Fabio Girelli-Carasi

ITALIAN 1020
 

SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
POLICIES

What to Expect in This Course

ITALIAN 1020  LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

At the end of the semester, students will be able to recognize approximately 1000 words and, when elicited, will produce up to 500 words. Most oral ability will consist of simple sentences about familiar situations, descriptions and individual words, and memorized idiomatic expressions. Words appear in conjunction with articles and adjectives, properly modified (morphology.) Short sentences will contain conjugated verbs (syntax.) Students will be able to interact with others  and create simple dialogues on familiar topics.
Writing ability will allow students to produce simple descriptions of common topics and situations.
Grammar/syntax knowledge will expand to include past tenses (passato prossimo, imperfetto), the pronominal system, comparative and superlative. Semantic areas will include traveling, purchasing necessities, daily routines, hobbies and personal preferences.

 

  1. ATTENDANCE is required at all meetings.  Requests for exemptions must be supported by concrete proof.
     

  2. The course requires knowledge of user-based technology. I cannot provide instruction on the use of basic technology skills such as downloading, uploading, recording videos or soundfiles, word processing and the like. I will help you in case of unexpected bugs here and there but for the bulk of operations you must know how to troubleshoot. THERE IS ALWAYS A TUTORIAL VIDEO ON YOUTUBE THAT SHOWS HOW TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.
     

  3. THERE ARE NO TEXTBOOKS. Corporate commercial textbooks are a crime against humanity. You pay for glossy paper; fancy, colorful layouts; marketing campaigns; outrageous compensations for CEOs and huge profits for Wall Street investors.  Second, my method requires flexible materials that match the progress of each class differently. It also requires constant engagement on your part and serious work and study on your own.
     

  4. My job and duty are to teach you how to learn Italian.  I cannot learn it for you. You must do what is required, namely, memorize, practice pronunciation, use and create language both orally and in written form. My duty is to teach and evaluate your performance. PERIOD. YOUR GRADE WILL DEPEND EXCLUSIVELY ON YOUR PERFORMANCE.
     

  5. If you learn the language you will get an A. Or, mirror image,  if you get an A, it is because you learned the language.
    If you are shooting only for a C or something like that, you will learn very little, will end up struggling, getting frustrated and, possibly, you may end up dropping the class. It's your decision. It is your money.
     

  6. Conceptually and intellectually a beginning language course is not difficult. But what it lacks in terms of "difficulty," it makes up in the amount of work/time required.  You can't expect to learn by cramming.
     

  7. Studying a language is like studying math or chemistry. Knowledge is cumulative. You can't skip additions and subtractions and go directly to multiplication tables.

FGC

 

IT'S NOT EASY TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

To learn any language well is one of the most difficult tasks humans can undertake. It literally takes a lifetime. After all, we all are still learning English, aren't we?

However, at the beginning it is a very simple process. The same curriculum, at different speeds, is used from elementary school to college. The intellectual challenge at this level is not particularly formidable, but you will need to devote time and purpose to studying.

First of all, you must learn words, lots of words. The only way to do that is to practice. There are no magic pills.

 Communicative ability is the primary goal of this course. You will soon be in a position to say a few basic things about yourself, to ask questions and to understand simple statements.

Language is about communication. Without communication there is no language.  You will exchange information with your classmates, report,  discuss topics -- all, of course, within the range of your ability.

At the end of the semester, you will marvel at how much you will have learned, and will be even more aware of how much you still need to learn to become proficient.

This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a long long journey. I wish you all the best and I hope to see you one day very far along in your voyage.

 

Basic Rules

  1. All assignments (compiti) must be emailed by 11.59PM of the due date, EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
     
  2. There will be two assignments per week.
     
  3. QUIZZES will be announced a week in advance and will have a set time for starting and ending. I may decide NOT to give quizzes, depending on the performance of the class as a whole.
     
  4. Missing a deadline for assignments or quizzes counts as "ABSENCE."
     
  5. LATE work will not be accepted, even if it is late by one minute. (Please, don't try this stunt.)
     
  6. There are no exceptions, no extensions, no make-ups and no "extra credit."
     
  7. Partial or incomplete assignments will not be graded.
     
  8. No cheating. One strike and your are out. (Scroll down for policy details.)
     
  9. Errors in email protocol, email subject, file names and assignment format will result in a penalty.
     
  10. Additional instructions will be provided as needed during the session on the course homepage.
     
  11. The course official record is posted on the course homepage.

  Academic Integrity 
  (i.e. no cheating)

  DO NOT USE TRANSLATION APPS OR DEVICES 
 ONE STRIKE AND YOU ARE OUT.

Using an online translation site (google etc.,) an app, or an electronic device is a violation of the plagiarism policy.

It is OK to use a dictionary in your work, in electronic or paper format.

 You are NEVER allowed to use a translator of any kind. By "translator" I mean apps or devices (or your cousin) that translate more than one word at the time.

LET ME REPEAT: anything that translates more than one word at a time is NOT ALLOWED.

If I suspect you used a translator:

  1. I will ask you to explain how you were able to produce the language in question.
  2. I WILL TEST YOUR ABILITY TO PRODUCE SIMILAR SENTENCES.
  3. If I determine you cheated, you will FAIL the course.


"The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation."

 
EMAIL PROTOCOL      KEEP IT FORMAL AND PROFESSIONAL
 

  1. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS MUST CONTAIN YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.
     

  2. YOUR SCREEN NAME MUST SHOW YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.
    If you don't know what a screen name is, google it. If you can't figure out how to change it, maybe this course is not for you.
     

  3. If your messages do not comply with 1. and 2. I reserve the right to ignore and delete them.
     

  4. When you compose a new message, or respond to a message from a professor, start with a greeting. Do not "hey" them.
     

  5. If the conversation goes back and forth, skip the greetings. You can go straight to the point.
     

  6. Every single message must have your signature. Set up the automatic signature option.
     

  7. I require full sentences, grammatical, with upper case when needed and proper punctuation.
    I strongly recommend that you do not use your phone if you don't know how to type with upper case, commas, periods, etc.
     

  8.  No one-liners and no tantrums.
     

  9. DO NOT RECYCLE OLD MESSAGES with non-related subjects. If you want to talk about something new, compose a NEW message with the appropriate subject. (Suggested subject: "Problem / question.")
     

  10. In an ongoing conversation, in each message repeat the relevant information and circumstance (lost assignment, message not-received etc.) Nobody can read your mind except you.

EXAMPLE OF ASSIGNMENT FORMAT
 
This is what an assignment will look like. It will be divided into tasks with clear instructions.
You will copy the prompt for each task and do the various exercises.

 
I will only accept assignments in the following formats: .doc  .docx  .rtf

I will not accept Macintosh .pages or .pdf

Do not 'share' documents from google docs or any other archival/sharing system. I will not open them.

All your written assignments must be emailed as attachments.

 

EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL LOOK LIKE
 

  1. I will only accept assignments in the following formats: .doc  .docx  .rtf
     
  2. I will not accept Macintosh .pages or .pdf
     
  3. Do not 'share' documents from google docs or any other archival/sharing system. I will not open them.
     
  4. All your written assignments must be emailed as attachments.
Create a new document and name the file in the following way:

File name:  the file name must be:      your Italian class name/dot/due date

EXAMPLE:     maria.27febbraio.docx        Nothing more, nothing less.
 
USE THE DUE DATE NOT THE DATE WHEN YOU FINISHED THE ASSIGNMENT.
 
Here is the sample of a compito by a student

 

 

 

EXAMPLE OF EMAIL MESSAGE FORMAT


Email subject:    compito 27 febbraio

Nothing else. No assignment number, no creative subjects, no name. JUST THE SUBJECT OF YOUR EMAIL and the DUE DATE.   THE DUE DATE, not the date you are sending it.

 

VIDEOS
 

  1. Create a YOUTUBE account.
  2. Create a playlist. Name it "ITALIAN"
  3. When you post a video, use the following title format: YOUR ITALIAN NAME and the DUE DATE.
  4. After the video is posted, right click on the screen, choose COPY VIDEO URL and paste it in the assignment.
  5. Add the video to your ITALIAN playlist.
  6. I will provide further directions later about privacy settings etc.

 
Office Hours

I am available on WED from 12.30 to 2.15 or by appointment.

I will also be available via Skype by appointment.
When you ask for an appointment, clearly state the agenda (what you want to talk about) and the preferred time and date of the appointment. List at least two options for date/time.
IN-CLASS CONDUCT
  • Put the cellphone away from your body, in a purse or bag. If you have it on you and feel the vibration, you won't be able to resist and will reach for it. In that case, I will ask you to leave the class for the reminder of the session.
     
  • Do not be late. I will administer a quiz immediately at the beginning of each session. If you are late, you will miss the opportunity to take the quiz. I will not grant additional time to late comers.
     
  • You must come to class with your assignments done, ready to participate, answer and ask questions and engage with your classmates.
     
  • NO ITEMS ON THE DESKS OTHER THAN A NOTEBOOK. Bags, scarves etc. must be put away.
     
  • NO FOOD AND NO DRINKS AT ANYTIME AT YOUR DESK. If you have a bottle of water or whatever, put it on the floor.


 

COURSE ASSESSMENT  (aka HOW TO GET AN "A")

  • QUIZZES: Each quiz will be very tightly connected to the assignments and will test both your vocabulary retention and the ability to produce language. THERE ARE NO MAKE UPS.
    IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THERE WILL BE NO QUIZZES. I WILL DECIDE AS WE GO ALONG.
     
  • ASSIGNMENTS: 
    Some tasks will be marked <busy work>. I will only check that you did them, but will not grade them.
    Other tasks will be marked <for grade>.
    NO CREDIT (a.k.a "F")  FOR LATE ASSIGNMENTS.
     
  • VIDEOS will be grades separately from the writing assignments.
     

  • Participation is a challenge in the online environment. It requires that you follow my instructions RELIGIOUSLY.
     

  • QUALITY performance in your assignments and ACTIVE  PARTICIPATION are crucial components of your work.

 

FINAL GRADE
ORAL PROFICIENCY (blog or individual research.)

20%

Quizzes and Assignments (each items has the same weight.)

Each video is counted separately from writing assignments.

78%

Final Exam

2%

TOTAL

100%
Lectures and Assignments will be posted regularly on the course homepage. They may consist of actual prompts, exercises and other materials, or they may be LINKS to an outside website.

It is your responsibility to check the homepage regularly to meet deadlines.

Quizzes: If, in my judgment, the class is making satisfactory progress and homework assignments are consistently of high quality, I may decide that quizzes are not necessary. If and when quizzes are scheduled, they will be announced in advance (with an allowance for unforeseeable events.) Usually, you will have 24 hours to complete a quiz.
DOWNLOAD THIS FORM  to keep a record of your grades


At the end of the session, you will complete it and send it with all the information requested.

 

ITALIAN 1020

 ALL THE ASSIGNMENTS ARE LISTED ON THE
COURSE HOMEPAGE UNDER THE RESPECTIVE DUE DATE

 

DO NOT BUY COMMERCIAL TEXTBOOKS.

We will use my ONLINE COURSE (free of charge)
initalianoweb.com

Dictionary
WORDREFERENCE.COM

I update, integrate and reorganize the course every time I teach this class.