Discussion Groups (5%) will take place twice during the semester and will be based on our two films. On the days of discussion, you will be required to complete the necessary film viewing and compile questions and/or commentary based on it. See the Film Discussion Template on Moodle for preparation and role details.
Each student should bring the following to class after watching a given day’s film segment:
Choose a favorite scene and write down a quote from the Italian film transcript posted on Moodle.
Describe in a sentence or two why you picked the quote and what’s going on in the scene.
Analyze in a sentence or two what that quote/scene reflects about Italian surface and deep culture according to the categories below. How does it compare or contrast with your own culture?
As a part of the homework, you will upload once a month a Reflection Journal entry based on your linguistic and cultural discoveries. Journal entries must be between 250 and 500 words, in English, double-spaced. The entry template will be posted on Moodle as well as on the VHL calendar on the due dates.
These entries will require you to DEAL with the linguistic and cultural material of the course. That is, you will:
Describe, Examine, and Articulate what you are Learning. Respond to at least one question for each of these categories: Describe:
What cultural and/or linguistic phenomenon was most striking to you in our readings, and/or discussion.
Was this phenomenon something new or something you had already encountered in your study of Italian?
Examine (from an academic perspective):
How does this experience enhance your knowledge of a specific reading, theory, or concept? Does it challenge or reinforce your prior understanding?
Does it relate to topics in other courses or experiences you have had? How so?
Examine (from a personal experience):
How did this phenomenon make you feel? How did you react to it?
What assumptions or expectations did you bring to the situation? To what extent did they prove true? If they did not prove true, why was there a discrepancy?
How have past experiences influenced the manner in which I responded?
Did your observations of this phenomenon reveal any of your own attitudes or biases?
Articulating your Learning:
What did you learn? How did you learn it? Why does this learning matter and how important is it? How will it affect the way you understand and interpret Italy and Italian culture in the future?
o To which deep cultural categories does this learning connect?
Discussion Groups (5%) will take place twice during the semester and will be based on our two films. Prior to the days of discussion indicated on the program below, you will be required to complete the necessary film viewing and compile questions and/or commentary based on it. See the film discussion template on Moodle for the details.
The Final Presentation (5%) will take place on the final exam day. The final oral exam consists of a reflection on the cultural aspects studied in class. Each group will be composed of four people. Each group must create a presentation on one aspect of Italian culture. For the presentation you may use: Power Point, video, poster, Prezi, etc. In other words, anything that you consider useful for your presentation. The deadline for each group's presentation is the day before the final exam date indicated below. The presentation must be turned in on the Super Site. A detailed description can be found on Moodle.
As a part of the homework, you will upload once a month a Reflection Journal entry based on your linguistic and cultural discoveries. Journal entries must be between 250 and 500 words, in English, double-spaced and uploaded to VHL. The entry template will be posted on Moodle and VHL calendar.
These entries will require you to DEAL with the linguistic and cultural material of the course. That is, you will:
Describe, Examine, and Articulate what you are Learning. Respond to at least one question for each of these categories: Describe:
What cultural and/or linguistic phenomenon was most striking to you in our readings, and/or discussion.
Was this phenomenon something new or something you had already encountered in your study of Italian?
Examine (from an academic perspective):
How does this experience enhance your knowledge of a specific reading, theory, or concept? Does it challenge or reinforce your prior understanding?
Does it relate to topics in other courses or experiences you have had? How so?
Examine (from a personal experience):
How did this phenomenon make you feel? How did you react to it?
What assumptions or expectations did you bring to the situation? To what extent did they prove true? If they did not prove true, why was there a discrepancy?
How have past experiences influenced the manner in which I responded?
Did your observations of this phenomenon reveal any of your own attitudes or biases?
Articulating your Learning:
What did you learn? How did you learn it? Why does this learning matter and how important is it? How will it affect the way you understand and interpret Italy and Italian culture in the future?
o To which deep cultural categories does this learning connect?