Italian Language and Culture: Intermediate (2023-2024) from edX

Benvenuti e Benvenute! (Welcome!)

In this language course, you will enhance your Italian language skills, enrich your vocabulary and expand your conversational skills. You will learn how to have exchanges on a variety of topics, and continue your immersion in the Italian culture through unique videos and interviews. You will also become more confident as you continue practicing your reading and writing skills.

This course offers a variety of tools that will help you learn in different ways:

Situational videos (called Ciak! , which means “clapperboard” in Italian): you will follow eight Italian students in their daily lives and interactions on our campus. What a great way to learn authentic conversational Italian!
Downloadable Podcasts: become a participant in each Ciak! video and practice Italian when and where you want on your portable device!
Grammar charts, with or without audio files: study and review grammar through concise, clear and downloadable pdf files, and practice pronunciation with our embedded audio files.
Short video lessons: as if in a real classroom, learn each new topic with the instructor’s direct guidance.
Video interviews: learn from various native speakers as they talk about different aspects of Italian culture.
Short “Letture” (readings): practice reading comprehension while learning about Italian culture.
Discussion board: your chance to communicate (in Italian!) with other students on a variety of suggested topics.
Ready to test your skills? Practice and review with a variety of self-correcting activities.

Italian culture is an integral part of this course. Through our interviews and readings you will learn about:

the origins of the “made in Italy” in fashion;
Italian Renaissance and Baroque art and poetry;
the Italian health care system;
shopping for clothes and food in Italy.

Whether you are a traditional, visual or auditory learner, you will find the tools that best fit your unique way to learn a foreign language.

After completing this course, continue learning Italian with Italian Language and Culture: Advanced.

Finally … buon lavoro e buon divertimento!

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Expand your conversational skills to have more in depth exchanges in a variety of situations about your everyday life, your current and future plans, your hobbies and interests.
Enhance italian reading and writing skills.

Important grammatical structures such as reflexive verbs, the past absolute (“passato remoto”), relative pronouns, direct and indirect object pronouns, simple future, present and past conditional.
Italian culture, including fashion, art, poetry, healthcare, and how to shop for food and clothes in italy.

Expand your conversational skills to have more in depth exchanges in a variety of situations about your everyday life, your current and future plans, your hobbies and interests.
Enhance italian reading and writing skills.
Important grammatical structures such as reflexive verbs, the past absolute (“passato remoto”), relative pronouns, direct and indirect object pronouns, simple future, present and past conditional.
Italian culture, including fashion, art, poetry, healthcare, and how to shop for food and clothes in italy.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!

With Italian Language and Culture: Intermediate you will enhance your Italian language skills, enrich your vocabulary and expand your conversational skills. You will learn how to have exchanges on a variety of topics, and continue your immersion in the Italian culture through unique videos and interviews.

The course will stay open from February 12, 2023 until December 31, 2024 : this means that you can cover the material at your own speed within this time frame.

Although we estimate that, studying 3-4 hours per week, it will take you about 8 weeks to complete the course, you are under no obligation to finish within this time.

You may decide to study towards a Verified Certificate of Completion ($59), or to learn for your personal enrichment and pleasure.

To receive a Verified Certificate of Completion you must obtain a final score of 60% on Tests. You may drop 2 Tests.

Course organization

The course consists of four Units. Each Unit is broken down in 6-7 lessons (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, etc.).

Each lesson presents its content in multiple ways. These can be viewed and studied in any order you prefer.

Below is a quick overview of the various components of each unit.

Ciak! videos : original videos shot on our campus with native and near native speakers of Italian. Each Ciak! video is followed by two downloadable Podcasts. These will be ideal for your on-the-go practice.

Grammar charts : grammar explanations, examples, and charts are available for review with audio files of each example and verb conjugation within the course, and can be downloaded in PDF file format.

Slide Shows with animation : grammar explanations with images and animation.

Videos (Slide Shows with Narration) : narrated grammar explanations.

Esercizi : online exercises with immediate feedback.

Vocaboli nuovi : new vocabulary lists are available as PDF files, slide show presentations, and videos with narration.

Discussione : creative writing prompts.

Lettura : readings delivered as PDF files, slide show presentations, and videos with narration.

Intervista : interview with a native speaker on a variety of cultural subjects.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores Italian language and culture through immersive content and interactive activities, enhancing conversational skills and cultural understanding

Provides a comprehensive introduction to Italian language, covering grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights, making it suitable for beginners

Taught by experienced instructors with a passion for Italian language and culture, ensuring a high-quality learning experience

Emphasizes practical language skills through real-life scenarios and interactive exercises, preparing learners for real-world communication

Offers a flexible learning pace, allowing learners to progress at their own speed and accommodate their schedules

Requires a basic understanding of Italian grammar and vocabulary, making it more suitable for intermediate learners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Italian Language and Culture: Intermediate (2023-2024) with these activities:

Use flashcards to memorize new vocabulary

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Flashcards are an effective way to memorize new words and phrases

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Utilize Italian podcasts to enhance listening comprehension

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Listening to podcasts will enhance your ability to understand spoken Italian

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Create a weekly Italian language exchange group

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This project will provide regular opportunities to practice speaking and listening to Italian

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Find a group of people who are interested in learning Italian
Choose a time and place to meet regularly
Plan activities for each meeting, such as conversation practice, grammar exercises, or cultural discussions
Meet regularly and participate actively in the group

Five other activities

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Watch Italian movies or TV shows with subtitles

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Watching videos can help you to improve your listening comprehension and learn new vocabulary

Browse courses on Italian Culture

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Join an online or in-person Italian language learning group

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Learning with others can help you to stay motivated and improve your skills

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Find a group of people who are interested in learning Italian
Meet regularly to practice speaking and listening to Italian
Participate actively in group discussions and activities

Read 'La Dolce Vita' by Federico Fellini

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This book provides a unique insight into Italian culture and lifestyle

View Carissimo Simenon-Mon cher Fellini. Carteggio on Amazon

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Write a blog or vlog about your experience learning Italian

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This activity will help you to reflect on your learning and improve your writing skills

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Share your post with others and get feedback
Choose a topic related to your Italian learning experience
Research the topic and gather information
Write or record your blog or vlog post

Develop a travel itinerary for a trip to Italy

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This project will help you to apply your Italian language skills to a real-world task

Browse courses on Italian Culture

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Choose a destination and duration for your trip
Research different attractions, activities, and accommodation options
Plan a detailed itinerary, including transportation, activities, and accommodations
Write a travelogue or blog post about your trip

Career center

Learners who complete Italian Language and Culture: Intermediate (2023-2024) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and publish news stories for newspapers, magazines, and websites. Many journalists specialize in a particular area, such as politics, business, or sports. This course can help journalists improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for interviewing sources and writing stories about Italian culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Writer

Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including journalism, fiction, marketing, and technical writing. Many writers specialize in a particular genre or style. This course can help writers improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for writing about Italian culture or for translating works from Italian into English.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Editor

Editors review, edit, and revise written content for a variety of purposes, including journalism, fiction, marketing, and technical writing. Many editors specialize in a particular area, such as grammar, style, or fact-checking. This course can help editors improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for editing works written in Italian or for translating works from Italian into English.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Teacher

Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, and universities. Many teachers specialize in a particular subject area, such as English, math, or science. This course can help teachers improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for teaching Italian language classes or for teaching about Italian culture.

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Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Many professors specialize in a particular field of study, such as history, literature, or science. This course can help professors improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for teaching Italian language classes, conducting research on Italian culture, or translating works from Italian into English.

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Museum curator

Museum curators plan and manage exhibitions and collections for museums and other cultural institutions. They work with a variety of objects, including paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts. Many museum curators specialize in a particular area, such as art history or anthropology. This course can help museum curators improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for working with Italian-language materials or for collaborating with Italian colleagues.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. They work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries. Many librarians specialize in a particular area, such as children's literature or reference services. This course can help librarians improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for assisting Italian-speaking patrons or for acquiring Italian-language materials.

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Archivist

Archivists preserve and provide access to historical documents and artifacts. They work in a variety of settings, including museums, libraries, and government agencies. Many archivists specialize in a particular area, such as preserving digital records or managing archival collections. This course can help archivists improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for preserving and providing access to Italian-language materials.

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Sales Representative

Sales representatives sell products or services to businesses or individuals. They work in a variety of industries, including technology, manufacturing, and healthcare. Many sales representatives specialize in a particular product or service. This course can help sales representatives improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for selling products or services to Italian-speaking clients.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists manage the public image of businesses and organizations. They work with a variety of media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, and television. Many public relations specialists specialize in a particular industry or type of public relations. This course can help public relations specialists improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for working with Italian-speaking media outlets or for managing the public image of Italian-speaking businesses or organizations.

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Event Planner

Event planners plan and coordinate events, such as weddings, conferences, and corporate events. They work with a variety of clients, including individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Many event planners specialize in a particular type of event, such as weddings or corporate events. This course can help event planners improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for planning events in Italy or for working with Italian-speaking clients.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing managers plan and execute marketing campaigns for businesses and organizations. They work with a variety of marketing channels, including advertising, public relations, and social media. Many marketing managers specialize in a particular industry or type of marketing. This course can help marketing managers improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for marketing to Italian-speaking audiences or for working with Italian-speaking colleagues.

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Travel Agent

Travel agents help people plan and book travel arrangements. They work with a variety of clients, including individuals, families, and businesses. Many travel agents specialize in a particular destination or type of travel, such as luxury travel or adventure travel. This course can help travel agents improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for assisting Italian-speaking clients or for planning travel to Italy.

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Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives provide assistance to customers over the phone, email, or chat. They work in a variety of industries, including retail, banking, and healthcare. Many customer service representatives specialize in a particular area, such as technical support or billing. This course can help customer service representatives improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for assisting Italian-speaking customers.

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Translator

Translators convert written or spoken text from one language to another. They work in a variety of settings, including government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Many translators specialize in a particular language pair or type of translation. This course can help translators improve their Italian language skills, which can be helpful for translating works from Italian into English or from English into Italian.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator