ITAL 301 – The Florence Experience V

Formerly called ITAL 310 – The Florence Experience V: Advanced Italian

Description
The Florence Experience V is an interdisciplinary course that builds on four semesters of previous work. It focuses on achieving an advanced level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competencies regarding a wide range of complex topics. Students will be able to express themselves fluently and interact with native speakers. Each class will acquaint them with such linguistic skills as communicative structures, grammar structures, vocabulary, and pronunciation, as well as relevant aspects of contemporary Florentine life and Italian culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory through a series of on-site meetings: from interviews with Florentines to field trips and treasure hunts at the most vivacious markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze” and with the Italian cadets from the local “Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet.” Also, students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo (professional actors), who will conduct language/culture in-class activities.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, students should be able to:

– Students will learn to understand spoken Italian in different situations (both in authentic and recorded contexts) related to Italian culture, habits, history, and lifestyle. They will also understand extended speech and lectures, films in standard Italian, TV news, and current affairs programs.
– Students will learn to read and understand written Italian texts (including literature texts), appreciating distinctions of style, as well as articles and reports concerned with contemporary issues.
– Students will learn to write texts, such as essays or reports, passing on information or giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view. Also, they will learn to draft letters highlighting the personal significance of events and experiences and describe places and people by making comparisons and formulating hypotheses.
– Students will be able to talk and write about present and past activities; express disappointments or communicate instructions and suggestions; speak about stereotypes; and express opinions both in present and past tense.
– Students will be capable of presenting clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects (Italian cultural topics in relation with their own interests).

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

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