Massimo Brunzin (coordinator), VIU

This language course is designed so that students can practice their grammar skills and increase their ability to understand, speak, read and write Italian, while emphasizing the development of reading comprehension. It includes grammar review and an introduction to new grammar skills, with continued vocabulary study, conversational practice, short composition, cultural and literary readings and some work with video.

Course objectives

This course is designed to improve:

-the student's ability to read and write Italian

-listening comprehension

-the ability to communicated in Italian

-the knowledge of Italian society and culture

Tutoring

Students can ask their teacher for any extra materials they may need to further personalize their program, or to review grammar skills.

Evaluation

30% Class performance (participation and attendance). Class will involve much student-student and student-instructor interaction in more open-ended conversation. The quality of interaction will have a significant effect on the course grade.
20 % Homework. Effort and enthusiasm will count as much as accuracy in preparation.
20% Mid-term exam;
20% Final exam (oral and written);
10% Final working paper

During classes, students will produce some written documents concerning their own experience in Venice as a foreign student (e.g. small Venice guide for foreign students).

Textbook for beginners

Livello 2, Istituto Venezia 2006. Provided by VIU.

Massimo Brunzin Laurea in Foreign Languages and Literature (Ca' Foscari), dottorato in Francophone Literature (Bologna). Specialized in Language Teaching with Advanced Technology (Ca' Foscari), he is a member of the management staff of the Venice Institute, an Italian language center for foreigners. Was Teaching Assistant in Francophone Literature at Ca' Foscari, with special interest in Black Africa, and instructor of Italian for foreigners at the Venice Institute. Coordinates the Italian as a Foreign language courses at VIU since Fall 2001. Published L'oralità narrativa ovvero la simulazione del Conteur nell'opera di Ahmadou Kourouma , in “Asia, Africa, America, Australia”, n. 21, 1998 and Il sincretismo linguistico nei romanzi di Ahmadou Kourouma , in ”Annali di Ca' Foscari”, 1998. Forthcoming book, with A.P. Mossetto: La letteratura senegalese, published by the Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche.