Italian Intermediates

This course is a continuation of the Italian Intermediate course which started in September and continued in January and is suitable for students who have already studied Italian for about 2 years or who have a good basic knowledge of Italian grammar and vocabulary. Each term the course is completely self- contained so students do not need to have attended the previous terms in order to join. This course will enable students to communicate with more variation and fluency, so they feel confident in most everyday situations. It will also broaden their understanding of the Italian culture and way of life. There will be a particular emphasis on the language of travelling and holidays since some students may be spending their summer vacation in Italy so means of transport, types of hotels, services for tourists, complaining about disservice, restaurant and food will be included. Conversation on a variety of topics will take place on a regular basis and students are encouraged to participate actively in lessons. The city of Rome will be studied in some detail over the nine weeks with tailor made ppt presentations ( the fountains of Rome, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona , the galleria Borghese, the Catacombs, popular traditions and popular music and some other cultural aspects ) to give students an idea of the rich and complex heritage of Rome . Even if students have never been to Rome they will certainly feel as if they know a fair bit about the Eternal City after attending this course. The presentations will not be lectures, but a way to look at some aspects of this fascinating city (the teacher’s city of birth) and a way to encourage students to share any experiences they may have of Rome or the surrounding area . There is no specific textbook for this course. Materials and resources will be provided by the teacher and compiled in a booklet for each student at the beginning of the course.

By the end of the course students will have had the opportunity to: Talk about travels and holidays and learn specific topic related vocabulary; describe places and talk about itineraries; talk about rules for tourists (dos and don’ts); read short articles on travelling and tourism and share opinions on the articles; express their personal opinions and dissatisfaction about service received; gain an introduction to and understanding of the city of Rome. Grammar will be an important component of the course with homework set every week to consolidate structures learned in class. There will be a general revision of all the tenses of the indicative (present, perfect and imperfect, future), a consolidation of the use of the conditional and the gerund as well as an introduction to the subjunctive and passive form.