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French and Italian at The Ohio State University

Italian Courses

104 Syllabus

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

A Beach by the Mountains

A note from the directors of the Italian Program

Welcome to Italian 104, the last course in the language sequence 101-104. In this course you will continue to develop your abilities to speak, write, read, and understand Italian. You will review grammar that you have already covered in previous courses and you will learn new structures. In addition, you will learn more about Italian culture and life in Italy. As in Italian 101 - 103, your instructor will make every effort to speak exclusively in Italian and you will be expected to do the same. 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, remember to use the Italian expressions in the front cover of Avanti! to ask questions or ask for clarification.

During the course, you will review material in Avanti!, study Chp. 16, cover new grammar topics that are presented in the Per Saperne di Più (PSDP) section of Avanti! (located at the back of the text), and do readings and exercises from a second text, Bar Italia. In addition, you will watch films, learn how to play a popular Italian card game, and learn about Italian pop music and regional culture.

The keys to success in this course are the same as those in your previous Italian courses: 1) Don’t skip class. You will be covering a lot of material and developing your language skills in each class. Missing class will affect your overall performance. 2) Read the pages indicated on the syllabus that will be covered in class before coming to class. This will help you follow along. 3) Do your homework each night so that you keep up with the material. 4) Use Italian whenever possible. You will not learn the language without using it!

We are sure that you will continue to find your 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 with this syllabus. If you would like to practice your Italian outside of the classroom, check out our website (http://frit.osu.edu/) for the schedule of activities planned for the quarter by the Italian Club (under ‘Opportunities for Students’) and for the meeting times of the conversation group, La Tavola Italiana (under ‘Services’).

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!

Syllabus

Department office and teachers' mailboxes: 200 Hagerty Hall

Instructor: ___________________ Phone: _____________________________ Phone messages: 292-4938

E-mail: ___________________ Office: ___________________ Office Hours: _________________________

Final Exam: _______________

Required texts:

Avanti Book Cover
Aski, Janice M. and Diane Musumeci. 2006. Avanti! New York: McGraw Hill.
Workbook Cover
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.
Bar Italia front cover
Annamaria Di Francesco e Ciro Massimo Naddeo. Alma Edizioni - Firenze

*Please Note
  • Your instructor will also distribute a package of handouts. Bring your texts and handout package to class every day.
  • You do not need to write in your textbook, Avanti. All the graph paper charts are reproduced at the back of your workbook/laboratory manual. If you intend to resell Bar Italia, do not write in the book.
  • You will need an Italian/English dictionary: Webster, Oxford and Garzanti are all good choices.
  • There is a copy of Avanti! with the DVD on Reserve in the Sullivant Library.

GEC Goals and Objectives

  1. Goals
    • Foreign language courses develop students' skills in communication across ethnic, cultural, ideological, and national boundaries, and help students develop an understanding of other cultures and patterns of thought.
  2. Objectives
    1. Students demonstrate basic skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a language other than their native language.
    2. Students describe cultural differences in countries other than their own, and demonstrate an appreciation of these differences
The 101-104 courses in Italian satisfy the foreign language requirement in the Skills category.

Course Objectives:

Italian 104 is the last 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. You will continue to refine your speaking skills by completing tasks with your classmates in pairs and small groups. You will develop reading and writing skills by reading increasingly more elaborate authentic texts and writing essays, and your listening skills will be cultivated by in-class interactions, listening to short lectures on topics in Italian culture, listening to Italian music, and watching Italian movies.

After having taken Italian 101-103, by the end of Italian 104 you should be able to:
  • understand brief discussions by native speakers on familiar topics and presentations by the instructor with fewer explanations/clarifications
  • read and understand slightly longer authentic texts
  • engage in brief conversations with native speakers who are sympathetic to the communicative needs of foreign language learners
  • write essays on topics related to readings or material used in class using the structures and vocabulary you have learned in 101 -103
  • demonstrate a broad understanding of a variety of topics related to Italian culture, society, and history.
Course Evaluation
Attendance and performance 20%

4 quizzes

35%
Final exam 15%
Homework 20%
Oral exam 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 in advance, 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 4 points. If you attend all three days and participate and interact in class, you will receive 12 points for the week. For each class missed you will lose all four points. For each day that you attend but do not participate and/or are disruptive or disengaged, you will lose up to 3 points.

Quizzes:

There are four quizzes (each approximately 45-60 minutes in length) in this course. Do not miss the quizzes. 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 without prior notification will count as a zero.

Final Exam:

The final exam will test your abilities to read and write in Italian. 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 Avanti! Workbook/laboratory manual, activities assigned from Bar Italia, temini (compositions), and any work assigned by the instructor. All graded assignments are worth 20 points each.
  • Avanti! Workbook/Laboratory Manual: Students are expected to complete the workbook/laboratory manual exercises that pertain to the material covered in class. 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. 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. When you hand in your assignments, remove the pages from your book, staple them, and put your name on them. Note: Some assignments are ‘self study’. This means that this material is not covered in class. You must read the grammar explanation and do the workbook assignments. If you have any questions about the material, be sure to talk with your instructor.
  • Temini (compositions): There will not be a rewrite for the essays in this course. The first version you hand in is the version that will be graded. In some instances, however, you may spend time in class editing your work with the instructor or your classmates, and then you will correct your work at home. 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 Avanti! 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. You can also hear a native speaker pronounce the new vocabulary in the chapters. This is a great supplement to your course materials – be sure to give it a try!

Oral Presentations:

Each presentation will last approximately 10 minutes and will be done in front of the class. You will be in groups of 2 or 3. You may also choose to do the presentation alone, if you have a particular field of interest. You may use note cards in Italian, but cannot read your presentation. Visual or audio material (like movie clips, Power-point presentations, overhead material, posters, CD's, etc.) must accompany the presentation. All the visual material's script that will be presented in class needs to be submitted to your instructor for correction. Please let your Instructor know ahead of time if you will need to reserve special equipment. You may present an in-depth study of one of the cultural topics discussed in class, or you may develop an Italian cultural topic that interests you (approved by the Instructor). Examples of possible topics: unusual Italian news, the works of a particular artist, poet or musician, a city in Italy, the life of young people in Italy, transportation in big cities, a film director, an actor, etc.

Points (out of 50) will be awarded 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


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 work or otherwise turning in written work that is not original to you. Cheating in this case applies both to the copier and the person who allows his or her work to be copied.
  • 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.

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 month of July (4 weeks) or the months of July and August (8 weeks). 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 Affairs for more information.

For information about full-immersion service learning in Siena for a semester or a full year, or about studying at the Universitá 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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