ITALIANO 7
Signor Parlapiano
2015-2016
Ciao! Welcome to Italian class! My name is Signor Parlapiano, and I will be assisting you on your new
journey of studying the Italian language and culture. Learning a new language is a rewarding and fun
experience, and it is my expectation that with hard work and practice we will have a successful year!
:)
About your teacher:
This is my fourth year teaching Italian here at Van Wyck JHS. I am passionate about the Italian
language and culture, and I hope to convey to each and every one of my students that learning a
language is both fun and rewarding.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions/concerns!
(845) 227-1700 ext. 20032
nicholas.parlapiano@wcsdny.org
Extra help: every Thursday before school (7:20am) - please provide notice the day before
I. Course description:
Italiano 7 is the first part of a two-year sequence of foreign language study at the middle school
level. After successful completion of Italiano 7, Italiano 8 and a Proficiency Examination
(administered at the end of Italiano 8) students will receive one high school credit towards
graduation.
Italiano 7 is about building the foundation of learning the language. This year students will learn the
basics of Italian, such as: being able to describe themselves, discussing their school days, talking
about family life, describing their house/home, expressing food preferences, identifying various
items of the outdoors, etc. Through reading, writing, listening and speaking students will learn to use
the language to communicate and also get an idea of "how" the language works while being introduced
to the culture of Italy.
II. Class rules:
1. Come to class prepared with all supplies
2. Be seated and ready to work when the bell rings
3. Be respectful to each other, your teacher and the classroom
4. Speak as much Italian as possible! Don’t worry about making mistakes… it’s part of the
learning process!
5. If you feel as if you need help with something… ask for it. It’s my job to help you succeed!
6. Have fun! 
III. Grading policy:
 Tests: 35% (always announced in advanced)
 Quizzes/Projects: 30% (quizzes may or may not be announced in advanced, and the lowest
grade will be dropped every quarter)
 Homework: 20%
 Class Participation: 10%
 Class notes: 5% (I will collect and check marble notebooks once or more per quarter and
assess organization of notes taken in class)
IMPORTANT NOTE: The use of any type of online translator (example: Google Translate) for
any assignment will be given a 0% and no opportunity for a “re-do”
IV. Class supplies:
1. A binder - 1" or bigger - to be used only for Italian class
2. Three dividers, labeled as follows:
- "Appunti" (Notes) – this is where you will copy your “do-now” activities at the beginning of class
- "Fogli" (Worksheets)
- "Esami/Esamini" (Tests/Quizzes)
3. Loose-leaf paper for the "Appunti" section of your binder
4. Pens/pencils
5. One pack of Post-It notes
6. Coloring supplies (to be left at home unless otherwise instructed)
7. A basic Italian-English dictionary (no more than $10 at Barnes and Noble or Jerrick's – to be left
at home unless otherwise instructed)
Optional supplies:
1. One dispenser of hand sanitizer or Clorox Wipes for the classroom (much appreciated!)
2. Index cards - they are, hands down, the most effective way to study vocabulary!
**I will be providing each student with a marble notebook at the beginning of the year –
this notebook will be where students copy all class notes from our lessons (except for
any “do-now” activities that we do at the beginning of class). Each notebook will come to
class every day with the rest of the supplies and will be well-organized over the course
of the year, as it will be an invaluable study tool!**
V. Absent work:
Students have the amount of time they were out of school, once they return, to make up absent
work. For example, if a student is out for three days then (s)he has three days from his/her return
to school to make up all missed assignments. After the time has passed I will be putting 0% in my
grade book for any missing assignment. It is the responsibility of the student to find out what (s)he
has missed during an absence.
VI. “The 85%+ club”:
One bulletin board in our classroom will be updated throughout the year to reflect student grades
(tests, quizzes, averages) of “mastery” (grades of 85% or higher) of the material. I would like
students to be proud of their work in Italian class; however, I will post names only if both
parents/guardians and students are okay with me doing so. With that being said, please indicate on
the sheet that will be returned to me if I have permission to post student name/grade when they
achieve 85% on an assessment or for a quarter average (I would like both the parent/guardian AND
the student to indicate this for me, please).
VII. Advice from a former student:
What can I do to succeed in Italiano 7?
An editorial written by: one of Signor Parlapiano's former 7th grade student
Learning Italian is a lot of fun. I mean, yeah, it's a lot of work sometimes, but I've gotten so much
better since the beginning of the year. Here are some tips that have worked for me this year:
1. Practice whenever you can. You're going to learn a lot of new vocabulary this year. If you see
something and you know the word for it in Italian (like car, for example) say it to yourself. At first
you won't be able to do this for many things you see, but the amount of things you'll be able to
identify in another language will surprise you.
2. MAKE FLASHCARDS. No, he rarely ever grades them, but when he says to make them you should.
They're such an easy way to study. My older sister who takes Spanish quizzes me using the
flashcards, and he doesn't even know Italian. Just take a vocabulary word and write the English on
one side and the Italian on the other, and you can flip back and forth and review the word in both
languages.
3. Speak Italian during class. Not only do you get graded on how much you participate but it actually
helps you speak better. At first I was a little bit shy about speaking in class because I worried
about not saying a word the right way or sounding funny, but once I started speaking more in class I
felt like I was pronouncing words better and eventually I didn't care how I sounded to any of my
classmates. Just listen to how Mr. Parlapiano pronounces the words and do the same thing.
If you do your work and practice Italian you will have no problems in 7th grade Italian. Buona
fortuna!
*TEACHER'S NOTE: This student asked me not to reveal his/her name, but I will say
this: (s)he aced both Italiano 7 and Italiano 8!
Please return this page to Signor Parlapiano by Friday 9/11/15 for your first HW grade!
Student name: __________________________
I have read and understand the rules/expectations of Signor Parlapiano’s Italiano 7 class for
the 2015-16 year.
___________________
___________________
Student Signature
Parent Signature
Circle one: Signor Parlapiano may / may not post my name and respective grade on our
in-class “The 85%+ club” board when I achieve a score of mastery (85% or higher) on an
assessment in Italian class or for a quarter grade in Italian class.
___________________
Student Signature
___________________
Parent Signature