JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "IT 101-5"
COURSE NAME: "Introductory Italian I"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR: Gina Siddu Pilia
EMAIL: gsiddupilia@johncabot.edu
HOURS: M/W 1:30 – 2:45 pm
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS: Tutoring Center @ Il Foglio, Lungotevere Raffaello Sanzio 8c
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to give students basic communicative ability in Italian. By presenting
the language in a variety of authentic contexts, the course also seeks to provide an
introduction to Italian culture and society. Students work on all four language skills: speaking,
listening comprehension, reading, and writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:
Satisfy a limited number of immediate needs.
Understand and convey some spoken Italian through the knowledge and usage of
familiar and memorized structures, on the most common features of daily life that
require the interchange of simple and direct information.
Understand the general meaning of oral announcements and brief texts on familiar
subjects with simple morphology and lexicon.
Produce one-paragraph texts with limited formulaic information by using elementary
functions
Students will study in depth the following grammar points:
Definite and indefinite articles; Agreement nouns / adjectives; Present tense of regular
and irregular verbs; Possessive adjectives; Past tense
(Passato prossimo); Present and past tense of reflexive verbs; Simple and combined
prepositions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Listening
In-class listening activities: Students will listen to the instructor and to recorded texts
the duration of which will be at least 250 words. Students will have to answer (orally
and in writing) an increasing number of questions that test their comprehension of what
they have heard.
Speaking
In-class oral activities and exams: Students will be examined singularly and in pairs.
The type of tests will be: conversation between two students, monologues, role playing.
The multiplicity of situations and the request to express personal opinions will increase
from elementary level to advanced level. Conversations, monologues and role playing
will be elicited by visual stimuli, texts, or questions from the instructor.
Reading
In-class activities and exams: Students will have to read an increasing number of texts
of increasing length, complexity and of different genres. They will have to answer in
writing several questions that test their comprehension of what they have read.
Writing
Homework assignments and exams: Students will have to answer written questions
and produce written texts of increasing length, formality and complexity on topics of
every day life.
TEXTBOOK:
Book
Author
Title
Publisher
ISBN
number
Tommasini,
Spazio
978Loescher
M.F. &
Italia 1
8820136307
Diaco, M.G.
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE
Library
Local
Online
Comments Format
Call
Bookstore Purchase
Number
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment
Guidelines Weight
TEST 1 & 2
30%
MIDTERM EXAM
25%
Participation and Homework
15%
Final Exam
30%
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a
coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This
type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an
element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading
beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem
raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and
relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a
repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major
errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited,
reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the
material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student
has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question.
Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are supposed to come prepared to class and participate in all activities. Active
participation is crucial, since the learning process requires considerable practice. Regular
attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed 3
unjustified absences. The final grade will be lowered by 2 points for each additional
absence. Make sure your travel plans do not interfere with the class schedule.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In
addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may
result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic
dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported
twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In
such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President,
who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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