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Home |General Info |Summer Language Program

Studia l'Italiano e Scopri la Cultura del Mediterraneo
Study Italian and Discover Mediterranean Culture

 

Course Descriptions

All students will have the opportunity to participate in the
Production of an Independent Movie!!!

Course Schedule 
(subject to change)

 

 Courses are scheduled from Monday to Friday.  Language classes are taught from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Most of the other courses usually run in the morning, but some may be scheduled in the afternoon. A minimum number of students is required for each course to run.

 

Faculty All of our faculty members are highly qualified professionals with backgrounds and expertise in various fields.

Note: Each class will include some "working and walking labs," which is an opportunity for students to interact with local people and discover Italian culture first-hand.  Students will have the joy of learning how to make some of Italy's finest delicacies, i.e. pizza, bread, gelato, pastry, pasta, olive oil, limoncello, wine, etc.   

 

List of all courses

 

NEW: Music Courses

MUS A1=MUS101 – Introduction to Music (3 credits, taught in English)
MUS B1=MUS 111 – Basic Musicianship (3 credits, taught in English)
MUS D1=MUS 408 – The Opera (3 credits, taught in English)
MUS D2=MUS 490 – Independent Study (1-3 credits, taught in English)

Piano Course Brochure

LIST of COURSES focusing on Italian music:

MUS A1=MUS 101 Introduction to Music (3 credits.): Consideration of musical styles, techniques, and forms from the listener’s standpoint.

MUS B1=MUS 111 Basic Musicianship (3 credits) Learn essentials of music reading and music theory through folk, classical, and popular music.

MUS D1=MUS 408 The Opera (3 credits). Students will study history of opera from its beginnings in Italy in the 17th century to the present. The course includes production by composers such as Monteverdi, Rossini, Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini.

MUS D2=MUS 490 Independent Study (1-3 credits) Independent study/project under the guidance of a member of our faculty.

 

ITALIAN A1, A2=ITL 101, 102

Elementary Italian I & II (3 credits each, for a total of 6 credits)

ITALIAN B1, B2=ITL 103, 104 

Intermediate Italian I & II (3 credits each, for a total of 6 credit)

ITALIAN C1, C2=ITL 205, 206 

Conversation and Composition (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

ITALIAN CIV1, CIV2=ITL 301, 302

Civilization of Italy (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

ITALIAN CC1=ITL 305 Upper-Level Conversation and Composition (3 credits. Taught in Italian)
ITALIAN CIN1=ITL 315 Italian Cinema (3 credits. Taught in English)

  FMP1= FILM 351


FMFE1-FILM MEDIA FIELD EXPERIENCE=FILM 401

Topics in Film Media Production (4 credits. Taught in English. Only available in the June-July section)

Pre-production and production of an independent movie (3 credits. Taught in English)

ITALIAN L1, L2=ITL 325, 326  

Introduction to Italian Literature (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

ITALIAN DC1=ITL 395

Dante’s Divine Comedy (3 credits. Taught in English)

ITALIAN AU1=ITL 455

Selected Italian Authors (3 credits. Taught in Italian)

ITALIAN TOP1=ITL 465

Topics in Italian Literature (3 credits. Taught in Italian)
ITALIAN BUS1=ITL 480 Business Italian (3 credits. Taught in Italian)
ITALIAN DAN1=ITL 481 The Works of Dante Alighieri (3 credits. Taught in Italian)
ITALIAN IND1=ITL 497 Independent Study (3 credits. Taught in Italian)

IFE1- INTERNATIONAL FIELD
EXPERIENCE=ITR 301 

International Field Experience (3 credits. For Field Experience and  Internship Opportunities Contact the Program Director)

Please note that each 100 and 200 language course are taught in a sequence (101-102; 103-104; 205-206) and will last two weeks. We urge all students (including the advanced one) to study part of the material covered in their classes before they go to Italy. This way it will be easier for them to successfully complete their classes and to better enjoy the experience abroad.

 

ITALIAN A1, A2=ITL 101, 102:  Elementary Italian I & II (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

An elementary course for students without prior knowledge of Italian.  In this course, you will establish a solid base in the Italian language in the four areas of language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to demonstrate proficiency in everyday spoken Italian. You will be able to read simple essays in Italian and write short paragraphs on familiar topics.  You will be able to greet people and introduce yourself, give directions, respond to and ask questions, describe your family and friends, order items in a café, discuss your life at school and your hobbies, express likes and dislikes, and recount what you have done in the recent past.  You will also have gained specific knowledge about contemporary Italy, including family life, student life, sports and pastimes, music, coffee culture, and regional differences. Students will practice the language in real-life environments such as the following: fruttivendolo (fruit vendor), ristorante (restaurant), panetteria (bakery), pasticceria (pastry shop-cafe`), edicola (newspaper and magazine stand), etc.  Students without prior knowledge of Italian will be able to understand and communicate after only 3 weeks (please see student evaluations).  Prerequisite: no prior Italian is required. (For URI students only: Will not count toward the language requirement if the student has studied Italian for more than one year within the last six years).
Book: Parliamo italiano! A Communicative Approach, 4th Edition. Suzanne Branciforte (Study in Italy, Genoa, Italy), Elvira Di Fabio (Harvard University). Wiley Edition. ISBN 978-0-470-52677-4 (do not buy Workbook/Lab Manual).
An Italian-English dictionary is recommended: For example, Dizionario Garzanti, or The concise Cambridge Italian Dictionary.

 

ITALIAN B1, B2=ITL 103, 104:  Intermediate Italian I & II (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

An intermediate course continuing grammar introduced in Beginning Italian 101-102 supplemented by further grammar, conversation, and composition.  Further development of facility in reading texts of moderate difficulty; selected readings are from 20-century authors.  In this course, you will establish a solid base in the Italian language in the four areas of language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to demonstrate proficiency in everyday spoken Italian. You will be able to read simple essays in Italian and write short paragraphs on familiar topics.  You will be able to greet people and introduce yourself, give directions, respond to and ask questions, describe your family and friends, order items in a café, discuss your life at school and your hobbies, express likes and dislikes, and recount what you have done in the recent past.  You will also have gained specific knowledge about contemporary Italy, including family life, student life, sports and pastimes, music, coffee culture, and regional differences.

Students will practice the language in real-life environments such as the following: fruttivendolo (fruit vendor), ristorante (restaurant), panetteria (bakery), pasticceria (pastry shop-caffe`), edicola (newspaper and magazine stand), etc.  Students at this level will easily be able to understand and communicate in the target language after the first week. Prerequisites: 102 (for 103) and 103 (for 104), or equivalent.
Book: Parliamo italiano! A Communicative Approach, 4th Edition. Suzanne Branciforte (Study in Italy, Genoa, Italy), Elvira Di Fabio (Harvard University). Wiley Edition. ISBN 978-0-470-52677-4 (do not buy Workbook/Lab Manual).

An Italian-English dictionary is recommended: For example, Dizionario Garzanti, or The concise Cambridge Italian Dictionary.

 

ITALIAN C1, C2=ITL 205, 206:  Conversation and Composition (3 credits each, for a total of six credits)

Ideal for students with previous knowledge of Italian grammar.  An intensive course in conversation and composition.  Promotes facility in speaking and understanding idiomatic Italian.  Students are introduced to contemporary Italian culture through notions of history, geography, art, music, and literature. The four basic communication skills are strengthened through vocabulary development and grammar reviews. Oral and written proficiency is developed through class presentations and critical essays.  Lessons and special guests provide students with the unique opportunity to improve their vocabulary and writing skills.  Students at this level will be able to speak and write with grammatical precision and fluency.  Prerequisite: 104 or permission of chairperson.

Books: Olson, Edwards, Foerster. In viaggio, McGraw Hill, 2002. + do not buy Workbook/Lab Manual. Reading: Carmine Abate, La festa del ritorno, Milano, Mondadori, 2004. An Italian-English dictionary is recommended: For example, Dizionario Garzanti, or The concise Cambridge Italian Dictionary.

 

ITALIAN CIV1, CIV2=ITL 301, 302: Civilization of Italy (3 credits each, a  for a total of six credits. Cross listed with ITL 305)

The most important aspects of Italian civilization.  301: From the Middle ages to the end of the Renaissance.  302: From the seventeenth century to the present. 

An advanced course for students with a solid grasp of the fundamentals of Italian grammar. The course aims at knowing Italian Civilization, History, Art, Literature, and Culture, and at achieving proficiency in speaking and writing through vocabulary development and extension of control of higher-level syntactical patterns.  Students will discover Italian culture through cuisine, fashion, regional traditions, economy, politics, Italian newspaper and magazine articles, feature films, literary works.  Practice is acquired through class presentations, compositions and discussions, educational trips, hands-on experiences, etc. Lessons and special guests provide students with the unique opportunity to improve their writing, oral skills and their knowledge of Italian language, civilization, and culture.  Prerequisite: 205 or 206 or permission of chairperson. Textbooks (you could buy them in Italy): Giovanni Boccaccio: Cinque Novelle, Roma, Bonacci Editore, 1995;  Francesco Petrarca: Il canzoniere, Roma, Bonacci Editore, 2003.  Maria Voltolina: L’italiano è servito, Guerra Edizioni Lucia Alessio – Andreina Sgaglione: Invito a teatro, Edizioni Edilingua

 

ITALIAN CC1=ITL 305: Upper-Level Conversation and Composition (3 credits. Taught in Italian)

Intensive spoken and written Italian. Prerequisite: 205 or 206 or permission of chairperson.

Books: Lucia Cini, Stategie di scrittura;Umberto Eco (a cura di), Povero Pinocchio. 

 

ITALIAN CIN1=ITL 315: Italian Cinema (3 credits. Taught in English)

This course surveys the development of Italian cinema from the fascist era of the Cinecitta to the present day.  The focus will be on Italian Neorealism and its influence on post-neorealist Italian auteurs and film genres. Films will be examined in a historical/aesthetic context.  The instructor will comment on both the ideological and stylistic aspects of the films.  Lectures by the instructor are designed to (1) give the students a basic understanding of film and the film-making process, (2) provide insights into the director and his work, and (3) offer social, political and cultural background information necessary for a better understanding of the film. 

FMFE1=Film 401: Film Media Field Experience (3 credits. Taught in English)/Cross listed with FMP=FILM 351: Topics in Film Media Production (4 credits. Taught in English)  

Students will work with an Italian director on an independent film. Program participants will be involved in all aspects of pre-production and production, including screenwriting, filming and editing. Those who are interested can also participate as actors in the movie. For this activity students will earn 3 credits. 

Renato Guzzardi, independent filmmaker and Professor at the University of Calabria, will be directing the film Il ritorno di Norman based on the travelogue Old Calabria (1915) written by British writer and journalist Norman Douglas.

(Prerequisite for URI students only: FLM 110, Intro to Film Production. Those who do not have this prerequisite can only hope to transfer the credits as FLM 2XX).
 

ITALIAN L1, L2=ITL 325, 326: Introduction to Italian Literature (3 credits each, for a total of six credits.  Cross listed with ITL 455

Appreciation of literature: Representative texts of Italian narrative, drama, and lyric poetry, as well as Elements of the method of criticism.  Students explore the literature of the 19th and 20th century through the works of major Italian writers and poets, such as Manzoni, Leopardi, Pirandello, Moravia, Montale, Pavese, Calvino, etc. Lessons and special guests provide students with a unique opportunity to improve their writing skills and their ability to analyze literary texts.  Prerequisite: one 300-level course or permission of instructor.

 

ITALIAN DC1=ITL 395: Dante’s Divine Comedy (3 credits. General Education Course. Taught in English. Cross listed with ITL 481)

Reading in English translation of Dante’s chief work.  Analysis and interpretation of the Divine Comedy from the social, religious, philosophical, and political viewpoints of the Middle Ages.  Dante’s Divine Comedy is a masterpiece of the Western literary tradition and a great synthesis of Medieval culture and society.  Through textual and critical analysis, students will interpret the language and the cultural content of the Divine Comedy.  Secondary readings will be assigned for further interpretation of the most important passages of La Divina CommediaPrerequisite (for URI students only): one 300-level course or permission of instructor.

Books: Any edition of the Divine Comedy (which includes Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso) is welcomed, but the following are suggested: Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy. Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso. Trans. Allen Mandelbaum. New York: Bantam, 1981, 1984, 1986. 3 vols. (this edition of the Divine Comedy with English translation and parallel Italian text is the one used by the teacher in class and therefore is the one students should buy). Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy. Inferno, Text and Translation. Inferno, Commentary. Purgatorio, Text and Translation. Paradiso, Text and Translation. Trans. Charles S. Singleton. Princeton: University Press, 1970. Bollingen Series LXXX. 6 vols. Italian/English.; Dante. Inferno. Purgatorio. Paradiso. Trans. John  D. Sinclair. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974. 3 vols.; Robert Pinsky, trans. The Inferno of Dante: A New Verse Translation (New York: Noonday Press, 1996). 

Please note: Students taking the Dante class should read at least the first 10 cantos of Inferno before they start the class in Calabria. This will help them a lot in successfully completing the Dante's course.

 

ITALIAN AU1=ITL 455: Selected Italian Authors (3 credits.  Taught in Italian)

Works of one or more major authors of Italian literature.  Specific author(s) are designated the semester before the course is given. Pre: one 300-level course or permission of instructor.

Students explore the literature of the 20th century through the works of major contemporary Italian writers and poets such as Luigi Pirandello, Eugenio Montale, Elio Vittorini, Italo Calvino, Cesare Pavese, and Antonio Tabucchi. The course maybe taught by the distinguished literary critic Dante Della Terza, Emeritus Professor of Harvard University.  Our lessons and special guests will provide students with a unique opportunity to improve their writing skills and their ability to analyze literary texts. List of books will be send to students in April. You can buy the books for this course in Italy.

 

ITALIAN TOP1=ITL 465: Topics in Italian Literature (3 credits.  Taught in Italian)

Special topics on themes in Italian literature not treated or emphasized in other courses.  Pre: one 300-level course or permission of instructor. 

An advanced course for students with a solid grasp of the fundamentals of Italian grammar. The course aims at achieving proficiency in speaking and writing through vocabulary development and extension of control of higher-level syntactical patterns. Insights into Italian society and culture, especially through Italian newspaper and magazine articles, feature films, contemporary novels, and short stories, will augment class discussions. There will be practice through class presentations, compositions and discussions. Our lessons and special guests will provide students with the unique opportunity of improving their creative writing and oral skills. List of books will be send to students in April.

 

ITALIAN BUS1=ITL 480: Business Italian (3 credits. Taught in Italian Cross listed with ITL 465)

Study of concepts and terminology relating to the Italian business world. Glossary and style through a look at doing business with Italy, drawn from actual cases.  Exploring the Italian corporate structure, advertising in Italy, the media, distribution, banking and corporate finances.  Italian business in the United States, with accompanying success and failure stories.  The course is taught in Italian with reviews in English, and includes an in-depth look at specific sectors related to Italian export trade such as the fashion apparel and jewelry industries. Students also learn basic elements of Italian business correspondence.  Planned activities include visiting factories and other business environments.  Prerequisite: junior standing, credit or concurrent enrollment in at least one 300-level Italian course, or permission of instructor.  Book: Cherubini, L’italiano per gli affari, Bonacci Editore, Roma, 2005.

 

IFE1=INTERNATIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCE-ITR 301:  International Field Experience (3 credits. For Field Experience and Internship Opportunities, contact the Program Director)

Field experience gained at placement site through participation in the summer program. The experience will be defined by a job description and learning contract arranged by the program director between the student intern, the intern’s faculty advisor, and the relevant agency supervisor. (Practicum) S/U credit.


Please contact us at info@derada.com with any questions, concerns or comments. Thank you.
De Rada Italian Institute¨ 37 Kingston Hill Ct., Kingston, RI 02881 USA¨www.derada.com
Centro Internazionale di Studi Deradiani¨San Demetrio Corone (CS) 87069 ITALY ¨ tel-fax 0984-956165 ¨info@derada.com

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