Italian Courses

Italiano 101

Textbooks || Course Objectives || Course Evaluation || Grading Scale || Quizzes || Final Exam || Homework || Performance || Academic Misconduct || Disabilities Services || Daily Syllabus

A note from the directors of the Italian Language Program:
Welcome to the Italian language sequence 101-104! In these courses you will develop your abilities to speak, write, read, and understand Italian. In order to do this, you need to hear and use a lot of Italian. For this reason, your instructors will make every effort to speak exclusively in Italian, and you will be expected to interact with your instructor and classmates in Italian as well. Your instructor will use hand gestures, facial expressions, and visuals to help make concepts clear. If, however, you are having difficulty understanding or following along, be sure to use the Italian expressions in the front cover of your textbook to ask questions or ask for clarification. Here are two more helpful hints: 1) Read the pages indicated on the syllabus that will be covered in class before coming to class. This will help you follow along. 2) Do your homework each night so that you keep up with the material. If you procrastinate and put off doing the workbook until the night before the quiz, you may feel overwhelmed and you won’t have time to study for the quiz! 3) Use Italian whenever possible. You will not learn the language without using it!

We are sure that you will find this and your future Italian courses interesting, engaging, and fun! For those who are interested in developing their language skills beyond the 100-level, information about the Italian major and minor are included at the end of this syllabus. Now is also the time to start thinking about studying Italian in Italy. Information about the OSU study abroad programs is also included at the end of this syllabus. If you would like to practice your Italian outside of the classroom, check out our Web site (http://frit.osu.edu/) for the schedule of activities planned for the quarter by the Italian Club, the meeting times of the conversation group, Caffè Forte, and tutoring support (all under 'Undergraduate Studies/Activities and Opportunities for Students').

On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Italian program, we wish you a wonderful quarter! If at any time you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact the Director of the Italian Language Program, Prof. Janice M. Aski (aski.1@osu.edu) or the Assistant Director of the Italian Elementary Language Program Ms. Carla Onorato (carlaonorato@yahoo.com) at any time.

Buon proseguimento!

Italian 101 Syllabus

Instructor: ________________________ Phone: _____________/________________ Phone messages: 292-4938

E-mail: _______________________ Office: _______________________ Office Hours: ____________________

Final Exam: _______________

Please Note: If you have taken Italian before coming to OSU, you are required to take the Placement Test to determine the appropriate course for your language ability. You are not required to take the test if you have had one year or less of high school Italian or one quarter/semester of university language study, but it is still recommended. Once you have started the elementary language sequence (101-104) you are no longer eligible to take the placement test.

To take the Placement Test go to the Computer Lab in Hagerty Hall 171A, with your student ID. Please contact the EM credit advisor, Carla Onorato (carlaonorato@yahoo.com) for more information.

Course Objectives:

Italian 101 is the first course of a sequence (101, 102, 103, 104) that leads to fulfillment of the general education requirement (GEC). The Italian elementary language sequence is designed for students who wish to develop the skills necessary to interact in the language and learn about Italian contemporary culture and society as well as Italy’s rich history. In Italian 101 you will refine your speaking skills by completing tasks with your classmates in pairs and small groups and by following models of native speakers presented on video. You will develop reading and writing skills by reading authentic texts and writing related, reaction essays, and your listening skills will be cultivated by completing on-line listening activities, viewing and analyzing short clips from Italian movies, and listening to short lectures on topics in Italian culture such as, where Italian last names come from, how Italians spend their day, and how the modern Italian family differs from the common stereotype.

At the end of Italian 101 you should be able to:

understand your instructor's explanations and commands as well as short presentations on familiar topics with frequent explanations/clarifications
understand short, authentic texts, such as advertisements, tables and brief descriptions
engage in brief conversations on topics mostly related to yourself and your surroundings with your classmates and the instructor
write short essays on familiar topics using the structures and vocabulary you have learned
discuss competently (in English) several topics related to Italian culture and society and make contrasts/comparisons with your native culture.

Required texts :

Aski, Janice M. and Diane Musumeci. 2006. Avanti! New York: McGraw Hill.

Aski, Janice M., Diane Musumeci, Justin Ehrenberg, Carla Onorato, Zoé Robles, Daryl Rodgers, and Amy Rowden. 2006. Workbook / Laboratory Manual to Accompany Avanti! New York: McGraw Hill.

Aski, Janice M. and Diane Musumeci. 2006. DVD to Accompany Avanti! New York: McGraw Hill.

*Please Note

You will be using these same texts in Italian 102-104, so do not resell them at the end of the course.
You do not need to write in your textbook. All the graph paper charts are reproduced at the back of your workbook/laboratory manual.
Bring your textbook and workbook/laboratory manual to class every day.
A copy of the text and workbook are on reserve in Sullivant Library.

Course Evaluation:
Attendance and performance	15%
(5 ) quizzes + (1) mini-quiz	35%
Final exam	15%
Homework	25%
Oral presentation	10%

Grading Scale:
A 93-100	B+ 88-89	B- 80-82	C 73-77	D+ 68-69	E 64-0
A- 90-92	B 83-87	C+ 78-79	C- 70-72	D 65-67

Attendance and performance:

Regular attendance and participation in class activities are essential for learning a foreign language. In order to make progress in understanding and speaking Italian, students must hear and speak it on a daily basis. Therefore, prepare carefully for class by completing all assignments, and be ready to participate in class. If you have to be absent or are ill, contact a classmate to find out the assignments that you missed. You may hand in the homework that you missed while absent on the day that you return to class, but no later. You will be permitted two unexcused absences during the quarter. Other absences are only excused with a valid, written excuse. Repeated and/or lengthy absences, as well as lack of quality participation and interaction will affect your course grade. Attendance and participation grades are assigned weekly. Each day is worth 3 points. If you attend all five days and participate and interact in class, you will receive 15 points for the week. For each class missed you will lose 3 points. For each day that you attend but do not participate and/or are disruptive or disengaged, you will lose up to 2 points.

Quizzes and mini-quiz:

There are five quizzes (each approximately 30 minutes in length) in this course. They will cover Strategie, Lessico, Strutture, Cultura, and the information in the In Italia boxes throughout the chapter. There is one mini-quiz (approximately10 minutes in length) in chapter 1. Do not miss the quizzes or the mini-quiz. You will only be allowed a make-up if you contact your instructor beforehand and provide a valid written excuse. Any make-ups will be scheduled at the convenience of your instructor. A missed quiz or mini-quiz without prior notification will count as a zero.

Final Exam:

The final exam will test your abilities to read and write in Italian. You will be given two readings with comprehension activities that are similar to the readings in your text and workbook/laboratory manual. There will be two compositions. You will be allowed to prepare the first composition in advance, but the topic for the second will be given at the final exam. The first composition is Scriviamo!, on page 108 of your workbook/laboratory manual. You may prepare the text before the exam, but you may not bring it to the exam.

For the final exam only, you will be allowed to consult a dictionary during the exam.

The date of the final exam is in the Master Schedule. The date and time of your final exam are determined by the university and cannot be changed. You should not have any conflicts with exams in other courses.

Homework:

Homework consists of the workbook/laboratory manual, temini (compositions), the video activities from the Strategie section of your text, and any work assigned by the instructor. All graded assignments are worth 20 points each.

Workbook/Laboratory Manual: Students are expected to complete the workbook/laboratory manual exercises that pertain to the material covered in class on a daily basis. (Hint: Do not procrastinate and do all the workbook/laboratory activities the night before the quiz, because you will not have any time to study for the quiz!) You can access the listening activities at our departmental Web site (http://frit.osu.edu) under 'Media resources'. After completing the exercises, use the answer key at the back of your workbook/laboratory manual to correct your work. Be sure to use a different color ink for your corrections so that they will be visible for review later. The workbook will not be accepted without corrections. The workbook (with corrections) is to be presented in class on the days indicated on the schedule.

Please Note: Copying answers directly from the answer key (as opposed to doing the assignment first and then correcting mistakes from the answer key) on workbook/laboratory assignments is considered Academic Misconduct and will be reported. The workbook/laboratory assignments will be collected in class on the day of the chapter quiz. Be sure to remove the pages from your workbook, staple them, and put your name on them.
Temini (compositions): The grade for each temino is based on the quality of the first draft and the final, corrected version. (Hint: Put lots of effort into the first draft!) Please clearly print or type your Temino. Compositions are graded based on the following rubric:

Composition Rubric
Content (1-6 points)
5-6: content well-developed with points elaborated and examples where appropriate
3-4: minimum amount of information necessary to meet instructions
1-2: little information conveyed, sketchy presentation
Comprehensibility (1-6 points)
5-6: easily understood
3-4: understood with some effort
1-2: incomprehensible or understood only with great effort
Vocabulary (1-6 points)
5-6: accurate use of a wide variety of words (for this level)
3-4: accurate use of a restricted, but adequate number of words
1-2: inaccurate word choice or repetitive word use
Length (1-2 points)
2: length requirement was observed
1: length requirement was less than requested

Video Activities: The day before the Strategie section of each chapter is presented in class, students are asked to read the corresponding pages in the text and complete the activities associated with the DVD that comes in your text/workbook/lab manual package. Please put your answers on a separate sheet of paper to hand in.
Subtitles must be turned off when watching the DVD. Go to the main menu and highlight "Subtitles off" at the bottom of the screen, then hit Enter/Play while highlighting it. Go back to the chapter you want to watch.

Please Note

You are expected to read the assigned pages before coming to class so that you are familiar with the topics that will be covered. Remember, this is to your advantage, since the book explains everything in English and class is conducted in Italian!
The Avanti! Web site (www.mhhe.com/avanti) has a variety of activities to practice grammar and vocabulary and to test your knowledge of the communication strategies and culture topics presented in each chapter. You can also hear a native speaker pronounce the new vocabulary in the chapter. This is a great supplement to your course materials. (You can also access this site through the FRIT Web site under ‘Media resources’.)

Oral Exams

During the last three days of the quarter, students will perform one short (5-minutes) dialogue with their partner for the instructor. On the day indicated on the syllabus, students will be assigned a partner and will select an exam time. Exams will be given in class at an appointed time. The structure of the exam is as follows:

At the exam, each pair of students will select one of the following topics randomly (from a hat) to perform for the instructor:

Two young people meet for the first time at a party. They ask each other questions to get to know each other better. (Hint: Don't limit yourselves to names and ages; think about including likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc.) At the end of the conversation, they make plans to meet for coffee the following day.
You and your partner have recently met and would like to learn more about each other’s immediate and extended family members. (Hint: Don't limit yourselves to names and ages; think about including likes, dislikes, professions, etc.) At the end of the conversation, one participant invites the other to come to his/her house for dinner with the family.
Hint: Be ready to present both scenarios!

Both participants must ask and answer questions and have roughly equal speaking time.
Students will be awarded points (out of 50) based on the following rubric:

Comprehensibility:
Preparedness:
Vocabulary (accuracy and appropriateness)
Fluency (smoothness of speech)
Pronunciation (Italian-like 'accent')

0-10
0-10
0-10
0-10
0-10

Please Note: Each performance is graded individually. Your grade has nothing to do with the quality of your partner's contribution.

How to prepare for your oral exam:

Practice all the scenarios with a partner outside of class. Listen to what your partner says and respond appropriately. Keep the conversation flowing and do not use any English. You will not be allowed to use notes at the exam, so practice responding spontaneously (and appropriately) to your partner.

Disability Services:

Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and participation in this course must be registered with the Office for Disability Services (ODS). Please contact ODS at (614) 292-3307 or (614) 292-0901 (TDD). Students should also contact their instructor as soon as possible to explore potential accommodations.

Academic Integrity Statement:

Students enrolled in courses at The Ohio State University are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic conduct. All suspected cases of misconduct will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct as required by University rules. Examples of academic misconduct in this course include, but are not limited to, the following:

Copying answers directly from the answer key (as opposed to doing the assignment first and then correcting mistakes from the answer key) on workbook assignments.
Copying answers directly from the answer key (as opposed to doing the assignment first and then correcting mistakes from the answer key) on workbook assignments.
Having someone else do or write your assignments for you.
Using a translator in any way to complete compositions, presentations or other assignments.
Having anyone other than your instructor help you with your compositions or presentations. Tutors may answer questions about assignments from the workbook or textbook, but they may not help with compositions or presentations.
Receiving or passing exam information to other students before, during or after the exam. Cheating in this case applies both to the receiver of the exam information and the person who gives the information.
Alteration of university forms used to drop or add courses to a program, or unauthorized use of those forms including the forging of signatures.
Use of any unauthorized aids on exams (e.g., cheat sheets, textbook, etc) is strictly prohibited.

Please Note: Students are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic dishonesty. For more information on this topic, consult the Ohio State University's policy on Academic Misconduct at: http://dent.osu.edu/studentaffairs/Documents/Student_Reference_Manual/academic_misconduct.htm#Acad All suspected cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct as required by University rules.

Quick-facts about the Italian Major and Minor

The Italian Major and Minor

You can get a major in Italian by taking 10 courses beyond Italian 104. Majors must take Italian 202 and at least two Italian 600-level courses (or above) at OSU.

Two courses in English that are offered in the Department of French and Italian may count for the major. You may choose from the following: Italian 251, 221, and 616. (If used for the major, these courses may not count for a GEC.)

The Italian Minor

You can get a minor in Italian by taking 4 courses beyond Italian 104. Minors must take Italian 202 and a 400-level course at OSU. Courses in English do not count toward the minor.

What about Study Abroad

Up to 15 credits of Italian 697 (Study at a foreign institution) and additional transfer credit may be counted toward the major or minor.

For more information contact Jodi Obert (obert.1@osu.edu).

Study Abroad Opportunities in Italy

The Ohio State University Study Abroad Program in Italy, offered in cooperation with the Università degli Studi di Lecce and its Scuola di Italiano per Stranieri offers the possibility of obtaining up to twenty hours of credit for study in Italy during the months of July and August. The prerequisites for admission to this program are 1) a minimum 2.7 cumulative G.P.A., 2) a minimum 2.7 GPA in Italian, and 3) successful completion of Italian 102 or higher. Students who study at Lecce will receive OSU credit for Italian 103 and 104 or, depending on their prior preparation and length of stay, for some combination of elementary and intermediate Italian courses and up to fifteen hours of Italian 697. It is also possible to study in Lecce during the academic year. Please contact the Office of International Education for more information.

For information about full-immersion service learning in Siena for a semester or a full year, or about studying at the Università degli Studi di Lecce for a semester or a full year, please see Ms. Carla Onorato (carlaonorato@yahoo.com).

For students who would like to take coursework in English in Italy, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) has information about programs offered during the academic year in Perugia, Florence, and Rome that are administered in collaboration with Arcadia College. Please be sure to contact the Study Abroad Advisor to determine whether language courses can be transferred to OSU for OSU credit.

If you would like to attend a program other than those offered through OSU, please see the Study Abroad Advisor for suggestions. Note that 1) the study abroad advisor in the Department of French and Italian must pre-approve your course of study. You will need to provide information about the school you will attend as well as course descriptions and syllabi for the courses you intend to take. 2) course work will only be accepted from Italian language schools/universities other than those listed above if students return to OSU with grades for their work from the host institution. Transfer credit cannot be given based solely on a certificate of attendance. 3) at least a full quarter before departure you should contact Grace Johnson in the Office of International Affairs for the appropriate paperwork.

Information about scholarships for study abroad can be obtained from the Office of International Affairs, Oxley Hall, 1712 Neil Avenue. Students should not forget to investigate other sources for support, such as the Rotary Club and other local organizations.

The Italian faculty of the Department of French and Italian strongly supports Study Abroad in Italy and will be glad to provide interested students with further information, encouragement, and even travel tips. Contact the Study Abroad Advisor for more information.

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