aCademiC Catalog 2013-2014 - Lorenzo de Medici

This program aims to give the students the possibility to
combine a full immersion in Italian language with an in-depth
experience of Italian culture. During an academic semester four
levels will be covered on condition that students pass a final
exam for each course. For every level students will obtain 4
credits (out of the total 16) on condition that he/she receive
a “C-” or higher. Each level consists of 60 contact hours. All
classes are held in Italian. Ample time is also dedicated to
activities whose objective is to deepen knowledge of Italian
society and culture and enable students to interact directly with
local community through interviews, research and fieldtrips.
For the description of any single level please see ITL 292, ITL
391, ITL 392 and ITL 393.
Prerequisites: ITL 201 3-Credit Italian Language Intermediate 1
or equivalent; placement test upon arrival
LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
4-Credit Italian Language Elementary 1
ITL 191 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Elementary 1 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for absolute beginner students who
have never studied Italian before. Its aim is to give the basis
of the language, allowing students to face the most common
everyday situations by expressing themselves in the present
and in the past tense. Key grammatical topics include: definite
and indefinite articles; regular and most common irregular verbs
in the present tense; modal verbs; most common prepositions;
regular and irregular present perfect; direct pronouns; the verb
piacere; interrogative pronouns; impersonal form. Key thematic
areas include: introducing oneself; at the restaurant; spare
time; time, weather, seasons; in town; at the hotel; vacations;
shopping for food.
4-Credit Italian language Elementary 2
ITL 192 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Elementary 2 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for students who have completed
one semester of Italian and already have a basic vocabulary and
knowledge of elementary structures of the language. By the
end of the course students should be able to communicate in
simple and routine tasks requiring an exchange of information
on familiar and routine matters, to describe his/her background,
immediate environment and matters related to areas relevant
to everyday life. Students will learn new forms to express past
actions and future events. Key grammatical topics include:
reflexive verbs; possessives; comparatives; imperfect versus
present perfect; introduction to conditional; “stare” + gerund;
relative pronouns; direct and indirect pronouns. Key thematic
areas include: Italian festivities; shopping in Italy; family and
childhood; marriage in Italy. Selected readings.
Prerequisites: ITL 101 3-Credit Italian Language Elementary 1 or
equivalent; placement test upon arrival
4-Credit Italian Language Intermediate 1
ITL 291 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Intermediate 1 level, which is part of the
16-Credit Italian program, is directed towards the acquisition
of more complex structures to express personal opinions and
preferences. By the end of the course students should be
able to enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are
familiar; to relate the plot of a book or film; to write correct
texts on topics of personal interest. Key grammatical topics
include: imperative forms; degrees of comparison: adverbs and
adjectives; future tense; introduction to subjunctive; combined
and relative pronouns; trapassato prossimo; past conditional;
intro to passato remoto. Key thematic areas include: dietary
habits; health and body; future plans; the working world;
dwellings. Selected readings.
Prerequisites: ITL 102 3-Credit Italian Language Elementary 2
or equivalent; placement test upon arrival
4-Credit Italian language Intermediate 2
ITL 292 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Intermediate 2 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for students who already have an
active knowledge of the main structures of the Italian language.
By completing the study of more complex language structures,
students will be able to give reasons and explanations for
opinions and plans. By the end of the course students should be
able to understand the main points of radio and TV programs,
newspaper and magazine articles and simple literary passages.
Key grammatical topics include: passato remoto and trapassato
prossimo; past conditional; consolidation of subjunctive mood;
passive form; conditional clauses; implicit forms. Key thematic
areas include: Italian society; fashion; immigration in Italy;
stereotypes; famous Italians; typical Italian products; Italian
music. Selected readings of literary works.
Prerequisites: ITL 201 3-Credit Italian Language Intermediate 1
or equivalent; placement test upon arrival
4-Credit Italian Language Advanced 1
ITL 391 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Advanced 1 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for students who have a solid
grammatical /lexical background in Italian, have already
completed the study of complex language structures. By the
end of the course students should be able to understand most
TV news and current affairs programs, contemporary literary
prose, write clear texts about a range of subjects including
reports, passing information, or giving reasons in support or
against a particular point of view. They should be able to interact
with a degree of fluency with native speakers to take active part
in discussions. Key grammatical topics include: review of the
subjunctive, conditional and indicative mood; passive forms in
contrast; linking words; articles and prepositions. Key thematic
areas include: issues in contemporary Italian arts, history and
society; changes in the Italian Language. Literature: Selected
readings of literary works by modern Italian authors.
Prerequisites: ITL 202 3-Credit Italian Language Intermediate 2
or equivalent; placement test upon arrival
4-Credit Italian Language Advanced 2
ITL 392 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Advanced 2 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for those students fluent in
Italian. By the end of the semester students should be able
to understand most TV news and current affairs programs,
contemporary literary prose, write clear texts about a wide
range of subjects without much effort, interact with high degree
of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers. By working
with different types of authentic materials and by completing
the in-depth grammar review students will achieve a high level
of language fluency, they will be able to formulate ideas and
opinions with precision, to understand television programs and
movies without much effort. Key grammatical topics include:
compound and loan words; tense agreement; reported speech;
subordinate clauses; more complex impersonal and passive
forms; gerund, infinitive, participle Key thematic areas include:
further issues in contemporary Italian arts, history and society.
Changes in the Italian Language. Selected readings of literary
works by modern and contemporary Italian authors.
Prerequisites: ITL 301 3-Credit Italian Language Advanced 1 or
equivalent; placement test upon arrival
4-Credit Italian Language Advanced 3
ITL 393 F
Cr: 4; Contact hrs: 60
The 4-Credit Advanced 3 level, which is part of the 16-Credit
Italian program, is designed for those students already fluent
in Italian. By the end of the semester students should be able
to understand TV programs and movies, literary prose without
much effort, write clear texts about a wide range of subjects,
express themselves spontaneously. Focus will be on language
changes, both from the grammatical and lexical points of view,
according to the type of message or the kind of situation they
School of Italian Language & Culture FLORENCE
LdM Academic Catalog 2013-2014
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