B1.1 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 9: love at first sight; unit 10: home sweet home
Grammar – revision of previous contents, mentre/durante, stare per + infinitive, present perfect of modal verbs, some conclusive conjunctions, present subjunctive of regular verbs ending in –are, -ere, -ire, present subjunctive of some irregular verbs, the use of subjunctive to express need, hope, and personal opinions, the comparative form più … di/che, magari.
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listen and comprehend audio-visual sources on the topics of feelings and love at first sight, houses and apartments.
2. talk about feelings, talk about and ask to talk about events, talk about events happening in a precise moment, express annoyance, describe a house and an apartment, express needs and wishes, speak in favour of and against something, compare things.
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 2. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano A2. Con CD-Audio: A2 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 9-10.
B1.2 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 1: learning a language; unit 2: life in the city
Grammar – revision of previous contents, past perfect tense, prima di + infinitive, the verb dovere to express a hypothesis, combined pronouns, past conditional, possessive pronouns, ci and ne, some pronominal verbs
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listen and comprehend audio-visual sources on the topic of language learning, cultural differences, historical information of a city, city life.
2. invite someone to do something together, borrow something, express doubts, make analogies, talk about cultural incidents, express their opinions, agree and disagree on something, ask for help, complain, express hope and disagreement, forbid something, insist on something, make plans, indicate the geographical position of a place.
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 3. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano B1. Con CD-Audio: B1 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 1-2.
B1.3 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 3: made in Italy; unit 4: communicating today
Grammar – revision of previous contents, revision of subjunctive, past and imperfect subjunctive, a patto che, purchè, a condizione che, come se + subjunctive, tenses and modes agreement, indirect speech, verbs andare and venire in the indirect speech.
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listening and comprehending audio-visual sources on made in Italy manufactural products, products’ use and characteristics, means of communication today, the role of social media in Italy and abroad.
2. describe objects, products and their materials, talk about its characteristics and use, explain causes, express feelings and sensations, justify someone’s behaviour, blame something or someone, express themselves with different means of communication, provide explanations, start a phone call, refer a third person’s words, transcribe a vocal message.
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 3. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano B1. Con CD-Audio: B1 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 3-4.
B1.4 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 5: readings and literature; unit 6: the concept of family today
Grammar – revision of previous contents, the construction che io sappia, tenses and modes agreement (part 2), the passive form with essere and venire, indicative preterite, historical present, sebbene/nonostante/malgrado/benchè + subjunctive, anche se + indicative, fare + infinitive, the impersonal form of reflexive verbs
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listen and comprehend audio-visual sources dedicated to Italian literature, readings, literature genres, the concept of family today, birth trends.
2. communicate about their favoured literature genres, reading preferences, family trends in their country, birth trends in their country.
3. express their opinions regarding their interest/lack of interest/ a preference towards some literature genres, preserving and dismantling gender-based roles, comment statistics, explain their point of views on a given topic, discuss pros and cons of a condition.
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 3. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano B1. Con CD-Audio: B1 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 5-6.
B1.5 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 7: festivities and gifts; unit 8: Italians in history
Grammar – revision of previous contents, the adverb mica, the use of past conditional to express a future action in the past, the hypothetical period of the 2nd type, gerundive with modal and temporal function, the position of pronouns with gerundive, the impersonal construction with the third plural person.
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listen and comprehend audio-visual sources about festivities Italian celebrating traditions, prominent Italians in history, fun facts about Italian history.
2. being enthusiastic or apathetic regarding an event, dissent on a topic, make fun of a situation and make irony, talk about the life of an important person, talk about a travel.
3. express their opinions regarding festivities, provide suggestions, make hypotheses, talk about their own behaviour in some given circumstances.
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 3. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano B1. Con CD-Audio: B1 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 7-8.
B1.6 (25 hours)
Course contents
Topics – unit 9: exploring Italian heterogeneity; unit 10: Italian language today
Grammar – revision of previous contents, indirect interrogative sentences, indirect speech with main clause at past tense, prima che – prima di, the passive form with the verb andare, plusquamperfect subjunctive, hypothetical period of the third type (non-reality in the past), past gerundive, past infinitive, dopo + past infinitive.
Course outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
1. read texts, listen and comprehend audio-visual sources about Italian regional territorial differences, regional cultural differences, Italian language today, some common mistakes, ‘appropriate’ and ‘inappropriate’ Italian grammar.
2. ask indirect questions, ask information regarding the characteristic of a specific place, talk about the attractions of a place, discuss their own linguist mistakes.
3. express their opinions regarding places of interest in Italy and abroad, interest/lack of interest/ for places, make irony, refer what someone else said, make hypotheses in the past, reflect on the process of learning a language
This course is for those who have a knowledge of Italian language which enables them to access this course’s contents or for those who need to revise language contents from this level.
Textbook and materials
Maria Balì and Irene Dei, Nuovo espresso 3. Libro dello studente e esercizi. Corso di italiano B1. Con CD-Audio: B1 (Firenze: Alma, 2017). Units 9-10.