OPAL Italian Basic
Prerequisites:
No previous knowledge required. However, students should be able to demonstrate a
successful track record of learning languages and must be able to commit to at least 2 hours
per week for coursework, in addition to classes.
Course material:
Oggi in Italia, 9th edition (International) ISBN 978-1-111-34220-3
Course description:
Please note that OPAL tutors will provide a detailed ‘week-by-week’ course syllabus and a
self-study guide at the beginning of each term.
Structural content:
formal / informal you;
present of essere and avere;
personal pronouns;gender of nouns;indefinite articles;
introduction to –are verbs (regular spelling only);
revision indefinite articles, with the use of ecco + noun;
plurals of nouns (co-ci, co-chi, ca-che, cia-cie/ce);definite article;
numbers;possessive adjectives;
simple prepositions;prepositions with definite article c’è, ci sono
-ere verbs;
quanto/a/i/e…?;quale…?
irregular verbs: fare, stare, dare;
expressions with fare;
-ire verbs;
irregular verbs: andare and venire;
adjectives masc vs fem; sing vs plur;agreement with nouns;position of adjectives;
reflexive verbs;
passato prossimo with auxiliary avere;passato prossimo with auxiliary essere;
gender and number agreement of past participle;some irregular past participles;
irregular verbs: bere, dire, uscir;
revision of reflexive pronuns and their use in the passato prossimo;
informal imperative (tu) with regular verbs and negative form;
partitive (dello zucchero, delle mele) ;
informal imperative (tu) with irregular verbs (sii, abbi, fa’, sta’, di’); formal imperative;
regular verbs;fomal imperative with irregular verbs (venga, vada) and negative form
volere, dovere, potere
direct pronouns with present tense;
numbers from 100 up; quantity;
demonstrative adjectives and pronouns;
direct object pronouns with gender and number agreement in the passato prossimo;imperfetto;
time expressions to express frequency/habit;
negative espression;
(non…nessuno/niente/mai);
stressed pronouns;
imperfetto vs pass prossimo;
‘to know’: sapere and conoscere;
indirect object pronouns;piacere + indirect object;
future tense; conditionsal;
Page 1 of 2
relative pronoun ‘che’;
Communicative skills:
Greetings; Introduce yourself; Say and ask how one is ;Say what you study and teach
Express possession and age
Say if you are hungry, thirsty, etc (avere sonno, bisogno di, fame, sete, voglia di, ecc.)
say the time; time expressions; days of the week
asking questions; accept and refuse invitations plans
describe people;express preferences
say and ask where one is going;nationality
daily routine; talk about free time;
order something to eat and drink
talk about actions in the past; talk about your holidays;
seasons and months;
time expressions: ieri, due giorni fa, ecc.
talk about daily routing in the past (use of refl. verbs)
the market and grocery shop; talk about food preferences;how to buy something;
give orders; express wants and obligations;
talk about travel plans;
describe and talk about your family;
talk about the past
talk about the weather;
express frequency of actions
talk about cinema, fashion and clothing;
colours;
abilities: talk about what you can do;
talk about things you know; talk about whom you know;
parts of the human body; in the bathroom;
talk about future plans;
talk about sports;
express wants and wishes politely;
Italian basic Assessment framework
Continuous assessment (participation, coursework)
Progress test at the end of Michaelmas term
A two-hour examination at the beginning of Trinity term
A project to be presented by the end of week 5 in Trinity term
15%
15%
35%
35%
Learning outcomes:
ALTE LEVEL 1
- Can express opinions on professional, cultural or abstract matters in a limited way, offer
advice and understand instructions.
- Can give short presentations on a limited range of topics.
- Can understand routine information and articles, including factual articles in newspapers,
routine letters from hotel and letters expressing personal opinions.
- Can write letters or make notes on familiar or predictable matters.
Page 2 of 2