This course is the second half of a two-semester intermediate sequence (ITAL111 & ITAL112). Authentic artifacts such as literary excerpts, films, newspaper articles, songs, and commercials constitute the starting points of this course. These include topics ranging from stereotypes and perceptions of Italy to significant moments in Italian history and politics, family and student life, employment, immigration/emigration, organized crime, and environmental awareness, all of which shed light on the rich diversity and complexities within Italy and offer a variety of opportunities to improve and refine your ability to speak and understand Italian in a communicative and meaningful context. The course also challenges you to recognize, explore, and understand cultural differences and similarities between your native culture and Italian culture.
Grammar undergirds everything we do and say in this course; whether or not we are engaged in an explicit grammar exercise, you are always learning grammar that enables you to communicate effectively. Specifically, you will build on previously learned grammatical structures and acquire more complex ones that will allow you to improve your ability to relate information, narrate stories, make hypotheses, express your opinions, and debate the opinions of others, both in writing and in conversation. Class is conducted entirely in Italian. Because you will work collaboratively with your classmates and your instructor, your attendance, participation, and preparation are of the utmost importance. |