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Course Overview

Stage 5

Year 9-10 Italian (200 hr course) and Year 10 Italian (100 hr course)

In keeping with latest methodologies in modern teaching practices, the Year 9 and 10 courses have been developed to assist students achieve the Syllabus aims and course Outcomes using innovative programs delivered in an e-learning forum. All course work will be accessed by students on the Open High School e-learning site http://openhs.moodle.com.au.The courses are structured to meet the needs of every student in a blended learning environment. Each student will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of diverse activities and interactive tasks. These self-directed learning practices are aimed at fostering an environment in which students can work at a pace best suited to individual learning needs in developing their language skills. The self-correcting grammar exercises are designed to enhance the acquisition of language structures by providing ample practice and on-going self-evaluation. The exercises in Moodle allow students to both measure success and target areas of weakness. They further assist the teacher in identifying and promptly addressing targeted areas of weakness in a one-on-one exchange.

Incorporated into the program is an oral component . Students will have a regular weekly phone lesson with their teacher to practise their spoken Italian. This is a valuable opportunity for them to seek further assistance and support from their teacher. The written component in their course work will be submitted for correction upon completion of each unit of work. One major project will be completed to be incorporated into the yearly assessment marks. Each course will comprise a formal assessment to be held in Term 4.

The course programs provide an excellent environment for the learner to gain proficiency and confidence through a flexible approach and a variety of innovative activities.

Included in the programs are:

• The Course Booklets Primi Passi (on-line)
• The Course Worksheets Primi Passi (on-line)
• Course Textbook and Workbook Pronti Via 2 (for Yr 10, 200 hr course only)
• On-line grammar exercises and activities
• Audio files/video clips/language games
• Associated links (eg on-line dictionary)

Note: The Italian Year 9-10 course has been designed as an e-learning course to be completed over 2 years.

The Year 10 Italian 100 hr course is designed for students who have not previously studied Italian. Students who have completed the 100 hr course are eligible for enrolment in the Stage 6 Italian Beginners course.

Stage 6

Italian Beginners

The on-line Italian Beginners Course has been created for students who have been deemed eligible for enrolment (must have no prior knowledge or have completed only 100 hours study in the target language). The course is accessed on the Open High School e-learning site http://openhs.moodle.com.au.

The on-line Italian Beginners Course has been created to meet the Syllabus Objectives and Course Outcomes. This course was developed incorporating best practice teaching methodology providing students with a variety of innovative and interactive exercises in a blended learning environment. Students are able to access all programmed activities on the e-learning site. They will also find links to other sites for maximum exposure to the target language and aspects of cultural interest and importance. The language exercises in Moodle will enable students to gain proficiency through graded, self-correcting exercises and instant feedback.

 Incorporated into the program is also an oral component in which students engage with their teachers on a weekly basis to practise their spoken Italian. This further provides the students with the opportunity to seek assistance and support, and to have an informal exchange with their teacher. Ample practice is provided for students to develop their comprehension and writing skills through a number of diverse tasks which they will be required to submit for correction upon completion of each unit of work.

The Beginners program provides an excellent environment for the learner to gain proficiency and confidence through a flexible approach and a variety of innovative activities.

The Preliminary Course program comprises:

• The Course Booklet
• The Course Worksheets
• On-line grammar exercises
• Audio files/video clips
• Associated links (e.g. on-line dictionary, BBC course etc.)

Students are encouraged to purchase a monolingual and/or bilingual dictionary for personal reference and for use in assessment tasks.

(For information regarding Assessment policies and timetable please refer to the School website).

Note: Students living in the Sydney metropolitan area are advised to attend the periodic face-to-face lessons held at Open High School.

This course comprises a mixed mode of delivery: part of the course exercises are on-line through the Moodle website, while others are paper based. Phone lessons are organised to ensure the oral component of the course is delivered interactively on a weekly basis.

Italian Continuers

The on-line Italian Continuers Course has been created to meet the Syllabus Objectives and Course Outcomes. The course is accessed on the Open High School e-learning site http://openhs.moodle.com.au.

In teaching the prescribed topics and subtopics, the on-line course provides a flexible structure giving students the capacity to manage their own learning using a more innovative approach to the study of language. Students are able to access all programmed activities on the e-learning site. There are also links to other sites for maximum exposure to the target language and to provide an appreciation of the social and cultural context in which it is used. The language exercises in Moodle will enable students to gain proficiency through graded, self-correcting exercises and instant feedback. Ample practice is provided for students to develop their comprehension and writing skills through a number of diverse tasks which they are required to submit for correction upon completion of each unit of work.

The blended learning environment is designed to stimulate learning, providing a variety of activities and interactive exercises. Incorporated into the program is also an oral component in which students will engage with their teachers on a weekly basis to practise their spoken Italian. This further provides the students with the opportunity to seek assistance and support, and to have an informal exchange with their teacher. 

The Continuers program comprises:

• The Course Booklet
• The Course Worksheets
• On-line grammar exercises
• Interactive activities
• Audio files/video clips
• Associated links (e.g. on-line dictionary, BBC course etc.)

Students are encouraged to purchase a monolingual and/or bilingual dictionary for personal reference and for use in assessment tasks. 

(For information regarding Assessment policies and timetable please refer to the School website). 

Note: Students living in the Sydney metropolitan area are advised to attend the periodic face-to-face lessons held at Open High School.

This course offers students the option to enrol in the Extension course.

Italian Extension

The Italian Extension Course is offered to students who have completed or are con-currently studying the Italian Continuers Course. 

As all other courses in Italian, the Extension course is offered to our students in a dynamic on-line format. Students will have access to all course work and on-line activities aimed at exploiting and extending their knowledge of the Italian language. The course actively engages students in developing higher order skills of critical analysis (of prescribed text) and the production of in-depth, authentic written and spoken texts. 

The students will have the option of submitting requisite weekly tasks on-line or through their home school Supervisor. As with all e-learning courses there is a mandatory oral component. This consists of a monologue which students must prepare and deliver demonstrating their proficiency in presenting and sustaining a point of view. Students have the option to do their monologue on the phone with their teacher or to send it to him/her as an mp3 file attachment. 

The Extension course consists of:

• The prescribed film
• The film Study Guide and film Script
• Course Worksheets (20 units)
• Additional and multi-media resources
• Language activities
• Audio files/video clips
• Associated links

Students are encouraged to purchase a monolingual and/or bilingual dictionary for personal reference and for use in assessment tasks.

(For information regarding Assessment policies and timetable please refer to the School website). 

Note: Students living in the Sydney metropolitan area are advised to attend the periodic face-to-face lessons held at Open High School.

Course Materials

Textbooks

The following is a list of learning materials which need to be purchased for the specified course. All prices are approximate.  If a course is not listed, the materials are provided by Open High School.

Stage 5/Year 10 - 200 hour course 

• Pronti Via 2 textbook

$54 approx

• Pronti Via 2 Workbook

$34 approx

Dictionaries

All students should have a comprehensive language dictionary. Please consult the Italian faculty for advice re dictionaries.

Stage 6 Syllabuses (From Board of Studies)

Click here to go to our Syllabus Downloads page - choose your language and then download the relevant syllabus.

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Country Map

Country Overview

Italy is on the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Most of Italy consists of a boot-shaped peninsula that juts out from southern Europe into the Mediterranean. Italy also includes the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Sicily and many lesser islands. Italy is blessed with varied and splendid landscapes, and because of its location most of the country enjoys sunshine and a mild Mediterranean climate.

Official Language Of

Italy; Switzerland; European Union; San Marino; Slovenia; Vatican City

Total Number of Speakers

More than 70 million

Language Family

Indo-European

Writing System

Latin alphabet

Language Overview

Italian is a Romance language spoken by about 70 million people primarily in Italy. Standard Italian was strongly influenced by the Tuscan dialect and is somewhat intermediate between the Italo-Dalmatian languages of the South and the Gallo-Italian languages of the North. Like many languages written using the Latin alphabet, Italian has double consonants. As in most Romance languages, stress is distinctive. Out of the Romance languages, Italian is generally considered to be the one most closely resembling Latin in terms of vocabulary.