their identity, and name a number of familiar objects from their immediate environment. Given adequate time and familiar cues, they will be able to reproduce from memory a limited number of isolated words or familiar phrases in their writing.
Students will learn how to interact in basic cultural contexts (e.g., informal vs. formal interaction) and will use culturally appropriate formulaic expressions in highly practiced applications. Through cultural explanations in the textbook and supplementary materials, students will be able to connect cultural concepts to their language learning. This approach encourages critical thinking while sparking their interest in Italian culture.
Students will engage in routine conversations in class - both free form and simulated - with peers. about peer interests and backgrounds. Students write periodic journal entries on relevant thematic topics and compose a composition that highlights the skills learned during the semester. Students engage in semi-formal audio/video recordings to structured questions via the course’s online learning platform. They also read passages and watch short videos on cultural tendencies found in Italy.
Topical Outline
Functions: naming objects; greeting people; asking and answering
questions; describing; making polite requests; expressing
thanks; narrating and describing in the past; giving directions;
expressing opinions and reactions.
Topics and Vocabulary: cognates; family members; number;
academic subjects; colors; descriptive adjectives;
interrogatives; foods; communications; directions; weather;
conditions; the home.
Grammar: present tense (both regular and irregular), present
perfect tense; articles and gender; agreement; subject, object,
and reflexive pronouns; adjectives; possessives; demonstratives;
and prepositions.
Pronunciation: Attention given to vowels, consonants, stress,
and intonation throughout the course.
Culture: Cultural material on customs, geography, literature,
art, and politics of Italy will be incorporated into each unit.
