Course Syllabus

Spring 12     

 

 

 

Instructor: Lucia Hannau      e-mail: ________________________        Office: _________                Office Hours: _________________         Final paper due on: 4/30/2012    

 

 

Books: Prego!. Lazzarino. Eighth Edition

             Textbook; workbook and lab manual online

 

I. Rationale 

This course is designed as an introduction to Italian language and culture for beginners, and is essential for SJIU students without previous knowledge of Italian.

 

II. Course Aims

The course aims at setting the foundations of Italian grammar and vocabulary and developing the basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing and understanding simple conversations),  while introducing students to Italian culture.

We shall focus on conversation skills, reading simple texts, and writing paragraph-long compositions. The course will be conducted mainly in Italian.

All Italian courses in the Department of Italian at SJIU are founded on the The Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21^stCentury, 1999 which describes the five Cs of language acquisition: communication, culture, comparisons, connections, and community. Students in the basic Italian sequence have the opportunity to practice the three modes of communication, (interpersonal, interpretive and presentational) to learn about Italian culture (products, practices and perspectives), and to make comparisons between their first language and culture and the Italian language and culture. In addition, students make connections to other fields of study unavailable to them through their native language. Finally, students have the opportunity to engage with the Italian community outside of the classroom.

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have acquired the basic vocabulary and grammatical structures to talk about themselves and their immediate environment (such as home, study, work, and travel), be able to narrate events in the present, past, and future, and give and understand simple commands.

Through an enriched language experience inside the classroom, in regularly scheduled conversation hours, and outside the classroom, students will:

 

a)      demonstrate progress in developing their skills in the three modes of communication in Italian through the consistent use of student-based activities inside and outside the classroom;

b)      demonstrate a growing knowledge of the three components of Italian culture obtained through readings, films, in-class discussions and out-of-class interviews;

c)      show the ability to make comparisons between Italian and Italian culture and their first language and their own culture;

d)     develop the familiarity with the Italian language and Italian culture they need in order to locate and access bodies of knowledge–both general and specific to their professional interests not immediately available to them through English;

e)      enter the Italian community through out-of-class interviews.

 

 

III. Format and Procedures 

Each lesson is structured with a demonstration by the instructor, followed by practice by students through a number of communicative class activities. Given the importance of class practice attendance is mandatory. Absences can be excused only for a valid reason (such as illness or other events beyond the student’s control) if written proof is presented to the instructor within one week of the absence. After four unexcused absences there will be a deduction of 5% from the final grade for each additional unexcused absence. If a student misses a class, he/she is responsible for obtaining any material and class notes from a classmate.

 

IV. Course Requirements

Class participation is essential and students are required to come to class with their homework completed and ready to actively participate. Students should-within the first week of class- provide themselves with the text book required for the course.

Homework: Language learning requires constant practice and students will need to submit a completed unit from the exercise book every week (see Calendar). 

There will be three written quizzes, each testing two or three textbook units (see Calendar).

There will be a mid-term exam, a final comprehensive exam, and an oral exam (see Calendar).

 

V. Grading Procedures:

General assessment

In the evaluation of the students’ learning outcomes, we will follow the Nine Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning, suggested by The American Association for Higher Education, as well as the guidelines given by the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.

Regarding the specific expected outcomes, they will be evaluated considering these main field of learning:

1. knowledge and understanding;
2. applying knowledge and understanding;
3. making judgments;
4. communication skills;
5. learning skills.

 

 

 

Grading policy:
Class Participation	20%
Homework	15%
6 Tests (drop lowest grade)	30%
3 Quizzes (drop lowest grade)	15%
Oral presentation	12%
Final Paper	8%

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

Homework: Quiz workbook and lab manual online, writing assignments (tema).

 

Workbook and lab manual are online on the Quia website. You are encouraged to each part matching to what we do in class to better assimilate the program.

The workbook and the lab manual are due on the Test day, at the end of every chapter.

 

Tema: all the compositions are indicated in this syllabus, they have to be typed and double spaced. You will be allowed to rewrite the tema (riscrittura) once to improve your grade. All the due dates are indicated on this syllabus. You are allowed to seek for help only in the rewriting process of the tema. Each student is required to turn in his/her original works. Saint John International University considers the misuse of e-translators as a form of academic dishonesty, therefore your instructor will not grade the compositions written using these devices.

 

Tests: at the end of each chapter will be about 45 min. long  

 

Quizzes: 10 minutes at any time during the hour. They are designed to split chapters into smaller units, to test your knowledge and to help you in preparing for major exams.

 

Oral Presentation: at the beginning of week 12 students will form groups of 3 or fewer people to prepare an oral presentation which will be performed during the last week of classes. Students will inform their instructor about the members of each group, their topic and what kind of presentation they are planning. Students will write a script of the oral presentation, each member of the group will hand in his/her handwritten copy and will receive an individual grade. The script is due at the end of week 13. Each student will write a paragraph of 75 words.

All the students must contribute on an equal basis to the written preparation and must play an equal part in the performance. The grade will be based on the use of language (grammar and pronunciation), cultural elements, group organization and effort. Students must memorize their lines and will not be allowed to read. 

 

Final paper: is due on the first day of exam week. Instructions will be given during week 14. The final paper draft is due on Tues. of week 15.  

 

SJIU uses the grading system used by most liberal arts schools in the United States, the 4.00 scale, with a 4.00 being the highest and 0.00 being the lowest. Before SJIU calculates grades using the 4.00 scale, teachers ascribe letter grades on the 100 point scale based on the performance of each student in his or her particular class.

 

 

VI. Academic Integrity

SJIU’s community is expected to maintain high personal standards of Academic Honesty and to uphold Academic Honesty in his/her activities. Cases of Academic Dishonesty will be promptly reported to the Academic Standards Committee.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Plagiarism: the use of the work, ideas, or words of someone else without attribution. It may also involve misrepresenting the sources that were used. The issue of plagiarism applies to any type of work, including exams, papers, or other writings as well as IT, artistic, photographic, or video-related works
• Assisting or receiving assistance in any test or examination
• Impeding or damaging the academic work of another student
  • Submitting material from books, internet sites or articles without including bibliographic reference or proper citation
  • Editing or revising works for others or allowing one’s own work to be edited or revised by others
  • Submitting the same work in more than one course without the consent of all the instructors   concerned
  • Acting as an accomplice to other students in any of the above acts
    • Deliberate falsification of data or distortion of supporting documentation for course work or other academic activity
    • Copyright Violations

 

VII. Accommodations for students with disabilities

SJIU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, ethnic or national origin, age, marital status, or sexual orientation in the administration of academic and admissions policies, scholarships and financial aid, school-administered activities and programs, or employment practices. Requests for academic accommodations that may be required for student with disabilities are to be made during the first three weeks of the semester, except for unusual circumstances, so arrangements can be made. Students are encouraged to register with Student Services to verify their eligibility for appropriate accommodations.

 

VIII. Tentative course schedule: (May change to accommodate guest presenters & student needs)

 

 

 

 

 

Settimana 1 (Gennaio)
	IN CLASSE			A CASA
LUN. 16	introduzione al corso e lettura syllabus, numeri 2-12, scambio numeri di telefono e e-mail			Studiare p.2-12
MAR. 17	p.2-12 e ripasso			Ripasso e finire cap. prel
MER. 18	Tutto Cap. Prel. Ripasso e stagioni			Fare wkbk e lab cap prel
GIO. 19	Scrittura 1 due, 50 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato, ripasso cap. prel e video			Studiare p.21-23
Settimana 2 (Gennaio)
LUN. 23	Ripasso e p. 21-23		Studiare p.21-26
MAR. 24	p.21-26		Studiare p.27-29
MER. 25	p.27-29		Studiare bene per il quiz 1
GIO. 26	Ripasso, Quiz 1		Finire cap.1
Settimana 3 (Gennaio)
LUN. 30	Finire cap 1, ripasso, Scrittura 2 due, 75 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato
MAR. 31	Ripasso per il test 1
MER. 1	Test 1: fare wkbk e lab online (cap prel e 1)			Studiare cap 2 vocab prel
GIO.  2	p.42-43			Studiare p.44-46
Settimana 4 (Febbraio)
LUN. 6	Ripasso avere, p.44-46			Studiare p. 47-50 e ripasso avere
MAR. 7	p.47-50 e ripasso			Studiare p.51 e ripasso art indet e buono
MER. 8	Scrittura 3 due, 100 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato, p.51 e ripasso art. Indet. e buono			Finire cap. 2
GIO. 9	finire cap 2 e video
Settimana 5 (Febbraio)
LUN. 13	Ripasso per il test 2
MAR. 14	Test 2: wkbk e lab online (cap 2)			Studiare p.62-64
MER. 15	p.62-64			Studiare bene i verbi! p.65-69
GIO. 16	Verbi in -are			Verbi e agg. possessivi
Settimana 6 (Febbraio)
LUN. 20	scrittura 4 due, 100 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato, verbi e agg. possessivi			Studiare p.65-74
MAR. 21	p. 65-74			Ripasso bello, buono e finire cap. 3
MER. 22	Ripasso bello e buono e finire cap.3
GIO. 23	Ripasso per il test 3
Settimana 7 (Febbraio)
LUN. 27	Test 3: lab e wkbk online (cap.3)			Studiare p.84-88
MAR. 28	p. 84-88			Verbi -are e p.86-92
MER. 29	Tutti i verbi e il vocabolario			Verbi
GIO. 1	Scrittura 5 due, 100 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato. Verbi			Oggetto diretto e l’ora
Settimana 8 (Marzo)
LUN. 5		Oggetto diretto e l’ora		L’ora e p.100
MAR. 6		L’ora e p.100		Finire cap 4
MER.7		Ripasso per il test
GIO. 8		Test 4: labr wkbk (cap.4)		Studiare p.107-109
Settimana 9 (Marzo)  Spring Break!                 LUN. 10 - GIO. 18
Settimana 10 (Marzo)
LUN. 19	p.107-109			Studiare le preposizioni
MAR.20	Le preposizioni			Studiare p.1113-117
MER. 21	Pass prossimo con avere			Studiare p.113-120
GIO. 22	Pass prossimo con avere e essere e presente			Studiare bene per il quiz
Settimana 11 (Marzo)
LUN. 26	Quiz 2 e ripasso
MAR. 27	Presente e passato prossimo			Finire cap 5
MER. 28	Finire cap 5; Scrittura 6 due, 100 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato
GIO. 29	Ripasso per il test 5
Settimana 12 (Aprile)
LUN. 2	Test 5: lab e wkbk due online (cap. 5)				Studiare p.129-131
MAR. 3	organizzazione delle presentazioni orali, vocab cap 6				Studiare p.93-94 e 132-3
MER. 4	Ogg diretto e indiretto e vocabolario
GIO. 5	Oggetto diretto e indiretto
Settimana 13 (Aprile)
LUN. 9	vacanza
MAR. 10	Quiz 3 e ripasso			Studiare p.135-8
MER. 11	p.135-8			Studiare piacere
GIO. 12	Script oral presentation due; piacere			Studiare p.139-41
Settimana 14 (Aprile)
LUN. 16	Piacere al presente e al passato prossimo			Finire cap.6
MAR. 17	Finire cap.6
MER. 18	istruzioni del final paper; scrittura 7 due, 100 parole, doppio spazio, foglio separato. Ripasso per il test
GIO. 19	Test 6: lab e wkbk (cap 6)
Settimana 15 (Aprile)
LUN. 23	Presentazioni orali e ripasso
MAR. 24	Presentazioni orali e ripasso, draft final paper due
MER. 25	Vacanza!
GIO. 26	Presentazioni orali e ripasso

 

Final paper due: 30 Aprile