ITAL 201: Reading and Speaking Italian (3) [GE] | Spring 2015 | SDSU
COURSE INFOMATION
Department Office: SH 224A
Telephone: 594-5111
LARC: SH 204-205
Hours: M-TH, 8-8 p.m.; F, 8-4:30 pm
Final Exam: Thur. May 14, 8-10am
Please plan accordingly!
Instructor: Pina Sylvers
Class Location, Days and Times: LSS 246; TTH 9:30-10:45
Office Hours Location and Days: SH 226B; MWTH 2-3 pm
and by appointment
Phone: 594-8875 (only during office hours)
Email: jsylvers@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE OVERVIEW
Note: this course is managed by Blackboard (http://blackboard.sdsu.edu) and Moodle at
http://moodlelarc.sdsu.edu/moodle2.5/
Goals and Outcomes:
1) The primary goal of Italian 201 is increased proficiency in reading and speaking Italian at the
intermediate level. You will develop discourse strategies and acquire practical vocabulary that will
prepare you to ask and answer questions, participate in conversations in a range of circumstances,
and carry out a variety of communicative tasks.
2) You will demonstrate your speaking proficiency through classroom discussions, oral presentations,
skits and oral tests.
3) You will increase your reading comprehension proficiency through diverse strategies and acquire
new vocabulary and structures. You will demonstrate your reading proficiency through classroom
discussions, compositions and written exams.
4) You will be able to make comparisons and analyze differences between your culture(s) and Italian
culture.
5) You will continue to develop your knowledge of regional Italy and Italian speaking communities
outside of Italy. You will describe major geographical regions of Italy and discuss regional identities.
Course Description and Methods
Italian 201 is taught entirely in Italian. This course focuses on developing reading and speaking
competency at the intermediate level. As the semester progresses, you will learn how to read with
increasing facility, going beyond a basic comprehension of plot to achieve a more refined understanding
of central themes, and the use of language style. This process will be furthered through other elements
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such as grammar exercises and compositions. Class discussion and oral presentations related to the
cultural material in the text will help you develop your speaking skills.
This course presupposes that you are already familiar with Italian grammar; therefore, there will not be
long grammatical explanations. We will review some grammatical structures as needed; however, you
are expected to review on your own those grammatical structures that you personally need to review.
You can use the grammar section of our textbook, or any other grammar you may have. The written
work will include compositions, summaries, as well as grammar and comprehension exercises.
ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
Prerequisites
ITAL 100B or three years of high school Italian. Native speakers of Italian will not receive credit for this
course. Anyone having completed 4 years of high school Italian may not take this course for credit.
Italian minors, European Studies majors and IB majors are encouraged to enroll concurrently in ITAL 211
or ITAL 212. ITAL 201 satisfies the foreign language graduation requirement.
Add/Drop: February 3, 2015 is the last day to add, drop, or change grading basis (11:59 p.m. deadline).
General Education
This course satisfies part of General Education Foundations C requirement.
C. Humanities and Fine Arts: Foundations of Learning courses introduce students to the basic concepts,
theories, and approaches offered by disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas of study. They provide the
foundation to understand and approach problems in the academy, and in local and global real-world
environments. Consistent with class size and learning goals, they cultivate skills in reading, writing,
communication, computation, information-gathering, and use of technology.
COURSE MATERIAL
Required texts
1. Immagini d’Italia, Voci d’Italia Series, Doriana Provvedi-Fournier, Montezuma Pub. 2012
2. Materials occasionally distributed during the course.
3. Moodle for your course, online at: https://moodlelarc.sdsu.edu/moodle2.5/
4. Film: Caterina va in città (dir. Paolo Virzì, 2003). On reserve at Media Center.
COURSE STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS
Class preparation and participation
Regular class preparation and participation are a requirement for this course. Class participation is
essential for language learning and a very important part of your grade. Both your grade and your
progress in Italian will reflect your commitment, on a daily basis, to this course. You are expected to
complete all the reading assignments before class and be prepared to discuss them. Occasional quizzes
will be administered to assess student progress and assimilation of course material.
Compositions
There will be THREE compositions on topics related to the readings. When your instructor returns the
composition graded you will have the chance to correct it according to the suggestions given and turn it
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in again for an improved grade by the date specified. All compositions, regardless of length should be
typed and turned in at the assigned date. Late compositions will be marked down.
Homework
Homework consists of reading and written exercises due at the beginning of class for the day it is
assigned. In addition, each student is expected to contribute to a compilation of vocabulary derived
from the readings and from class discussions.
Daily homework is shown on the syllabus and/or on Blackboard. Changes will be announced in class and
posted on your instructor’s Blackboard.
Oral skills activities
There will be one long oral presentation in Italian and a number of oral activities both in class and at
LARC. The final presentation topic must be approved by the instructor.
Due to the emphasis on the development of listening and speaking skills in this course, it will not be
enough to study the assignments silently. Listening and speaking exercises will be assigned regularly and
some will be specifically tested in the LARC lab where you will participate in several recording activities.
To familiarize yourself with the language acquisition resources offered at SDSU and to practice and test
your oral skills you will visit LARC (SH 204-205) with the class and on your own.
Other listening assignments will require that you access the LARC Italian website:
http://larcmaterials.sdsu.edu/Italian.htm and https://moodlelarc.sdsu.edu/moodle2.5/
Cultural Activities
You are required to attend at least three cultural events and write a one paragraph review/response
following your instructor’s directions. The Italian Program collaborates with the Circolo Italiano, SDSU’s
Italian Students Club, and the San Diego Italian Film Festival to provide a variety of activities meant to
enhance your exposure to Italian language and culture. Please visit your Blackboard, the Italian Program
website at http://italian.sdsu.edu or SDIFF’s website http://www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com/ for
further details. Participating in all or some of these activities will benefit your learning experience.
COURSE ASSESSMENT AND GRADING
Three Tests…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........15%
Class preparedness, and active participation……….................................................................................15%
3 Compositions ……………..………….……..................……………......................................................................15%
Caterina va in città (film and activities) ……………………………………………………………………………………………..10%
One final presentation:presentation …………………………………………………………………………………………………15%
LARC (activities, skits, etc.)………………………………………………………………………………………...........................15%
Participation in three cultural activities………………………………………………………………………………..……….......5%
Final Exam………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........10%
Tests and final exam:
There will be three tests and a final exam. NO MAKE-UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN without a valid written
excuse. If you must miss a test, please notify your instructor in advance.
The final exam will focus on oral and reading comprehension and it will include some vocabulary and
basic grammar exercises. The Final Examination is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, from 8-10am
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Grades are defined at SDSU as:
A: Outstanding achievement; available for the highest accomplishment.
B: Praiseworthy performance; definitely above average.
C: Average; awarded for satisfactory performance; the most common undergraduate grade.
D: Minimally passing; less than the typical undergraduate achievement.
F: Failing.
C/NC: Some students may, subject to their major requirements and the conditions set out in the General
Catalog, choose to take the course credit/no credit. Work equivalent to C or above will result in a grade
of Credit; work equivalent to C- or below will result in No Credit.
WU: Indicates that an enrolled student did not withdraw from the course but did not fulfill the course
requirements. For purposes of grade point average computation, this grade is equivalent to an F.
Students who are failing when they stop attending class will receive an F, not a U.
A = 4.0 (93-100)
B = 3.0 (83-86)
C = 2.0 (73-76)
D = 1.0 (63-66)
CR = (73-100)
A- = 3.7 (90-92)
B- = 2.7 (80-82)
C- = 1.7 (70-72)
D- = 0.7 (60-62)
NC = (0-72)
B+ = 3.3 (87-89)
C+ = 2.3 (77-79)
D+ = 1.3 (67-69)
F = 0 (0-59)
WU = n/a
ACCOMODATIONS
The learning environment should be accessible to all. SDSU provides reasonable accommodations in the
following situations:
 Disability: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for
this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To
avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability
Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that
accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your
instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is
appreciated.
 Religion: By the end of the second week of classes, students should notify the instructors of
affected courses of planned absences for religious observances.
 Official university activities (e.g., Athletics): Within the first two weeks of classes, a student who
expects to be part of an official university event or activity shall notify the instructors of affected
courses. At that time, the student shall request accommodation for any missed examinations or
other assignments. If scheduling changes occur, the student shall immediately notify the
instructors.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Cheating and Plagiarism
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will not be
tolerated in this class. Become familiar with the policy (http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html).
Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing this class and a disciplinary review by Student Affairs.
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:
 Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include
phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work)
 Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
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Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author credit
Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
If you have questions on what is plagiarism, please consult the policy
(http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html) and this helpful guide from the Library:
(http://infodome.sdsu.edu/infolit/exploratorium/Standard_5/plagiarism.pdf)
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. You are plagiarizing or cheating if you:
 for written work, copy down or cut anything from a book, article or website and add or paste it
into your paper without using quotation marks and providing the full reference for the
quotation, including page number
 for written work, summarize / paraphrase in your own words ideas you got from a book, article,
or the web without providing the full reference for the source, including page number
 for an oral presentation, copy down or cut anything from a book, article, or website and present
it orally as if it were your own words. You must summarize and paraphrase in your own words,
and bring a list of references in case the professor asks to see it
 use visuals or graphs you got from a book, article, or website without providing the full
reference for the picture or table
 recycle a paper you wrote for another class
 turn in the same (or a very similar paper) for two classes
 purchase or otherwise obtain a paper and turn it in as your own work
 copy off of a classmate
 use technology or smuggle in documents to obtain or check information in an exam situation
In a research paper, it is always better to include too many references than not enough. When in doubt,
always err on the side of caution. If you have too many references it might make your professor smile; if
you don’t have enough you might be suspected of plagiarism.
In foreign language study, cheating also includes the following:
 Doing your written homework and then having a third party correct it, or having someone else
write your homework for you and turning that in for credit
 Doing assignments with another student and turning in the same or almost the same work.
(Unless you are specifically directed to work in pairs on in groups, college-level work is always
expected to be solely your own.)
 Using an automated translation engine to translate your homework
 Using an available translation of a text on which to base your own translation and turning that in
for credit.
What IS acceptable includes the following:
 Asking your professor for help.
 Brainstorming answers and/or ideas with another student; then, each student writes up the
homework separately and turns in his or her own work.
 Doing your written homework and/or translation and then having a third party circle your
mistakes; you then do the corrections on your own and turn in your own work.
If you have any question or uncertainty about what is or is not cheating, it is your responsibility to ask
your instructor.
TAKE THE TUTORIAL:
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Test your knowledge of what constitutes plagiarism through a tutorial offered by the SDSU Library. To
access the tutorial go to: http://library.sdsu.edu/guides/tutorial.php?id=28
Consequences of cheating and plagiarism
SDSU instructors are mandated to report all instances of cheating and plagiarism to the Center for
Student Rights and Responsibility. Consequences are at the instructor’s and the Center for Student
Rights and Responsibility’s discretion. They may include any of the following:
 failing the assignment
 failing the class
 warning
 probation
 suspension
 expulsion
For more detailed information, read the chapter on plagiarism in the MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers (6th edition, 2003), visit the following website:
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml and talk to your professors before turning in
your paper or doing your oral presentation.
The University of Indiana also has very helpful writing hints for students, including some on how to cite
sources. Please visit http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml for more information.
READ ALL PARTS OF YOUR SYLLABUS CAREFULLY and reread it during the semester.
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COURSE SCHEDULE | PROGRAMMA DEL CORSO | PRIMAVERA 2015
This schedule is subject to change. All changes will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard.
Students are responsible for staying informed.
PRIMA SETTIMANA
giovedì 21 gennaio
Benvenuti! Introduzione al corso e al testo.
SECONDA SETTIMANA
martedì 27 gennaio
CAPITOLO I: IL SENTIMENTO DEL TEMPO
a) Descrivere il dipinto di Giorgio de Chirico” Piazza d”Italia” (guardate
il dipinto a colori su Google “images”
b) Rileggere e spiegare la poesia “Ed è subito sera” di Salvatore
Quasimodo. (Abbiamo già letto questa poesia givedì)
c) Leggere “La vita fugge e non s’arresta un’ora” di Lucio Mastronardi,
pp. 8-9
d) Fare una lista di vocaboli (This applies to all readings from now on)
giovedì 29 gennaio
a) “Il filobus numero 75,” Gianni Rodari, p. 14
b) Esercizio scritto, p.9 (“per comprendere il testo”)
c) esercizi scritti 1,2,3,4, pagina 10 (“per capire la lingua”)
d) Riassunto del racconto (da cosegnare in classe)
TERZA SETTIMANA – Class visit to LARC
martedì 3 febbraio
LARC (PC Lab)
a) “Odio l’estate”, Natalia Ginzburg, p. 21
b) Esercizi: per comprendere il testo, p.24
c) Esercizi: per capire la lingua, p.24
d) Riassunto (da consegnare in classe)
giovedì 5 febbraio
Non ci sono nuove letture
QUARTA SETTIMANA
martedì 9 febbraio
RIPASSO
giovedì 11 febbraio
TEST I
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QUINTA SETTIMANA
martedì 17 febbraio
CAPITOLO II: GLI UOMINI VANNO E VENGONO (I VIAGGI)
LARC (PC Lab)
a)“Il molo” , dipinto di Lorenzo Delleani p.30
b) “Partenza di aeroplani, Umberto Saba, p.31
c) “Il sole,” Aldo Palazzeschi, p.32
e) Esercizio: per capire la lingua, p. 32
giovedì 19 febbraio
a)“Da giovane non amavo viaggiare,” Carlo Cassola, p.33
b) Per comprendere il testo, p. 34
c) Per capire la lingua, esercizi 1 e 3, p.34
PRIMA COMPOSIZIONE
SESTA SETTIMANA
martedì 24 febbraio
a) “Il porto di Livorno,” Curzio Malaparte, p. 49
b) Per comprendere il testo, p. 50
c) Per capire la lingua, 1e2, p.50
d) Riassunto (da consegnare in classe)
giovedì 26 febbraio
a) “Silenzio,” Giuseppe Ungaretti, p.51
b) “Mamma mia dammi cento lire” pp. 52-53.
c) Ascoltare la canzone e guardare attentamente il video.
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SETTIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 3 marzo
giovedì 5 marzo
OTTAVA SETTIMANA
martedì 10 marzo
Continuare con lo stesso tema di giovedì 26 febbraio
SECONDA COMPOSIZIONE
CAPITOLO: PER LE STRADE DELLA CITTÀ
a) “Paesaggio urbano”, dipinto di Mario Sironi, p.59
b) “Città vecchia”, Umberto Saba, p.58
c) “Com’è bella la cittàæ, Giorgio Gaber, p.60 (Questa è una canzone,
guardate anche il video su Moodle, e anche il video di “Porta Romana.”
giovedì 12 marzo
“Avvisi Pubblicitari”, Gianni Rodari, p.62
NONA SETTIMANA
martedì 17 marzo
Film” “Caterina va in città”
giovedì 19 marzo
Film: “Caterina va in città”
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DECIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 24 marzo
“Caterina va in città” – attività in classe
giovedì 26 marzo
Diverse attività in classe
30 marzo-3 aprile PAUSA PRIMAVERILE – BUONE VACANZE
UNDICESIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 7 aprile
giovedì 9 aprile
DODICESIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 14 aprile
giovedì 16 aprile
CAPITOLO IV: LA CAMPAGNA
LARC (PC lab) Presentazioni
a) “Paesaggio Bucolico”, dipinto di Michele Marieschi
b) “La donzelletta vien dalla campagna…”
c) “Nella nebbia”
d) “Fango e ciliegi in fiore”
e) Riassunto di “Fango…” da consegnare in classe.
Presentazioni
a) “Allora, ti piace la campagna?”, Alberto Moravia, p. 115
b) Esercizi pp. 116-117
c) Riassunto da consegnare
TREDICEDICESIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 21 aprile
LARC (PC Lab)
TERZA COMPOSIZIONE
giovedì 23 aprile
Presentazioni
QUATTORDICESIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 28 aprile
Presentazioni
giovedì 30 aprile
QUINDICESIMA SETTIMANA
martedì 5 maggio
giovedì 7 maggio
Presentazioni
Presentazioni
Ripasso
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FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, May 12, from 1-3pm
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