Methods and levels

The methodology that we use is communicative. It emphasizes the central role of the student who learns by interaction, working in pairs, in small groups and with the whole class; the role of the teacher as the facilitator of communication; the use of authentic materials and a spiral learning process.

Courses level
The language courses offered by Italidea are created for the local needs and are recognized by Common European Framework for Languages as approved by the Council of Europe.

Basic Italian 1
Grammar coverage includes present tense of regular and some irregular verbs, nouns and articles / singular and plural, prepositions and adjectives. Communication goals include: greet and introduce oneself, ask information, describe: family, house, objects and their location. Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).

Basic Italian 2
Grammar coverage includes regular and irregular verbs. Introduction to the simple past tense (passato prossimo); adjectives and pronouns (aggettivi e pronomi personali, riflessivi, e dimostrativi);and numbers. Communication goals include: speak about oneself, ask and tell time and date, express likes and dislikes, ask and answer questions regarding food, restaurants, shops, prices, clothes, colors.
Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).

Basic Italian 3
Grammar coverage includes the simple past tense (passato prossimo) and the future tense, personal pronouns, prepositions, clauses with “if” and the present tense and other use of verbs. Communication goals include: ask and give information using the past tense, talk about past events and vacations, ask and answer about weather, time, locations and places.
Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).
At the end of Basic 3, students will be able to read, speak and understand Italian through key vocabulary and fundamental grammar.

Intermediate Italian 1
Grammar coverage includes the use of "passato prossimo" and the agreement with the direct object pronouns; "imperfetto" and the progressive form; adverbs; indefinite, possessive adjectives and pronouns; combined pronouns, conditional, imperative, and gerund; the use of comparative and superlative adjectives and relative pronouns; the use of impersonal subjects (si, tu, uno); the use of some idiomatic expressions.
Communication goals include: ongoing actions and habits in the past; how to write a CV, apply for a job, write formal letters, carry a formal conversation on the phone; how to express feelings, emotions, and sensations, physical description of people and their personality; giving advice, expressing opinions and doubts; congratulating and apologizing; talking about health and various events. Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).

Intermediate Italian 2
Grammar coverage includes the study of conditional, imperative, and gerund; review of comparative and superlative adjectives and relative pronouns; the use of impersonal subjects (si, tu, uno); some idiomatic expressions. Communication goals include: physical description of people and their personality; giving advice, expressing opinions and doubts; congratulating and apologizing; talking about health and various events.
Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).

Intermediate Italian 3
Grammar coverage includes the study of "passato remoto", "trapassato prossimo", "futuro anteriore", subjunctive mode (presente, passato, imperfetto) and hypothetical sentence of possibility. Communication goals include: asking information in the past tense, connecting events in the past and the future; giving permission, expressing disappointment, fear, grief, hope, enthusiasm, desire.
Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).
At the end of the Intermediate level, students will be able to develop linguistic skills, enhance the vocabulary and correctly apply grammar rules.

Advanced Italian 1
Grammar coverage includes the review of the subjunctive mode (passato e imperfetto) and the study of the conditional mode (semplice), "if clause" (possibility and unreality). Review of the "passato remoto"; the passive form. Communication goals include: expressing agreement and disagreement on various topics, expressing opinions and feelings thoroughly, using accurate and appropriate vocabulary; discussing Italy's current problems and facts (made in Italy, immigration).
Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).

Advanced Italian 2
Grammar coverage includes "if clause" review (possibility amnd unreality), the conditional mode (semplice and composto) the review of the subjunctive mode and indefinite modes: "infinito", "participio", "gerundio"; review of prepositions and pronouns, indirect speech. Communication goals include: expressing opinions and describing events and situations thoroughly in the present, past and future, using accurate and appropriate vocabulary; discussing Italy's current problems and facts (Italian songs, theater and literature, political and social matters). Classes meet once a week for ten weeks (20 hours).
At the end of the Advanced level, students will be able to fluently communicate in the Italian language, read a broad variety of texts, speak and understand Italian through a rich vocabulary and correctly apply grammar rules. The proficiency level reached by the students at the end of the Advanced level is equivalent to the Vantage Level B2-Intermediate Level of the Common European Framework for Languages, as approved by the Council of Europe.

PLACEMENT TEST
Students new to Italidea with a previous knowledge of Italian are required to take a placement test in order to register for the appropriate course. The test will be given at Italidea, by appointment with the secretary (tel. 312 832 4953; email: italidea.chicago@sbcglobal.net )


Special Courses

BUON APPETITO!
Italian gastronomy is one of the richest and most popular cuisines in the world. This course aims to give an overview of some famous Italian dishes and their cultural background. During class, we will analyze recipes and their ingredients, while improving your Italian vocabulary and grammar knowledge in a simple and fun way. A good basic level of Italian is required.

ITALIAN MASS MEDIA
This course will focus on the language used in the Italian mass media. Students will discover the contemporary use of Italian idioms through the analysis of newspapers, radio, T.V. programming, and advertisements. By focusing on these specific resources, students will gain a better understanding of the Italian mass culture. Good knowledge of Italian or Italidea’s B3 level is required.

CHILDREN CLASS "GIOCANDO CON L'ITALIANO!"
This course makes learning Italian a fun enjoyable experience through the use of cartoon stories, songs, games and didactic activities stimulating the children's curiosity and imagination.

CONVERSATION I
This is a short, topic-based Italian course of 10 hours aimed at improving your confidence in speaking. It can complement the standard Italian courses by providing lessons that focus on oral communication skills. This course is divided into two levels: Level I (Basic 1-2-3) and Level II

ITALIAN FOR BUSINESS
This class focuses on the use of spoken and written Italian in business. It is recommended for professionals and entrepreneurs who need to communicate in Italian using technical business terms. The classes will provide students with the skills required to understand the specific terminology used in meetings, presentations, negotiations, speaking on the phone, and formal business correspondence. A basic knowledge of Italian is required.

ITALIAN FOR MEDICAL DOCTORS AND THEIR STAFF
During this class students will receive an introduction to Italian medical terminology, including the basics of human anatomy and various pathologies. This course will also focus on basic Italian vocabulary for the patient’s orientation to the clinical pratice, including an emphasis on understanding the patient’s clinical needs. The students will learn to enhance (doctor/staff) communication with patients through an introduction to Italian Socio-cultural pratices. This class will also address specific medical situations that arise during the student’s clinical experience with Italian speaking patients in his/her practice.

CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN
This class is meant to develop the knowledgeg of contemporary Italian, and some of its varieties. This class will introduce the sociolinguistics of the Italian language. It will focus on the
importance of sound, word formation, sentence structure, and vocabulary. Students will learn through the Italian language as well as some minority language systems used throughout Italy (i.e. dialects). Students will become familiar with young slang and the concepts of standard and nonstandard Italian (in both its spoken and written varieties). This course will be fully taught in Italian.

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