This is an intensive and complete first-year course in one term for students with no knowledge of Italian, focused on developing all four communicative skills. You will learn how to talk about personal topics, likes and dislikes, and your immediate environment (such as family, school, friends, daily routine); handle basic social exchanges (such as eating out or planning events); describe and narrate simple events in the present, past, and future; make comparisons; express possibility; present your point of view; and engage in discussions. By the end of this course, you will have the linguistic and cultural foundations necessary for your adventures all’italiana. You will be introduced to contemporary Italian culture through a variety of topics from everyday life (family, shopping, food, fashion) to the arts (music, literature, cinema). Materials include films such as La meglio gioventù and cultural readings that explore the history of modern Italy (i.e., 1968, Italian Terrorism, the mafia, etc.). Assignments include short creative writing and oral projects, cooking activities, and multimedia presentations. In-class assignments will be supplemented with individualized conversations with native speakers of Italian to further enhance your understanding of the diversity of cultural perspectives within Italian communities.
