ITALIAN 2200 INTERMEDIATE ITALIAN Ms. Melissa Ginsberg melissaginsberg@dadeschools.net Fall2013, FIU Dual Enrollment This course is a dual enrollment course offered at Coral Gables High School by Florida International University. Prerequisites include Italian 1, 2, and 3 and/or student must get consent from the instructor. Objectives & Goals: In this course you will further develop communicative skills in Italian and use those skills to expand your knowledge of Italian culture. By the end of the semester you will be able to communicate at an intermediate level about a variety of topics, including your daily activities, university life, culture, shopping, family and food. You will also be able to converse with ease in Italian with your peers. The aim of this course is the further development of students’ language skills through an in-depth review of grammar and intensive listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. The reading of short stories and texts on Italian civilization promote critical reading. By the end of the semester the students will have a thorough understanding of the main structures of the language and be able to understand and respond to the language in a variety of registers. The course will introduce essential grammar constructions and concentrate particularly on the following: double pronouns, distinguish between different past tenses, present/past subjunctive, conditional. General information: In order to maximize your exposure to the target language, Instructors follow the policy of no English in class for themselves. It is up to you to seek clarification and raise your hand if you don’t understand something. Within about a week, you should be familiar with class format and daily expectations. Furthermore, you are expected to come prepared to participate and to contribute, and in the process are expected to be respectful to your peers and assist in the establishment and maintenance of a positive learning environment. The use of cell phones and other electronic communication devices is prohibited during class time. In addition, your instructor reserves the right to prohibit behaviors that she or he deems inappropriate (e. g., eating during class and so forth). COURSE POLICIES In order to meet the course goals and objectives, you must attend and actively participate in class. Participation is a very important component of your grade, and each day your instructor will make a mark in her/his grade book regarding your participation and will assign you a weekly grade. Students are expected to participate in class activities and to try to speak Italian regardless of any mistakes you may make in the process. Errors are to be expected and taken as a natural part of language learning. Class will be taught in the TARGET language. Required Course Material Small Italian Dictionary Avanti! Aski, Musumeci, First edition, McGraw Hill or alternatively Prego! An Invitation to Italian Lazzarino, Aski, Dini, Peccianti, Sixth edition, McGraw Hill Course Components and Grading Scale: Your final grade will be determined by the following components: Participation Final Exam Compositions & Pop Quizzes Homework Tests/Oral presentations 25% 20% 20% 20% 15% Grading Scale A B C D F 90-100 80-89 70-79 60-69 0-59 Participation Participation is an important component of your final grade. If you miss class, no participation points can be awarded for that day. If you do not agree with the participation grade, you should speak to your instructor immediately. Disputes over participation grades should not wait until the end of the semester since they are more difficult to document and handle then. You will receive a weekly participation grade. Homework Homework is obligatory and will factor into your final grade. Homework will be assigned each class and will be given to you by the instructor. It is recommended that you exchange phone numbers with 2 other students in the class in case you are absent or forget to write down the homework. The assignments are to be completed BEFORE coming to class. The most effective way to do your homework is the following: First, review the material covered in class that day and your class notes. Second, do the workbook activities as these check your understanding of the material covered in class. Your instructor might assign you specific exercises to do from the workbook, but it is your responsibility to do all the exercises related to the grammar points covered in class. The workbook exercises will be corrected in class. Make sure you understand the corrections and why you made errors because you will encounter similar activities on the exams. If you have doubts, ask your instructor for clarification Third, study carefully the vocabulary and grammar sections in the textbook that correspond to the next day’s topic. This is very important to prepare you to actively participate in class. You are expected to work on your Italian at least one hour every day in addition to class time. Exams Exams are lesson exams that correspond with the textbook. They will be announced in class at least a week ahead of time and will be held in the room and class period in which class is held. The final exam covers the whole semester. Quizzes During the course of the semester, your instructor will administer some short quizzes (a minimum of 6, testing verbs and/or vocabulary) that together with the compositions will account for 15% of the final grade. Compositions There will be three assigned compositions during the semester. They’ll be written in Italian, typed double spaced, at least 3 paragraphs long (400/500 words) Oral exams You will also have oral exams. The oral exam can consist of a presentation that you deliver to the class on a topic of your choice, pre-approved by the instructor, or it can be a 2-3 minute conversation between you and a partner (carefully prepared and rehearsed). In both cases the class will participate by asking you questions. Finally, you can opt for a short interview with your instructor during his/her planning period. ORAL EXAM EVALUATION CRITERIA 1. Quality of interaction (20 points) A (18-20 pts) Student stays all in Italian; successful in completing objective; consistently and appropriately responds to others’ ideas and information; appropriate introductions/conclusions. B (16-17 pts) Student stays all or mostly in Italian (with the exception of one or two words); mostly successful in completing objective; sometimes responds to others’ ideas and information; attempts introductions/conclusions. C (14-15) Student sometimes uses English; only somewhat successful in completing objective; rarely initiates interaction; introductions/conclusions absent. D (12-13) Student overuses English; minimally successful in completing objectives; takes his/her turn, but nothing else; introductions/conclusions absent. F (0 pts) absent. English predominates; incomprehensible speech; introductions/conclusions 2. Vocabulary (15 points) A (14-15 pts) Impressive vocabulary used; no use of English words. B (12-13 pts) Mostly appropriate vocabulary used; English used for only 1 or 2 words. C (11 points) Moderate vocabulary; some use of English or invented words. D (9-10 points) searches for words. Very limited vocabulary; frequent use of English words; frequently misses or F. Insufficient vocabulary to carry out task. Errors dominate. (0 pts) 3. Grammar (15 pts) A (14-15 pts) Appropriate use of forms covered in course (verbal inflections and basic syntax). B (12-13 pts) Mostly appropriate verbal inflections and syntax; some errors. C (11 pts) Few instances of correct morphology/syntax; errors are frequent. D (9-10 pts) Little to no control of targeted structures; errors dominate. F (0 pts) No control of targeted structures; errors dominate. ITA2200/2240 Dual Enrollment Professoressa Ginsberg 2012-2013 I have read and thoroughly understand the course requirements, course expectations, and the course components, and I accept accountability for compliance with said policy. I understand that this is a college course and I am aware of the responsibilities that come with it. I understand that I need to purchase a small Italian dictionary. ( Not having a dictionary will hinder your grade and impede the learning process. You can purchase used dictionaries on www.amazon.com for as little as 4 dollars!!) Please don’t wait to buy it…it will help your grade Name: ______________________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Parent/Guardian Name: _________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________ Date: _________________________ Please return for a homework grade by Monday, August 27, 2012