Italian: Beginners Course I

On completion of the course the student should be able to:

• Communicate verbally in familiar and everyday situations and develop communication strategies to meet unexpected and / or unknown language situations
• Use basic phonetic concepts and demonstrate their understanding of these by correct Italian pronunciation and intonation
• Describe the content in short written texts, dealing with everyday situations
• Write short coherent texts, such as messages and personal letters, and make simple written summaries and translations of texts with everyday content
• Discuss the systematic similarities and differences between Swedish / English and the Italian language regarding pronunciation, grammar and the lexicon
• Show an understanding of basic grammatical concepts and idiomatic expressions in speech and writing and apply these in simple linguistic analyses
• Describe how to use information technology as a source of knowledge and resource for language learning, and critically evaluate the acquired knowledge
• Describe basic knowledge of Italian cultural, political and social conditions as well as Italian language development
• Evaluate their own learning progress by reflecting on difficulties encountered and the solutions to these.

Modules

The course aims to lay the basis for communicating in Italian, both orally and in writing.
The course includes two modules with similar content, but with an increasing level of proficiency, and requires intensive study.

Modules

The module includes an overview of basic Italian grammar structures and various written exercises in Italian grammar. In addition, we identify systematic similarities and differences between Swedish / English and the Italian language regarding pronunciation, grammar and the lexicon.
The module also includes exercises in free writing, conversation exercises and pronunciation and intonation exercises. Students practice to develop reading and listening comprehension strategies to understand the message of simple oral and written texts. In the module the students train their awareness of different learning strategies and their implementation in learning. In addition, the students train a continuous reflection of the difficulties he/she faced during the learning of the Italian language and trains to find solutions. At the end of the module this is summarized in an evaluation.

Module 2 builds on knowledge from Module 1.
The module includes exercises in understanding varied Italian written and oral texts where the similarities and differences between Swedish / English and the Italian language regarding pronunciation, grammar and the lexicon are systematically analyzed. It includes written exercises, even in the form of summaries and translations, and writing of individual free texts, to consolidate grammatical skills. The module also contains different types of listening and pronunciation drills and exercises to engage in multi person conversations in different everyday situations. In addition, the module provides knowledge of Italian cultural, political and social conditions and Italian language development. In this context, the students train to critically manage information technology as a resource and source of information for langauge learning and to independently produce oral presentations using digital technology. Presentations are based on student‘s own material that was searched for, sifted through, critically evaluated and summarised.
Also in this module, students will practice continuous reflection and increase their awareness of the difficulties he/she faced during the learning of the Italian language and trains to find solutions. At the end of the module this is summarized in an evaluation.

Assessment is through active participation in seminars and written assignments, plus a final written and oral examination for each module.

Teaching and learning takes place through an on-line platform. It is required that students have access to a computer with sound and an internet connection. Headset, microphone and a stand-alone web-cam are required as well.

All seminars are compulsory and students are expected to participate actively in those. Homework and oral and written assignments, are an important part of the course and they are compulsory as well.
The teaching languages are English/Swedish and Italian.

The Swedish grades U–VG.

To get the grade of VG for the whole course VG is required on all four modules.

Reporting of grades:
Module 1: Part 1: Oral proficiency A - 4 cr
Module 1: Part 2: Written proficiency A - 3,5 cr
Module 2: Part 1: Oral proficiency B - 3,5 cr
Module 2: Part 2: Written proficiency B - 4 cr

Passing the course grants access to Italian: Beginners Course II at Dalarna University.

Replaces IT1017.