Un vocabolario può contenere solo una piccola parte del patrimonio di una lingua.
A dictionary can embrace only a small part of the vast tapestry of a language.
Giacomo Leopardi
Italian (ITL)
Italy is one of the centers of Western Civilization. Knowledge of Italian is useful in and of itself; but it is also essential for the study of other fields like history, literature, music, art, business, economics, political science, and literature. From the 13th-16th centuries, Italy was the wealthiest area in Europe, and therefore it was the birthplace of Western culture, capitalism and banking, science, philosophy and world exploration. Italy is one of the most attractive and fascinating “universities” in the world—its language one of the most beautiful, its culture one of the richest, its cities and monuments among civilization’s marvels. If you are interested in finding out what “Italy”—that is, what Italian culture and history and perhaps even a sojourn in the country itself—can offer you in your life while you are in college, you should consider study Italian with us. There is no better place to study Italy’s language and literature, from Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Machiavelli and Ariosto to Pirandello, Ungaretti, Montale, Calvino and Dario Fo, than the Modern Languages Department at BMCC.
This course is for students who have had no previous background in Italian. Grammar is taught inductively and simple texts are read. Skills in comprehension, speaking, reading and writing are developed.
In this continuation of Italian I, grammar, composition, conversation, and reading of Italian texts are covered. Prerequisite: ITL 101 or departmental approval
This course is for students who have had no previous background in Italian. Grammar is taught inductively and simple texts are read. Speaking, reading, and writing are emphasized.
Prerequisite: Departmental Placement
Prerequisite: Departmental Placement
Students will continue the study of basic Italian grammar begun in ITL 105. They will also further their skills in listening comprehension reading and writing in Italian.
Prerequisite: ITL 105 or Departmental Placement
Prerequisite: ITL 105 or Departmental Placement
This liberal arts elective is an introduction to the evolution and development of Italian culture and civilization through the literary and artistic features, geared to the understanding of present day problems of modern European Italy and the Italian-American people. Readings are in English, and term papers are in English.
Study in this course includes a review of grammar and of composition. Modern prose is read, discussed and analyzed.
This intensive writing course emphasizes comprehension, writing, and analysis of Italian contemporary and classical texts.
Italian 250 is for students who can communicate comfortably in sentence-length discourse and who can link sentences into simple paragraphs with some ease. The present, future and past tenses are reviewed and more complex grammar structures are introduced. Authentic literary readings solidify students’ communication skills by providing themes for class discussions and written assignments and as a context for the practice of grammar structures. Language laboratory work may be assigned.
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or departmental approval
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or departmental approval
This course involves intensive written and oral work consisting of discussions of Italian short stories. Drills in advanced grammar are included as well as several oral presentations throughout the course. Readings will be assigned for homework and discussed during class sessions. Students are expected to write a journal for weekly submission and discussion, keep a vocabulary log, actively participate in discussions in class, and prepare one paper and one oral presentation on the literature covered. Readings, written work, and discussions will be in Italian.
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or department approval
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or department approval
This course involves intensive oral and written work consisting of discussions of Italian films in context. Several essays will be written in Italian. Drills in pronunciation, intonation and rhythm are included as well as several oral presentations throughout the course. Films will be screened during lab time and discussed during class sessions. A wide variety of topics ranging from everyday life problems to major social and political issues will be discussed.
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or departmental approval
Prerequisite: ITL 200 or departmental approval
A survey of Italian literature and its relation to Italian culture and ideas are studied. Selections from major works by representative authors are read and discussed. A wide variety of topics from Dante to contemporary literature will be covered. Written and oral reports are required. Students are expected to keep a reflection journal, keep a vocabulary log, actively participate in discussions in class, and prepare 3 short papers and one oral presentation on the literature covered. Readings, written work, and discussions will be in Italian.
Prerequisite: ITL 210 or departmental approval
Prerequisite: ITL 210 or departmental approval
3CRS., 3HRS.
do it with us at modern languages department 