Syllabus

California State University, Sacramento

Dottoressa Joy Salvetti Wolfe

Office: Mariposa 2063
Phone: (916) 278-5784
E-mail: salvettiwolfe@csus.edu

Office Hours: TR 9 – 10:30 a.m.

Course Goals

• The focus of this course is to introduce culture and facilitate language acquisition through listening, speaking, comprehending, reading and writing. Students will learn basic phrases to perform communicative tasks (e.g. greeting, listing, identifying, agreeing, and disagreeing, especially in the present tense) and will begin to create/respond in the language in culturally appropriate ways. Culture includes how to interact with native speakers and introduction to history, geography, politics and literature. Students will develop the ability to think critically by analyzing linguistic structures and reflecting on and evaluating cross-cultural differences.

Course Methods

• Extensive oral exercises, dialogical inter-action, role-playing, dictations (dettati), reading and writing exercises. Video comprehension exercises, music and poetry will also be used for comprehension drills and cultural lessons. Online work in the language laboratory including audio, video, listening comprehension and language games.

Required Texts

• The textbook/workbook Adesso (3rd Edition) by Marcel Danesi, is required and available from the CSUS Bookstore.

Attendance

• “Showing-up” is the main component to all success! Regular attendance is essential to succeed not only in this class, but in your chosen profession, and life in general. More than three unexcused absences have been shown to adversely affect a student’s final grade.
• Please be punctual and remain in class during the entire class period.

Homework

• Outside of class, in addition to preparing for each day’s lesson, students are required to complete the assignments given at each class session. Because daily interaction with the Italian language is recommended, please complete assignments as required.

Culture

• In class activities will be assigned to develop language skills and cultural awareness via Italian films, mini-dramas, and popular music. Final Exams will be in the form of oral projects regarding Italian art, cuisine, music, and any other cultural component of the language.

Extra Credit

• Students may participate in the following two events sponsored by the Foreign Language Department:
World Language Day
International Night

Grades

Grades are determined as follows:

• 20% Regular attendance and participation
• 20 % Workbook, Online work in Lab, etc.
• 35% Quizzes (esamini)
• 25% Final projects

Grading Scale

A 91 – 100%
A- 90%

B+ 89%
B 88 – 81%
B- 80%

C+ 79%
C 78 – 71%
C- 70%

D+ 69%
D 68 – 61%
D- 60%

F 59% - below
Prerequisite

• All students must have a Saclink account in order to participate in the Web-enhanced portion of this course.

Important Goals

• To become involved in the CSUS Italian Club as a member or officer, and to participate in the activities of the Club.
• To pursue a Minor or a Special Major in Italian (see me for details).

Final Recommendation

• Please remember…I am available to assist you. Try to use the Italian language whenever possible, and remember, learning a foreign language will not only enhance your life in general, but it will also give you a very competitive edge in your current and future career endeavors. I look forward to our time together. BENVENUTI!