To provide students with the basic linguistic tools needed to live in Italy. In particular, the expected objectives are:
Listening comprehension: to understand simple instructions and directions related to everyday situations (shops, means of transport, leisure, home, family) and to grasp the main information in short messages and announcements;
Speaking: to introduce oneself and others using simple expressions; to ask simple questions and provide answers regarding immediate needs or familiar topics; to take part in basic conversations on themes connected to daily life and personal matters;
Reading comprehension: to understand short texts, mostly informative in nature, written with very common vocabulary (signs, directions, instructions, menus);
Writing: to write simple sentences, short personal letters and emails to introduce oneself and ask for information, to fill in forms.
Course Prerequisites
To enroll in the course a good knowledge of English language and grammar is required.
Teaching Methods
Modularity and Progression Clear and well-structured modules. Each module focused on a specific topic (greetings, introductions, numbers, verbs, etc.). Concrete and measurable learning objectives.
Video and Audio Use of audio and video recordings for listening to authentic speech. Videos with daily situations or grammar/lexical lessons. Transcriptions in Italian and English translation to facilitate comprehension.
Interactive Exercises and Quizzes Interactive exercises such as sentence completions, language games, and quizzes. Immediate feedback for active learning.
Listening and Repetition Listening exercises with short sentences or dialogues. Repetition to improve pronunciation and intonation.
Microlearning Short learning sessions to avoid cognitive overload. Maintaining attention and interest with concise content.
Assessment Methods
Knowledge of the content will be assessed through a final written examination.
Texts
NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO - BEGINNER AND PRE-INTERMEDIATE UPDATED EDITION (TEXTBOOK)
NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO - BEGINNER AND PRE-INTERMEDIATE UPDATED EDITION (WORKBOOK)
Contents
Grammar:
Numbers
Gender and number of regular nouns and of some irregular nouns
Gender and number of definite articles
Indefinite articles
Gender and number of adjectives
Interrogative adverbs and pronouns (where, from where, when, why, how, who, what?)
Adverbs of frequency
Demonstrative pronouns: questo (this)/ quello (that)
Direct object pronouns
Present indicative of regular verbs
Present indicative of the most common irregular verbs
Present indicative of reflexive and pronominal verbs
The verbs piacere (to like) and sapere (to know)
The modal verbs dovere (must/to have to), potere (can/to be able to), volere (to want)
Imperative (affirmative and negative form in the second person singular)
The construction ci + verbo essere (c’è, ci sono - there is, there are)
Past definite/perfect of regular verbs
Past definite/perfect of the most common irregular verbs
Past definite/perfect of reflexive and pronominal verbs
Introduction to simple and articulated prepositions
Fundamentals of spelling and phonetics
Vocabulary:
Greetings
Nationalities and origin
Age
Units of measure
Days of the week, months, seasons
Telling the time (the hours)
Professions and workplaces
Food and drinks
Clothing
Colors
Places in the city
Means of transport
Shops
Holidays/vacations and free time
The house/home
Communicative Functions:
Greeting (formally and informally)
Asking questions during the lesson
Introducing oneself
Talking about oneself and others
Talking about one's family
Asking a person for information (age, job, phone number, address, etc.)