Italian 101—Fall 2012
Dr. Anthony Costantini
Office Room: ST 434- Phone ext: 7226
Office hours: T/Th 9:00-9:20 am and 3:50-5:00pm
Last day of class 12/10
Final Exam- 12/11 (8-10am)—course number 13279
g.vest@csun.edu
Class Information
Tu/Th 9:30-11:10am-JR 212
Books Oggi in Italia (F. Merlonghi/F. Merlonghi, and J. Tursi)
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002)
Workbook to accompany Oggi in Italia
Recommended: English Grammar for Students of Italian (S. Adorni and K. Primorac
(The Olivia and Hill Press 1995)
Course Description
The general characteristics of the course (methodology, origins of the Italian language,
importance of studying a foreign language, language lab, grading, etc) will be discussed in depth
the first day of class. This course has two objectives:
1) To provide the student with the basic skills for understanding and speaking Italian. To
that end, work will consist of a) grammar; b) oral practice; c) practice in reading and writing.
2) To familiarize the student with Italian culture. This goal will be achieved through
a) reading, discussion, presentations; b) cultural programs sponsored by the Italian Section of the
Department of MCLL. Presentations and practice will be contextual (real life situations) and,
whenever possible, oriented to the students’ interests. Italian will be the spoken language in
class. Students will also use media material available in the Barbara Ann Ward Language Center
(JR 316). A large portion of class time will be spent using the language interactively, your
participation will be essential.
Student Learning Outcomes
Learning, speaking, reading and writing competencies based on ACTFL standards: Novice to
Intermediate. At the end of this course students will be able to demonstrate ability to:
 comprehend and produce simple formulaic texts (addresses,, phone numbers, weather
reports, notes written for native speakers, signs, etc)
 describe people, places and things with appropriate beginner level vocabulary
 ask questions, give directions, interpret time
 express likes, dislikes, and preferences
 narrate routines and events in the present and past verb tenses
 understand and follow instructions in the target language
Requirements
There will be regular assignments consisting of grammatical exercises and cultural reading in
context with each chapter treated. You will be required to complete the exercises in the
Workbook as well as handouts as assigned. As an integral part of your class assignments, you
will be required to follow the “Tell me more” program and to use the Barbara Ann Language
Center as indicated. Class attendance is mandatory. It is the University policy that if you miss
more than three classes without proper justification, your grade will be lowered one letter grade
(“A” will be changed to “B,” etc). Repeated later arrival will count as partial absences.
Grade Distribution
Grading will be both objective (attendance, homework, quizzes, exams, etc.) and subjective
(effort, participation, progress, etc.). Grades will be determined based on the following: quizzes
25%; midterm 25%; final 25%; homework, attendance, class participation, completion of the
“Tell Me More Program” 25%.
Quizzes and exams
While quizzes will concentrate more on the grammatical unit or units studied, midterm and final
will cover the activities of listening, reading, and writing. The percentage of each activity will be
spelled out in the exam. If necessary one quiz may be devoted only to activity of listening and
answering questions.
Helpful web sites
http://www.virgilio.it
http://www.cyberitalian.com
http://www.abacroma.com
Class etiquette
Absolutely no cell activity during class. Unacceptable or negative behavior involves always
asking teacher and classmate; moving around and going out to make phone calls; not paying
attention to the teacher and acting bored as you were not part of the class; stretching your legs to
occupy two seats; eating or munching; getting up to throw a piece of paper in the trash can or
sharpening a pencil.
Course Outline
Week:
1) Lezione preliminare. Il saluto (1-5). I nomi italiani (6). Pronuncia (7). I numeri (9). Parole
analoghe (10). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
2) Lezione preliminare. L’Italia nell’Europa (11). Carta fisica d’Italia (12-13). Carta politica
d’Italia (14). Vocabolario (15-16). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
3) Lezione 1. Lei come si chiama? Domande (17-19). Vocabolario (20). Sillabazione (22).
Accento tonico (22). Ampliamento del vocabolario (23) Cose utili (25). Esercizi dal Testo e dal
Workbook (Quiz 1).
4) Lezione 1. Pronomi personali (26-27). Presente di essere (28-29). Presente di avere (30-31).
Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook (Quiz 2).
5) Lezione 1. Genere di nomi e l’articolo indeterminativo (32-33). Conoscere l’Italia –Roma
(36-37). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
6) Lezione 2. Presentazioni (38-40). Vocabolario (p. 42). Pronuncia (43). Ampliamento del
vocabolario (43). Che ora è? e che ore sono? (44-46). Plurale dei nomi (47-48). Esercizi dal
Testo e dal Workbook. (Quiz 3).
7) Lezione. 2. L’articolo determinativo (49-51). Conoscere l’Italia-La cucina emiliana
(56-57). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
8) Lezione 3. Che cosa fai di bello? (58-59). Vocabolario (61). Pronuncia (62).
Ampliamento del vocabolario (63-64). Espressiosni con avere (65). Presente dei verbi
regolari in are (66-70). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook. MIDTERM
9) Lezione 3. Preposizioni semplici e articolate. (71-73). C’è, ci sono, ecco (74).
Conoscere l’italia (77). Caffè famosi (78). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
10) Lezione 4. Cosa prendono i signori (80-81). Vocabolario (84). Pronuncia (85).
Ampliamento del vocabolario: I giorni della settimana/Alcune espressioni di tempo (8688). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
11) Lezione 4. Presente dei verbi regolari in ere (88-90). Formulare le domande (91-93).
Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook. (Quiz 4).
12) Lezione 4. Verbi irregolari: dare/fare/stare (94-96). Conoscere l’Italia-La SiciliaRiposto (Catania) (99-102). Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook.
13) Lezione 5. Ad un ballo in maschera (103-104). Dove fare gli acquisti (105).
Vocabolario (106-107). Pronuncia (107). Ampliamento del vocabolario (108-110).
Esercizi dal Testo e dal Workbook. (Quiz 5).
14) Lezione 5. Concordanza degli aggettivi qualificativi (110-112). Posizione degli
aggettivi con i nomi (113-115). Presente dei verbi irregolari in ire (115-117); andare e venire
(125); bere, dire, uscire (151-152). Lezione 6. Le staigoni e i mesid ell’anno (139-140).
15) Lezione 6. Alcune espressioni di tempo al passato (141). Passato prossimo (present
perfect) con avere (142-145+149-150). If we have time, we will cover the Passato
prossimo with essere.
FINAL