Course: Beginning First-Year Italian 101

Instructor: Prof. Beatrice L. Bongiorno

Prerequisiti: Interest and passion

Office: A 245H    Tel. (425) 564-2213

Room: L221  Time: M-F  9:30-10:20

Term: Fall 2006

E-mail: bbongior@bcc.ctc.edu

Office Hrs: MW 10:30-11:20; TTh 2:00-3:00

 

 

Attend class! ~Participate! ~Complete assignments! ~Study for tests! ~Be kind to yourself and others ~ Have fun!

Required Material (Materiale richiesto): 

T.Marin & S. Magnelli, Nuovo Progetto Italiano 1, Edilingua, Roma 2006 

Corso multimediale di lingua e civiltà italiana (livello elementare) 

Includes: ▪Libro dello studente + CD-ROM Interattivo (Textbook + Interactive CD-ROM)

                    Quaderno degli esercizi (Student Activity Manual)

                    ▪1 CD audio/1 audiocassetta (tape) for Units’ dialogues and texts for oral comprehension   

                      and pronunciation activities

                   ▪ Online activities: www.edilingua.it/progetto

Notebook, pen and pencil and a mini stapler

Recommended (Si consiglia usare un dizionario bilingue):

English/Italian –Italian/English Dictionary           

 

Print syllabus and the calendar and carry with you to class (no copies will be distributed!)

Access both at:  http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/artshum/materials/Fall2006/default.asp click on WL and scroll to your course, click on your instructors’ name

or

Log on to MyBcc (a registered e-mail address + password are required to access site and to long-on to the language lab PCs. (A244)

 

Course Content and objectives (Contenuti e obiettivi formativi del corso):

Units studied this quarter:  Intro to 3 (pp. 5-56)

You are introduced to the basic of the Italian language by a communicative and inductive approach.  You will use vocabulary and grammatical concepts acquired in a natural and spontaneous way.  You will take an active role in your learning at all times, under the guidance of your instructor.  All four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) will receive equal attention by a series of practical activities where all multimedia resources will be utilized.

You will acquire a basic knowledge of Italian culture and civilization, with particular attention placed to daily modern Italian lifestyle in view of possible future travels to Italy.

Set realistic goals. Do not expect to achieve fluency in one quarter.  

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

-          Understand the geography of Italy; name and recognize its regions and locate main cities and places of interest

-          Recite the Italian alphabet; count and use cardinal numbers 0-1 million; Use ordinal numbers (First, second, etc)

-           Introduce yourself and others; tell your age and where you are from-origin

-          Distinguish between feminine and masculine nouns; noun-adjective agreement

-          Form plural of nouns; express nationalities; describe people and things

-          Ask and provide information; ask and tell when an event takes place

-          Use prepositions of movement; locate objects in space and learn how to use the partitivo

-          Say hello and goodbye formally and informally

-          Express yourself in the present tense (-are, -ere, -ire verbs, plus irregular verbs)

-          Use modal verbs to ask permission, express what you must and want to do

-          Indicate the existence of something (c’e’/ci sono)

-         Invite someone to join you; accept and decline an invitation

-         Ask for and tell the time; ask and tell the date; list the seasons and months

-         Describe your home or apt; name the rooms and its furnishings

-         Learn about the  public transportation system, the postal and the telephone services in Italy

-         Express possession; thank and respond with gratitude; write an e-mail and/or a letter;;

-         Express uncertainty and doubt

Course Requirements and Expectations:

Attendance.  It is mandatory.  All absences and tardy are unexcused.  Your instructor calls roll daily. You may make only 3 absences per quarter without jeopardizing your grade.  For your information:  everyone starts with 100 points (=A) for participation grade.  During the quarter, you incur loss of points due to excessive absences, lack of participation in class, refusal to use the target language, and not bringing the required material to class.  5 points will be deducted automatically beginning with the fourth absence from your final participation grade, 5 more points with the sixth, and so on.  In compliance with the Arts and Humanities Division Expectations, if you have 10 unexcused absences, you  failed the course.  I WILL ABIDE BY THIS RULE (See your instructor ASAP if you reach the ninth absence). 

Warning: 5 tardy = 1 absence.  30 minutes late in a 50 minutes class = 1 absence.)  It is your responsibility as well as mine to keep track of absences and number of tardy per quarter.  Please, abstain from contacting me by phone, e-mails, or third parties in order to explain your reasons for the absence or tardy on a particular day (no make-up).  In order to make true progress in the course attendance and active participation in the target language are crucial.

 

Tests. I will give four tests (one per Unit). The lowest grade will be dropped.  It includes an oral section.

Autovalutazione. They will be taken in class as quiz (3 total).

Assignments (Compiti). You will turn in stapled each Unit from Quaderno degli esercizi the day of the test. (Some assignments may come from online activities.) I will accept homework until 3:00pm the day due.  If you do not bring it to class, place it in my box in A245H.

Oral presentation (presentazione orale): You will be divided in groups and/or pairs to present in front of the class.     More information will be provided as the date approaches. I will post requirement on MyBCC. 

Participation.  It is expected and mandatory.  Work in-class activities, volunteer responses, come prepared, and interact with instructor and classmates in the target language. 

Final Exam.  The final exam will be comprehensive (Unità introduttiva-3).  It includes an oral section.

 

Make-up policy: No make-up quizzes, tests, oral presentations, or final exam will be offered.  EXCEPTIONS:

1) Official BCC competitions and activities requiring your presence.

                a) Provide me with event/game season schedule signed by the faculty/staff sponsor

2) Serious accident/ illness that confined you to a hospital bed or required home resting.

                b) Provide me with a physician’s note not related to you

3) Death in the family (including your beloved pet)

                c) Provide me with a funeral director’s note or a vet as appropriate

4) Your death (Scongiuri!)

                d) I will be profoundly saddened, and we will deeply miss you. Riposa in pace! (May you rest in peace!)

 

In the event of an “excused” absence (see above 1-3), try to complete the missed assignment or test as soon as possible. 

Contact me to make appropriate arrangements to schedule a make-up day and time suitable to our schedules.

 

FINAL EXAM DATE WILL NOT CHANGE TO ACCOMMODATE TRAVEL PLANS

Your exam will not be available prior to the designated final-exam date.

(SEE p. 53 of BCC Credit Class Schedule for all courses final exams schedule. In case of conflict

with another course, please inform me and/or the other instructor right away. I will try to help you.

 

Academic Conduct

No act of plagiarism will be tolerated. If caught cheating the test/quiz/assignment will receive an F. If is were to occur  again, you will be reported to the proper authority and the condemned conduct  will result in a F for the course as final grade. Refer to the Arts and Humanities Procedures and Expectations found on the Division website at:

www.bcc.ctc.edu/artshum/material

 

Information on DSS (Disability Support Services) B132 Tel (425) 564-2498 (TTA 564-4110)

If you require accommodations based on a documented disability, have medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your particular need. Visit the DSS office to make arrangements and keep me informed of any changes.

 

Tutoring Center  -- C 162

If you are struggling and would like extra help, inquire in person or visit for group tutoring schedule or to request an individual tutor by completing the required form: www.bcc.ctc.edu/tutoring

Feel free to contact me and /or visit me during office hours with any concerns you may have regarding your progress or any matter that is troubling you. You are welcome to just by just to say “Ciao!”  I will do my best to help you, offer suggestions, or, when appropriate, direct you to a person who may better assist you.  Appointments are strongly encouraged if my office hours conflict with your schedule. 

 

Classroom policy

Courtesy and civility foster a positive and conducive learning environment.

Beginning with the second week of class, Italian should be used at all times.  If you insist in using English, perhaps you should enroll in an English or an ESL course. You are here to make the most of this wonderful opportunity to learn a foreign language.  Respect others learning experience.  If you cannot dedicate the amount of hours necessary to succeed to this course, perhaps, perhaps another quarter may work best for you.  Discuss possibilities with your instructor prior to withdrawing.

Do not feel intimidated by classmates who appear to know more than you do or progress at a different pace than yours. On the same token, be respectful and patient of those who appear to take more time to grasp the material. Students acquire languages in different ways.  Everyone has something to contribute to the class, remember that. Enjoy your classmates!

Remember you are in College and disruptive behavior of any kind is unacceptable. Respect yourself and others. If disruptive behavior persists after the first warning by the instructor, you will be asked to move to another seat or leave the classroom for that day. If the disruptive behavior continues, disciplinary action will be taken by contacting the proper authority; if you refuse to leave, security will escort you out.  Come see me and let me know what is bothering you.

Learn to be critical of your culture and appreciate others. It will enrich you. Use humor.

No baseball caps /hats are allowed during class time.  Remove it promptly as you enter the room. 

Eating a snack (not an entire meal) and enjoying a soft drink or hot drink is ok.  Please dispose of containers or wrappers upon exiting.  Abstain from chewing gum loudly. L

Turn off your cell phones and beepers while in class or set it on a vibrating/silent mode. You may leave it on at your own risk. Mine will stay on. Warning:  If your phone /beeper/watch goes off during class time, you will lose 3 points on your next test.   If my cell phone goes off during class time, the entire class will receive 3 points on the next test.  J 

NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY. (A244)

If you arrive late, quietly take your seat and join the activity in progress.

If the instructor arrives late (there is always a valid reason), take your seat and wait patiently.  After 15 minutes, you may leave without disturbing other classes in the building.

Do not take it personally when the instructor corrects your language, enunciation, pronunciation, or written work on the notebook or on the board.  It is all “constructive criticism” to help you improve your language skills. In addition, all will benefit in the process. Corrections generate questions and interesting discussions oftentimes. You are here to learn.

Inform your instructor at the beginning of class if you need to leave early that day. 

Remember to ask permission in the target language to use the restroom facilities or leave.

Know the evacuation procedure posted by the classroom’s door in case of an emergency. 

Only the instructor has the authority to dismiss class.  It is extremely impolite to gather your belongings when an activity is still in progress or someone is speaking.  Kindly signal me that time is up.  I have no intention to keep you longer and make you late for your next class appointment.  I tend to lose track of time when I do something I enjoy à Teaching you Italiano! J

 

 

                   Grade Distribution                                           Bongiorno’s Grade Scale

Quiz/Autovalutazione

10%

100 – 93 = A

76 – 73 = C

Test

20%

92 – 90 = A-

72 – 70 = C-

Compiti (Homework)

15%

89 – 87 = B+

69 – 67 = D+

Participation

15%

86 – 83 = B

66 – 60 = D

Oral presentation

15%

82 – 80 = B-

59 – 0 = F

Final Exam

25%

79 – 77 = C+

 

 

Benvenuti!