Italian I

DESCRIPTION:
Four basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are developed in order to acquire a general basic ability to communicate in a number of the most familiar situations of everyday life and to understand main points of simple conversations and texts, needed mainly for tourism and basic contacts with an Italian environment (CEFR-A1)

RATIONALE: 
The knowledge of a third foreign language is anymore a must and a useful asset for anybody working and living in the European Union. Taking into account the geographical e historical proximity of Italy to Greece and the amount of contacts going on between the two countries (tourism, business, culture and studies) a minimum knowledge of the Italian language is considered necessary to keep and foster contacts with the country.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The student who has completed this course will be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of simple spoken expressions, phrases and interactions related to basic familiar everyday needs, provided the speech is slowly and clearly articulated.
2. Demonstrate understanding of words, simple sentences and short texts containing basic commonly used vocabulary.
3. Take part in short and simple conversation related to basic familiar everyday needs.
4. Compose very short sentences and simple short texts containing basic commonly used vocabulary
5. Demonstrate understanding of basic cultural similarities and differences. 
METHODS OF

TEACHING AND LEARNING :
Classes consist of interactive learning and the instructor is a guide, a source of information, and a facilitator in the learning process and during the class activities. Students collaborate mainly in groups of two or three Activities
- pre-reading and pre-listening activities
- listening activities with audio/video inputs (in and out of class)
- instructor’s and students’ conclusion and synthesis regarding grammar and syntax
- group and individual writing (in and out of class)
- role plays imitating real life situations
- presentations of basic Italian socio-cultural aspects
- reading, writing, listening activities, grammar, lexical activities with the workbook and with internet sites (in and out of class)
- brief writing assignments in Blackboard - Discussion Board-Wiki (out of class)
- activities with interactive CD-Rom (out of class).