Course description

ITALIAN 4

Intermediate Language Skills for Non-Heritage Speakers

T-Th 9:25 – 10: 40 AM

FABIO GIRELLI-CARASI

NO TEXTBOOK IS REQUIRED

The course will stress the development of communicative skills, both oral/aural and writing/reading, exposing the students to a variety of contemporary materials. Songs, TV programs, video clips will be used along with pragmatic and non-literary texts (printed media, signs, "letters to the editor"). Introductory literary texts will also be presented (poems, short stories, individual chapters of famous novels). The structure of the course will be primarily thematic, focusing on specific issues of Italy’s contemporary culture. The students will learn how to "interpret" Italian culture and to discuss its various facets.

A portion of the material will be obtained from the Internet. Personal possession of a computer is not required. Students will be introduced to the use of this essential information medium and will learn to communicate with the teacher and with one another by email. The more ambitious will have the opportunity to create a personal multimedia homepage. The final grade will be based on traditional quizzes, oral presentations, compositions, portfolio of best work, Web research and Web-related activities (chat room participation, exchange of email messages with pen pals, etc.).