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

Benvenuti e Benvenute! (Welcome!)

In this language course you will learn the four basic skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) in the context of major themes in Italian culture. By the end of the course you will be able to describe people, events and situations, both in the present and the past, and you will have acquired the necessary vocabulary to communicate about everyday situations.

This course offers a variety of tools to help you learn “ la lingua del sì ” 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 also an integral part of this course. Through our interviews and readings you will learn about:

daily life in a small hill town in Northern Italy;
major differences between Italian and American universities;
Italian films that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film;
summer vacations in Italy;
Italian cuisine.

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: Intermediate and Italian Language and Culture: Advanced.

Buon divertimento!

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to communicate in a variety of social situations, such as introducing yourself, talking about daily activities, describing what you do for work, writing and reading simple texts, such as an e-mail, giving and getting directions, asking about the weather and telling time.
Basic grammatical structures such as articles and nouns, adjectives, present and past tenses of regular and irregular verbs.

Italian culture, including daily life, film, cuisine, universities and vacationing.

How to communicate in a variety of social situations, such as introducing yourself, talking about daily activities, describing what you do for work, writing and reading simple texts, such as an e-mail, giving and getting directions, asking about the weather and telling time.
Basic grammatical structures such as articles and nouns, adjectives, present and past tenses of regular and irregular verbs.
Italian culture, including daily life, film, cuisine, universities and vacationing.

Syllabus

Benvenute e Benvenuti!

Italian Language and Culture: Beginner is an introductory course that teaches the four basic skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) in the context of major themes in Italian culture.

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

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 (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 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

Provides solid foundation suitable for learners who want to build language skills for travel abroad or study

Taught by Daniela Bartalesi-Graf, who has more than 40 years of experience in Italian language teaching and research

Emphasizes practical language use through videos and podcasts featuring native speakers

Covers a comprehensive range of topics, including daily life, film, cuisine, universities, and vacationing in Italy

Self-paced learning allows flexibility and accommodates different learning styles

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: Beginner (2023-2024) with these activities:

Compile and Organize Course Materials

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Improve comprehension and retention by organizing and reviewing your course materials effectively.

Browse courses on Study Habits

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Gather all relevant materials, including lecture notes, slides, readings, and assignments.
Create a dedicated study space and make it conducive to learning.
Organize materials by topic or unit, using folders, binders, or digital tools.
Review and summarize materials regularly to reinforce learning.

Follow Guided Tutorials on Italian Pronunciation

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Enhance your pronunciation and fluency by following guided tutorials that provide clear instructions and examples.

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Search for reputable language learning platforms or online resources offering Italian pronunciation tutorials.
Choose tutorials that cover specific sounds, intonation patterns, and stress placement.
Practice imitating the sounds and phrases demonstrated in the tutorials.
Record yourself and compare your pronunciation to the tutorials for self-assessment.

Practice Italian Conjugation Drills

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Reinforce your understanding of Italian verb conjugation by completing repetitive exercises.

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Find online conjugation drills or create your own using flashcards or a spreadsheet.
Conjugate verbs in all tenses and moods, focusing on regular and irregular verbs.
Review your conjugations regularly to improve accuracy and fluency.

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Career center

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

Interpreter

Interpreters facilitate communication between people who speak different languages. They work in a variety of settings, such as medical clinics, courtrooms, and business meetings. A course on Italian Language and Culture will likely provide Interpreters with the foundational knowledge of the language they need to succeed in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Translator

Translators convert written text from one language to another. They work with a variety of types of documents, such as legal contracts, marketing materials, and technical manuals. A course on Italian Language and Culture will likely provide Translators with the foundational knowledge of the language they need to succeed in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Tour Guide

Tour Guides lead tours of historical sites, museums, and other attractions. They provide information about the history and culture of the places they visit. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Tour Guides who lead tours of Italian cities or cultural sites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Guide

Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers represent the United States government abroad. They work in a variety of roles, such as political affairs, economic affairs, and public diplomacy. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Foreign Service Officers who are assigned to Italy or who work on issues related to Italy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Service Officer

Travel Writer

Travel Writers write about their experiences traveling to different places. They may write for magazines, newspapers, or websites. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Travel Writers who write about Italy or Italian culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Writer

Cultural Anthropologist

Cultural Anthropologists study the behavior, beliefs, and languages of different cultures. They conduct research and write reports on their findings. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Cultural Anthropologists who study Italian culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cultural Anthropologist

Historian

Historians research and write about the past. They use a variety of sources, such as documents, artifacts, and interviews, to reconstruct historical events. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Historians who study Italian history.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

International Business Manager

International Business Managers oversee the operations of companies that do business in multiple countries. They are responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow the company's international operations. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for International Business Managers who work with Italian companies or who are responsible for developing business in Italy.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Business Manager

Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and present news stories for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other media outlets. They interview sources, conduct research, and fact-check information to ensure accuracy and objectivity in their reporting. A course on Italian Language and Culture will be helpful for Journalists who wish to cover international news or write about Italian culture.

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Musician

Musicians perform music for a variety of audiences. They may play instruments, sing, or compose music. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Musicians who perform or study Italian music.

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Museum curator

Museum Curators oversee the collections of museums and other cultural institutions. They are responsible for acquiring, preserving, and interpreting museum objects. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Museum Curators who work in museums with a focus on Italian art or culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Librarian

Librarians manage libraries and assist patrons in finding and using library resources. They may also develop and implement library programs and services. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Librarians who work in libraries with a focus on Italian language or culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They may specialize in a particular area of law, such as criminal law, family law, or corporate law. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Lawyers who work on cases involving Italy or Italian law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Teacher

Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects. They develop lesson plans, deliver instruction, and assess student learning. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Teachers who teach Italian language or culture.

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Art dealer

Art Dealers buy and sell works of art. They may specialize in a particular type of art, such as paintings, sculptures, or antiques. A course on Italian Language and Culture may be useful for Art Dealers who specialize in Italian art.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art dealer