Italian Language Course Introduction
The level of each participant is carefully assessed before the start of the course. The outline of the course is not limited to the content provided here.
Levels
This Italian language course is meant for people who do not have any knowledge of the chosen language.
The course will focus on vocabulary, basic grammar notions which will be blended in the class, audios will be used to develop listening skills and conversation on basic situations such as ordering at the bar, or in a coffee shop/restaurant, to shop in a supermarket or in a store, give physical descriptions, and talk about family, describe a room, give directions, book a hotel and much more!
The student will gain confidence in understanding the language and will be able to speak and join a basic conversation.
BEGINNER/UPPER BEGINNER COURSE
The alphabet
Spelling your name
Saying hello and goodbye
Formal and Informal
Introducing yourself and others
Nationalities/countries
Numbers 1-100
Personal details: address, telephone number
Asking and giving personal details
Ordering food and drink at a bar and paying
Reading a simple menu
Prices
Talking about preferences
Asking and telling the time
Giving basic directions
Talking about your daily routine
Referring events in a chronological order
Expressing frequency
Expressing likes and dislikes
Numbers: 100 and beyond
Days of the week, months, years
Grammar:
Gender agreements (Italian, French, Spanish)
Definite and indefinite articles
Auxiliaries: Essere e Avere
Regular and key irregular verbs
Present tense and present perfect of regular verbs
Reflexive verbs
Demonstratives
Possessives
Culture:
Titles of study in Italian
Greetings and gestures
The coffee habits in Italy
Meals in Italy
Skills Acquisition:
Speaking – Real-life situations
Role plays
Reading short stories
Writing dialogues, stories
Listening skills with audios
This course is meant for people who have a basic knowledge of the language, therefore they need to improve their skills and gain confidence in speaking, reading, writing and listening. It is based on grammar tools, vocabulary, reading short stories, listening, writing, and speaking.
At the end of the course the student will be able to deal with most situations while travelling to the country where the language is spoken; describe experiences, events and give opinions or explanations; understand the main points of a conversation encountered at school, work or leisure.
INTERMEDIATE/UPPER INTERMEDIATE
Numbers: 100 and beyond
Following and giving instructions
Describing people and situations in the past (using the Imperfetto)
Expressing your opinion, making comments about your experiences
Describing situations and events in the past
Agreeing & disagreeing
Having an argument
Streets and street signs
Describing people in the past
Expressing opinions, reviews
Ordering food and drinks – vocabulary in details
At the Doctor’s: Describing health issues
Book an appointment at the hairdressers or the barber
Grammar:
The imperative of regular and reflexive verbs
The Imperfect tense
The Future tense
Imperfect and the present perfect
The present progressive
Simple and combined prepositions
Prepositions with verbs
Absolute superlative
Direct and indirect object pronouns
Pronominal verbs (ANDARSENE, FARCELA etc..)
If clauses
Cultural Content:
When in Rome do as the Romans do: Do’s and Don’t’s when shopping in a market
Italian cooking & recipes
Italian family and weddings
Expressing feelings: impatience, surprise, and wonder
Carnival in Italy
Ferragosto
Young people and unemployment
The dialects
Loan words
Skills acquisition:
Speaking – Real life situations
Writing practice – e.g. short articles
Listening activities
Reading small articles, extracts from books
This advanced course is for people who are confident about their language skills but are looking to master the language and become proficient.
The course looks at grammar rules but at a more advanced level, idiomatic expressions, and with the help of newspapers articles, magazine extracts, you will build up a strong vocabulary. Audios will help you master your listening and speaking skills. You will be able to understand most written and spoken words, being an article or a book.
ADVANCED
Expressing ideas
Social and political issues
Personal life, career, relationships
Giving and understanding guidelines
Evaluation of newspapers articles, magazines
Writing reviews on books
Emotions – Cultural differences in perception and expression
Discussing newsworthy events
Making a presentation on a topic
Grammar:
Subjunctive
Conditional
Using the grammar learnt in the Beginner, Intermediate courses
Cultural Content:
Artistic life in Italy, introduction of various Italian artists and their works
School and Academic system in Italy
Tourist attractions: Piccoli borghi, Sardegna: I nuraghi, Amalfitan coast
Proverbs and sayings
Idiomatic expressions
Italian gastronomic culture and enotourism
Skills acquisition:
Focus on speaking
Writing stories, reviews and comments
Listening activities – Radio, TV, films and documentaries
Writing a complaint or a detailed review about a restaurant, book, holiday place
Pubblicita’ – Ads
Writing a short tale or a poem
Summarising an interview, a biography
Interviewing others
Active involvement in a discussion or protest about any topic
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Other Languages
Resources
Newspapers
www.ilmessaggero.it Advanced
https://www.gazzetta.it/ for sports lover
https://www.corriere.it/
