Class Descriptions
Hello, CIAO! My name is Leslie Hughes. I teach a multi-level class of continuing Italian. My main goal is to enable my students to understand, speak, read and write basic Italian and gain some exposure to the Italian culture.
I expect the students to show up daily and participate, complete all assignments on time and turn them in, do tests, quizzes and projects with honest endeavor, be cooperative and respectful, and bring their materials, paper and pen to class daily.
40% of their grade will be based on participation: showing up, speaking, presenting and contributing. Another 40% will be based on homework and class work assignments, turned in and corrected. Another 20% will be based on exams, quizzes and projects.
ITALIAN ONE AND TWO, FIRST YEAR:
First year Italian introduces the alphabet, sound system, and basic spelling. Vocabulary is developed around themes of interest: greetings, polite conversation, classroom and school life, family and friends, food, sports and other pastimes, holidays and parties, going shopping, numbers, money, the calendar, colors and other descriptive words, going places, transportation, and what one likes and doesn’t like. One learns to ask and answer questions, compose simple sentences in the affirmative and negative, and create and recite original dialogues with a partner. Basic rules of grammar enable students to conjugate verbs in the present tense, combine nouns and adjectives with regard to number and gender, use articles and prepositions, and express themselves in Italian. Materials used introduce culture and geography. We also sing! Students are to keep all of their work in a folder, notebook or binder to be shown periodically to their teacher for credit. Homework of approximately 20 minutes should be expected Mondays through Thursdays. Materials: BEGINNER’S ITALIAN READER, OGGI IN ITALIA, ITALIAN THE FAST AND FUN WAY.
ITALIAN THREE AND FOUR, SECOND YEAR:
Second year Italian builds upon the vocabulary and grammar of the first year for increased fluency. Still using the present tense, students begin to write small paragraphs about their own life and range of interest. Their readings become more advanced, and much new vocabulary is learned and used as questions on the readings are answered and lessons are summarized in written paragraphs. Students begin to use the past, future and progressive tenses. Encouraged to work together, students gain experience writing original dialogues and paragraphs using their new vocabulary and tenses. We continue to sing in Italian. Homework of approximately 20 minutes should be expected Mondays through Thursdays. Materials: DESTINAZIONE ITALIA, AVVENTURE IN TOSCANA, OGGI IN ITALIA, ITALIAN THE FAST AND FUN WAY.
ITALIAN FIVE AND SIX, THIRD YEAR:
Third year Italian continues to build vocabulary and strengthen the use of the present, past, future and progressive tenses in reading selections and related exercises and in personal writings: lists, letters, paragraphs and dialogues. Students continue to answer questions on their readings and summarize lessons they have read in written paragraphs incorporating new vocabulary and verb tenses. Original writings give students a chance to express themselves about their daily life: weekends, vacations, holidays. We practice Italian songs. Students are encouraged to read aloud and ask one another questions based on what is heard. Homework of approximately 20 minutes is expected on Mondays through Thursdays. Materials: AVVENTURE IN TOSCANA, OGGI IN ITALIA, SULLA STRADA DEL CONTRABBANDO.
ITALIAN SEVEN AND EIGHT, FOURTH YEAR:
Fourth year Italian gives further practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing Italian in the present, past, future and progressive tenses. Students finish reading the story SULLA STRADA DEL CONTRABBANDO, answer questions based on their reading, and write a summary of each chapter, incorporating the newly introduced vocabulary. Students next read PERICOLO SULLA COSTA AMALFITANA and study its vocabulary, answer questions, and summarize chapters. Students do personal writing in the form of lists, letters, paragraphs and dialogues, to be read aloud to their teacher. Grammar exercises from OGGI IN ITALIA and DA CAPO provide a thorough review plus new vocabulary and concepts. We sing in Italian. Homework of approximately 20 minutes is to be expected Mondays through Thursdays. Materials: SULLA STRADA DEL CONTRABBANDO, PERICOLO SULLA COSTA AMALFITANA, OGGI IN ITALIA, DA CAPO.
