1. A Case of Individualized Italian
Instruction
Fernanda Capraro, Ph.D.
Otterbein University
Adjunct Instructor
English as a Second Language Program

2. 12 Individualized Lessons: Beginning Italian
 Freelance instructor - listenandlearn.org
 July – August 2014
 1-2 times per week for 2 hours
Female Student: Retired Professional
 Traveled to Italy
 Enjoyed the culture
 Another trip - September 2014

3. Learning Goals:
1. Speak the language
2. Brain exercise
3. Become multilingual
Language learning focus –
• Focus on listening and
speaking skills

4. Teaching and Learning Materials:
• Learn Italian The Fast and Fun Way (4th Ed.), Danesi, M.
(2014).
• Prego: An Invitation to Italian (4th Ed.), Lazzarino, Mauri
Jacobsen, & Bellezza. (1995).
• Practice Makes Perfect: Italian Conversation, Danesi, M.
(2012).
• Online materials: videos, vocabulary, audios, & grammar
exercises

5. Lezioni:
Week 1 –
• Pronunciation Guide
• Map of Italy
• Andare verb, conjugations
Esercizio: Buon viaggio!
Roma 
A: Vado a Roma.
B: Oh, vai in Italia! Fortunato(a)!
• Una bomboniera (fancy sweet box)
Prego: An Invitation to Italian (4th Ed.), pp. 67-68.
Resources

6. Lezioni:
Week 2-
• Greetings & Introductions
• Class vocabulary
• singolare/plurale
• Una, un’, uno, un
• In a coffee shop (caffé)
• Luoghi (ristorante, banca,
piazza)
• Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
• Practice Makes Perfect: Italian
Conversation
• Prego!: An Invitation to Italian
Resources

7. Lezioni:
Week 3-
• Caffé menu
• Family Members
• Definite articles
• Map of Wine Regions
Prego!: An Invitation to Italian
Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/caffes/gelato.htm
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/caffes/menu.htm
Resources

8. Lezioni:
Week 4-
• Una casa
• Short reading, L’arrivo
and questions
• Dialogo – La prenotazione
(reservation)
• Mesi e giorni (months & days)
• Telling time
• Hand gestures (video)
Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
http://www.rocketlanguages.com/italian/learn/italian-hotel-vocabulary/
Prego!: An Invitation to Italian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0n4Vw6twKo
Resources:

9. Lezioni:
Week 5-
• Che tempo fa? (How is the weather?)
• L’orario (Train schedule)
• Voglio/Vorrei (I want / I would like)
• Short reading – Una prenotazione
and questions
• La prima colazione (breakfast)
• Subject pronouns & -are verbs
http://www.trenitalia.com/
Prego!: An Invitation to Italian
Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
Resources

10. Lezioni:
Week 6-
• La Tavola (The Table)
• The main and evening meal,
dialogo – I ristoranti
• Review –are verbs, esercizi
• Ferroagosto – reading & video
• Prepositions (contracted)
• Numeri
Prego!: An Invitation to Italian
Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lepgO6nXWmI
http://www.formorefun.it/ferragosto/storia.htm
Resources

11. Lezioni:
Week 7-
• Questions with –are verbs
• -ire and –ere verbs
• Irregular verbs (andare, venire,
fare, dare, e dire)
• Women’s clothing
• Food stores, dialogo
Learn Italian the Fast and Fun Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d
T4hKytLtY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l
Q1ws_UtWQA
Resources

12. Benefits of individualized instruction:
 Student-directed learning.
 Student and instructor are motivated.
 Practical, functional language learning.
 Student sets the pace.

13. fernanda.capraro31@gmail.com