Fabio Girelli-Carasi

ITALIAN 1010

SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
POLICIES

TEXTBOOK

What to Expect in This Course

ITALIAN 1010 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, lists, or memorized idiomatic expressions. Words may 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 three/four-line dialogues on familiar topics.
Writing ability will allow students to produce simple descriptions of common topics and situations.
Grammar/syntax knowledge will include basic grammatical categories (articles/prepositions/nouns/adjectives/possessive) basic morphology (gender and number), subject-verb agreement, present tense of all three conjugations in addition to several essential irregular verbs.

My duty is to teach you how to learn Italian. I don't know what is motivating you to take this class. Some students can't wait to learn the language. Some are simply trying to fulfill a requirement. And some need an elective, any elective to qualify for financial aid and this time slot fits their schedule. Whatever your reason, your grade will depend exclusively on your performance
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, you will end up struggling, getting frustrated and, possibly, you may end up dropping the class. It's your decision. It is your money.
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.
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.

See you in class.

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

All assignments (compiti) must be emailed by classtime of the due date, EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
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
LATE work will not be accepted, even if it is late by one minute. (Please, don't try this stunt.)
There are no exceptions, no extensions, no make-ups and no "extra credit."
Partial or incomplete assignments will not be graded.
I expect everyone to be able to read and speak/comprehend the day material.
No cheating. One strike and your are out. (Scroll down for policy details.)
Errors in email protocol, email subject, file names and assignment format will result in a penalty.
Additional instructions will be provided as needed during the session on the course homepage.
The course official record is posted on the course homepage.

Academic Integrity
(i.e. no cheating)

"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."

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

2) It is OK to use a dictionary in your work, in electronic or paper format. You can enter ONLY ONE WORD AT A TIME. EXAMPLE: you cannot enter "the school," ONLY "school." Or, you cannot enter "she writes," ONLY "write."

3) 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:

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

Student Bereavement Policy

Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure (see below). The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).

Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.

Standard Bereavement Procedure

Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of the death of the loved one, of excused absence. Should the student feel that he or she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student's faculty and academic staff of the student's courses.
Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus. Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

EMAIL PROTOCOL KEEP IT FORMAL AND PROFESSIONAL

USE ONLY YOUR CUNY ISSUED EMAIL ADDRESS WITH FIRST AND LAST NAME.
When you compose a new message, or respond to a message from a professor, start with a salutation. Do not "hey" them.
If the conversation goes back and forth, skip the salutation. You can go straight to the point.
Every single message must have your signature. Set up the automatic signature option.
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.
No one-liners and no tantrums.
Do not use OLD MESSAGES WITH UNRELATED SUBJECTS for new issues. If you want to talk about something new, compose a NEW message with the appropriate subject. (Suggested subject: "Problem / question.")
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 WHAT YOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL LOOK LIKE

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.

Create a new document and name the file in the following way:

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

EXAMPLE: maria.27febbraio.docx Nothing more, nothing less.

USE THE DUE DATE NOT THE DATE WHEN YOU FINISHED THE ASSIGNMENT.

FINAL GRADE
ORAL proficiency (youtube videos)	25%
Quizzes and Assignments (each items has the same weight.) Each video is counted separately from writing assignments.	70%
Final Exam	5%
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.

CALENDAR

Dates of lesson plans and assignments are to be regarded as indicative only.
Blackboard contains the calendar of record.
Detailed and updated information on lectures, assignments and quizzes are published timely on Blackboard and the course homepage.

Quiz dates are not listed in the present calendar.
They will be announced one week in advance as needed.

DO NOT BUY COMMERCIAL TEXTBOOKS.

We will use my ONLINE COURSE (free of charge)
INITALIANOWEB

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

Here is the link to the course in its latest version
LINK
I am in the process of restructuring it, so use it only as reference.

Complete all the <Preliminary Tasks>
Compose and send me an email

WEEK 1

compito 1

Introduction; basic expressions; greetings; syllabus; INITALIANOWEB

compito 2

Task 1: Write your 'autobiography' using the sentences as model. Say who you are, what your name is, where you live, age... STICK ONLY TO THOSE MODELS.
Task 2: Look at the video roster (on the blog) and choose the student who comes immediately after you in the video. Ask a series of questions based on the models.

Start with: "CIAO, nameoftheperson"
THEN ASK LEADING or ECHO QUESTIONS.
Example: Are you a professor? Do you live in Flatbush? Do you work in a store? Are you Italian? Do you live alone? How old are you?

Type questions and answers in your COMPITO document.

WEEK 2

compito 1

Verbs ESSERE, AVERE; INITALIANOWEB; Lezione 1 AVERE idiomatic expressions

1) Memorize THE DATE of your assignment (you must be able to write it without errors).
2) Memorize the conjugations of verbs ESSERE (to be) and AVERE (to have)

Task 1: on the homepage, scroll to <Software, links, etc>, open <Online Dictionary>
Open the site WORDREFERENCE.COM Enter the word <bruschetta>; Click ON THE WORD <bruschetta 1>; COPY THE DEFINITION (copy&paste: you don't need to learn /memorize it)

compito 2

Task 1:Open INITALIANOWEB (link in <Software, links, etc>)
Open <Lesson 1 Page 1>
Research and answer the following questions:
Who are the two characters in the dialogue? In which museums are they? In what city? Who are the artists who created them? In what Century?

1) PRINT OUT REVISION QUIZ from the previous week (UNDER lezione 2). Fill in by hand. TURN IN IN CLASS.
REQUIRED 95% correct for "PASS".cla

WEEK 3

compito 1

Verbs 1st conjugation ARE (regular) ; INITALIANOWEB; Lezione 2; Verbs 2nd conjugation ERE (regular); INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 2

Complete the exercises (write the first person of each verb; find the translation of each infinitive.) DO NOT COPY AND PASTE THE FORMAT, i.e. the table. Re write individually the entries. Do this as an exercise.
TASK 1: Write down all the dates you have encountered so far (dates of our classes etc) plus your age --- in letters.
TASK 2: WRITE ONE SENTENCE PER VERB (USING <IO>)

IO MI CHIAMO	IO ABITO	IO LAVORO	IO STUDIO	IO PARLO
	ABITARE	LAVORARE	STUDIARE	PARLARE

IO SONO....... nazionalita' (Oggi e domani)
ask a classmate a Leading question:::::::::: tu sei ''australiano'? (use any of the nationalities on the list and ask the question.)
ALERT: masculine and feminine form

AGE: Learn and remember how to ask for AGE and how to say how old you are:
QUANTI ANNI HAI?
<IO HO VENTI ANNI>

ANSWER:
MIO PADRE HA.......
MIA MADRE HA........
GLI STATI UNITI D'AMERICA HANNO........
LA REPUBBLICA ITALIANA HA...........
SECONDO LA BIBBIA LA TERRA HA.............. [according to the Bible]
SECONDO GLI ASTRONOMI L'UNIVERSO HA........... [according to astronomers]
LA STATUA DELLA LIBERTA' HA ..........

compito 2

ABITARE IO ABITO IN UNA CASA IO ABITO IN UN APPARTAMENTO IO ABITO IN UN HOTEL IO ABITO CON LA MIA FAMIGLIA IO ABITO DA SOLO IO ABITO CON UN AMICO IO ABITO CON UN'AMICA

OGGI E DOMANI: ABITARE

TU ABITI IN UNA CASA GRANDE O UNA CASA PICCOLA? TU ABITI IN UN APPARTAMENTO ELEGANTE O MODESTO? TU ABITI DA SOLO O CON AMICI? TU ABITI IN UNA CASA CON GIARDINO? TU ABITI CON TUO PADRE? TU ABITI CON TUA MADRE? TU ABITI CON TUA NONNA?

LAVORARE
IO LAVORO IN UNA SCUOLA. IO LAVORO IN UN UFFICIO IO LAVORO IN UN NEGOZIO IO LAVORO IN UNA BIBLIOTECA IO LAVORO IN UNA CHIESA IO LAVORO IN UN OSPEDALE IO LAVORO IN UNA FABBRICA

WEEK 4

compito 1

Verbs 3rd conjugation IRE (regular); INITALIANOWEB; Lezione 3; Verbs ARE irregular forms; INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 3

TASK 1 For each verb on the list in Dispensa 1
Write one sentence with <io> then find at least one word per sentence that can be associated with the verb.
Model: < io arrivo treno bicicletta>

TASK 2
Write all the dates in Italian in all the compiti I have assigned so far.

Conjugation of ESSERE, AVERE and -- ARE verbs.
One section similar to Soundpage -ARE.
Some elements from QUIZ Feb 7
DICTATION ( I will read and you will write) from OGGI E DOMANI, dialogues or sentences in Lesson 1 Page 1
How to tell your age.
Lavorare: basic question/answer

compito 2

CLICK THIS LINK. Listen to the soundfile and translate immediately.
In the quiz I will give the same exercise - you won't be not allowed to write the English input, only the immediate translation. I call this exercise FLASH TRANSLATION.
VERBS ESSERE and AVERE
I am using the form YOUZE to indicate YOU PLURAL = VOI

CLICK THIS LINK.
Listent to the soundfile and translate immediately.
In the quiz I will give the same exercise - you won't be not allowed to write the English input, only the immediate translation. I call this exercise FLASH TRANSLATION.
VERBS LAVORARE ABITARE
I am using the form YOUZE to indicate YOU PLURAL = VOI
======================
CLICK THIS LINK
Vocabulary from OGGI E DOMANI, Lesson 1 Page 3
========================
More busywork (do not include with compito)
ESSERE AVERE fill in the blank ---- useful format to know in the quiz

WEEK 5

compito 1

Verbs ERE irregular forms;INITALIANOWEB: Lezione; 4Verbs IRE irregular forms; INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 4
TASK 1
QUIZ CULTURA: Download, print and answer the first TEN questions ONLY. LEARN THE ANSWERS

TASK 2
Find and write the names of at least 3 online Italian media publications (newspapers, blogs, etc).

PHONETICS / FONETICA
Pronunciation of <C> <G> followed by FRONT and BACK Vowels
CLICK HERE
Rewrite the words in the following videos and memorize the pronunciation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GFqUabfuVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cffVlLj3HDE

WIKIOpen this document and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bc84FjRhuU9sbF5E6XAsStMKr17mGdmqCiwIsOEZGn8/edit?usp=sharing

compito 2

CONIUGAZIONE -ERE
DISPENSA: study VERBI - ERE here

WIKI
Open this document and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17nuT6jCPZNkEHE7X3yZl_anEdyZ6sA5dLf1FEi2mqb4/edit?usp=sharing

Read and STUDY AVERE -- ESPRESSIONI IDIOMATICHE

DISPENSA ESPRESSIONI AVERE

WEEK 6

compito 1

Review of regular and irregular verb forms.
Task 1: QUIZ CULTURA ITALIANA: domande 11-20
Task 2: Italian media. Open the blog, Italian media links. Report here the headline of the article you posted on the blog, with ad-sensum translation (it means, not literary transl.) Mention the source publication.
Taks 3: homepage. Under "tutte le dispense" open n. 5 and 6 and do the exercises. (Yes, dispensa 6: all the exercises, ABCD 1,2.)DO NOT COPY AND PASTE the format (the tables and text fields.) RETYPE the INPUT.

quiz 3 part 1, quiz 3 part 2 (under LEZIONI on homepage. Wait to do the quizzes after I posted the soundfiles for DETTATO)

compito 2

soundpage IRE VERBS

Task 1: QUIZ CULTURA ITALIANA: domande 20-30
PRINT OUT the portion of the quiz and WRITE YOUR ANSWERS BY HAND.
Task 2: Italian Media. Copy at least 3 headlines that mention NAPOLITANO. Answer: who is Napolitano? What is his official title?
Taks 3: For each letter of the alphabet, write a NOUN, with indefinite article, relating to the semantic field CASA or POSTO DI LAVORO (workplace). EX: A: un'aula (classroom).

Task 4: STUDY -IRE verbs, both WEAK and STRONG (debole, forte).
Conjugation CLICK HERE--
-IRE VERBS -- list of verbs CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE FILE
For each verb on the STRONG list, write TWO NOUNS with the indefinite article.

WEEK 7

compito 1

CATCH UP WEEK.

The assignments will focus on areas in need of review

compito 2

The assignments will focus on areas in need of review

WEEK 8

compito 1

REFLEXIVE verbs; INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 4;
REMEMBER. PRINT OUT THE LAST QUIZ, answer by hand.
Task 1: QUIZ CULTURA ITALIANA: domande 30-40
Task 2: Italian Media. Copy at least 3 headlines that mention BERLUSCONI. MUST BE FROM 3 DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS
SINGULAR PLURAL //// DEFINITE ARTICLES /////
ONLY FOR YOUR OWN PRACTICE. NO NEED TO TURN IN YOUR COMPITO (no email either)
Dispensa ARTICOLI DEFINITI 1
Dispensa ARTICOLI DEFINITI 2

compito 2

Choose 10 -IRE verbs (strong) and 10 -IRE verbs (weak)
Use them in sentences (total 20) that follow this model:
IO AMO .............pulire la casa
IO AMO .........(to follow the wind)
IO AMO ...... (to punish criminals)

You can change IO AMO to something like : THE JUDGE LOVES TO PUNISH CRIMINALS
The more creative the better BUT make sure you do it correctly.
Look at the model carefully: "IO AMO" (main clause) is followed by a verb in the INFINITIVE FORM.
IO AMO ...... MA IO DETESTO.... (I like/love .... but I hate/detest)
After the main clause "IO AMO" you can use a NOUN = io amo il gelato
Or you can use a verb = io amo correre
Same with DETESTARE: "IO DETESTO" la trippa or "IO DETESTO" aspettare

NOW COMBINE AMARE AND DETESTARE IN A SINGLE SENTENCE THAT MAKES SENSE:
MODELS:
Io amo la pizza ma detesto la trippa
Io amo correre ma detesto nuotare
WRITE a total of 10 sentences like the models above. The opposition BUT must make sense. Don't throw down the first thing that comes to mind. Squeeze your brain

WEEK 9

compito 1

INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 5
For each letter of the alphabet, write a NOUN, with indefinite article, relating to the semantic field CASA or POSTO DI LAVORO (workplace). EX: A: un'aula (classroom).
You are encouraged to share, communicate with each other, split the job among yourselves.
Find a word that fits the description for each letter of the alphabet. Start early and share with classmates, split the job etc.

compito 2

BRING TO CLASS THE HANDOUTS:
stagioni mesi giorni vestiti altri vestiti

Make sure you know the INDEFINITE and DEFINITE articles for these items.

Task 1:
Find the names of the days of the week, write them down and explain their original meaning (from Latin and, in one case, from Hebrew)

TASK 2:
Write at least 10 sentences using CONCRETE SUBJECTS (ex. La gente, il professore, gli studenti, i tifosi, an elegant lady, a sloppy teenager, il mio dottore, etc).
Say what they wear on different days of the week OR months of the year OR seasons.
Also use these expressions:
OGNI GIORNO (every day)
QUALCHE VOLTA (sometimes)
SPESSO (often)
RARAMENTE (seldom)

EX. My doctor seldom wears a tie *on Sunday (in italiano, 'on Sunday' is singular)

WEEK 10

compito 1

INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 5

FLASH TRANSLATION OF SOUNDPAGE
STUDY: ANDARE, FARE, DARE, STARE
DISPENSA
SOUNDPAGE

compito 2

Last 10 questions of CULTURE QUIZ

WEEK 11

compito 1

INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 5
preposizioni
dispensa 1
dispensa 2

TASK 1    dispensa 3 esercizio
TASK 2    dispensa 4 esercizio
TASK 3     dispensa 5 esercizio

compito 2

Using FARE with PROFESSION (see STUDY below)

List 10 pairs of famous people (real or fictional, pop culture OK) and tell their profession.
Ex. Elvis e Michael Jackson fanno i cantanti pop.

STUDY vocabulary, verbo FARE and IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS with FARE
(in the context of professions and education)

Check the previous compiti for the link to the sound files of FARE DARE STARE ANDARE:
FLASH TRANSLATION OF THESE VERB FORMS
FLASH TRANSLATION OF VOCABULARY FROM OGGI-DOMANI

WEEK 12

compito 1

INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 6
ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THIS DOCUMENT (download, print and write your answers by hand. Turn in in class separately.)
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES (my, your, his/her, our, your, their)
DISPENSA 1 exercises 1,2,3 (copy the input and write the answer)
DISPENSA 2 exercises 2, 3 (copy the input)

compito 2

ONLINE EXERCISE: interactive exercise
WRITING SIMPLE SENTENCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj-A_NinLIc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Bbzd9d5kw

WEEK 13

compito 1

INITALIANOWEB: Lezione 6

Canzoni
Buonanotte fiorellino
E penso a te
Viva l'Italia

DISPENSA CHI E'
DISPENSA DOV'E'
DISPENSA DOV'E' 2

compito 2

DISPENSA CHE TEMPO FA
DISPENSA LA STORIA
DISPENSA FORMAZIONE DOMANDE