Italian Language
Florence Elective
Italian Language
Course Description
This introductory Italian course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of the language. It focuses on developing reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through communicative activities, cultural immersion, and the use of authentic materials such as articles, advertisements, and films. On-site activities and conversation exchanges with Italians provide real-life practice, while extracurricular opportunities further enrich the learning experience. By the end of the course, students will be able to engage in simple conversations, write short texts, and interact confidently in everyday situations.
Language as a foundation for global citizenship
Multilingual competence is a quiet but powerful enabler of the 2030 Agenda. This course supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by developing communicative literacy and lifelong-learning skills, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by giving students the linguistic tools to engage authentically with their host community, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) through immersion in Florence's everyday life, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through cross-cultural exchange.
4 Key SDGs Addressed
Key Topics
Understand and use familiar expressions of daily events
Communicate clear messages in standard language on familiar topics
Introduce yourself and others
Talk about personal interests and everyday activities
Interact with people in simple situations (e.g., café, restaurant)
Manage daily life using basic communication skills
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1
Understand and apply the basic structures, pronunciation, and intonation of Italian.
Assessment: Quizzes, Midterm Exam, and Final Exam.
2
Use everyday vocabulary and expressions to communicate in common situations (e.g., shopping, ordering, asking for directions).
Assessment: Homework Assignments, Group Project, and Individual Presentations.
3
Introduce themselves, engage in simple conversations, and interact appropriately with the host community.
Assessment: Individual Presentations and Group Project.
4
Recognize and use both formal and informal registers of address.
Assessment: Quizzes, Individual Presentations, and Midterm Exam.
5
Demonstrate curiosity and appreciation for Italian language and culture, using linguistic and cultural cues to aid communication.
Assessment: Group Project and Final Exam.
Course Format and Assessment Methods
20%
Engagement
Active participation, punctuality, and consistent contribution to classroom activities are essential. Students demonstrate comprehension and application of Italian pronunciation, intonation, and conversational flow through interactive exercises.
LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
5%
Homework Assignments
Regular completion of workbook exercises and vocabulary practice ensures steady reinforcement of grammar, pronunciation, and sentence structure. Homework supports students' ability to use everyday expressions and develop linguistic confidence.
LO 1, 2, 4
15%
Group Project
In small teams, students prepare and deliver a short oral presentation in Italian, incorporating acquired vocabulary and simple grammatical structures. The written script will be reviewed for accuracy before presentation.
LO 2, 3, 5
10%
Quizzes
Two in-class quizzes assess comprehension of grammatical rules, vocabulary retention, and correct pronunciation patterns — providing formative evaluation of students' growing competence and readiness for conversational interaction.
LO 1, 2, 4
10%
Individual Presentations
Two short oral presentations (5% each) allow students to demonstrate their ability to introduce themselves, express ideas clearly, and respond appropriately in simple dialogues — encouraging autonomy and confidence in spoken Italian.
LO 2, 3, 4, 5
20%
Midterm Exam
Oral (10%) and Written (10%) components. Assesses progress in pronunciation, grammar, and use of everyday vocabulary through written exercises and an oral dialogue with the instructor.
LO 1, 2, 3, 4
20%
Final Exam
Oral (10%) and Written (10%) components. The comprehensive final measures overall achievement of the learning objectives, including pronunciation accuracy, grammatical command, and ability to communicate effectively in culturally appropriate ways.
LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Course Outline
A communicative-method progression through the foundations of Italian — from greetings and basic grammar through past-tense narration, daily-life vocabulary, and cultural comparisons — punctuated by quizzes, presentations, and oral & written exams.
1
The Alphabet & GreetingsAlphabet, greetings, introductions, basic personal information; present tense of essere, avere, and chiamarsi; numbers 0–20; survival Italian expressions; basic question words (come, di dove, qual) and prepositions (di, a, in).
2
Asking and Saying How You Are / Ordering in a Bar or RestaurantExpressions with essere and avere; ordering politely; vocabulary for food, bar, and restaurant; nouns and indefinite articles; adjectives (brutto, bello); numbers 21–100.
3
Introducing Someone / Personal InformationAsking and giving address and phone; talking about jobs and studies; days of the week; parts of the day; personal pronouns; definite articles; verbs essere, avere, fare, stare.
4
Quiz 1 Review and QuizIn-class review of the first three modules followed by Quiz 1.
5
Free Time ActivitiesLeisure activities; expressing likes and dislikes; frequency adverbs; present tense of regular verbs; irregular verbs (andare, expressions with fare); basic prepositions; sapere vs conoscere.
6
Describing a Place / Asking for DirectionsUrban environment, transportation, shops; telling time and opening hours; c'è / ci sono; noun-adjective agreement.
7
Making a Reservation / Accommodation VocabularyUnderstanding hotel brochures; asking for services and prices; describing accommodation; making complaints; vocabulary for holidays and accommodation; verbs potere, volere, dovere, venire, rimanere, uscire, scegliere; time indicators.
8
Midterm Exam PreparationRevision and practice across all material covered in modules 1–7.
9
Oral and Written Midterm ExamMidterm assessment with both oral dialogue and written components.
10
Talking About Past EventsThe passato prossimo; vacations; past activities; special occasions; time expressions; weather.
11
Passato Prossimo Review / Quiz 2Review of the passato prossimo followed by Quiz 2.
12
Daily Routine & LifestyleCongratulating; inviting, accepting, and refusing invitations; reflexive verbs; possessive adjectives; ordinal numbers; vocabulary for everyday activities and celebrations.
13
Family and Friends / Individual Presentation 1Family vocabulary; physical appearance; personality; possessive adjectives.
14
Grocery Shopping / Food CultureQuantities; shopping lists; comparing prices; dialogue at the market; direct object pronouns; impersonal form; partitive adjectives; food vocabulary.
15
Recipes / Cooking VocabularyUnderstanding recipes; describing cooking processes; food and utensils vocabulary.
16
Clothes Shopping / Fashion / Individual Presentation 2Clothing vocabulary; asking if something fits; describing appearance; colors, fabrics, sizes; indirect pronouns; demonstrative adjectives.
17
Shopping Review / Cultural ComparisonsShopping in different stores; comparing Italy vs the US; body language differences.
18
Movie Time or Simple FutureFuture tense; future projects; reverse culture shock; Italian vs US holidays; time expressions for the future.
19
Final Exam ReviewComprehensive review session preparing for the final exam.
20
Oral and Written Final ExamEnd-of-course comprehensive exam with oral and written components.
Field Visits and Guest Speakers
Visit to a local market or café to practice conversational Italian in authentic, real-life interactions
Guided tour of a cultural institution such as a museum, library, or artisan studio to explore Italian vocabulary in context
Conversation exchange with local students or community members to develop fluency and confidence in speaking
Guest lecture by a native Italian instructor or cultural mediator on communication styles and everyday expressions
Workshop on Italian gestures, idioms, and nonverbal communication to enhance intercultural competence
Optional culinary or cultural activity introducing vocabulary related to food, travel, and daily life
Readings & Resources
New Italian Espresso. Alma Edizioni, 2015.
A Pocket Italian-English Dictionary.
New Italian Espresso Workbook. Alma Edizioni, 2015.
Mezzadri, M. Essential Italian Grammar in Practice. Guerra Edizioni, Perugia, 2000.