2024-2025 Italian courses

Italian 1:  2 sections-Alberti @ 11 and Ciniglia @ 10: An introduction to Italian as a spoken and written language, with emphasis on practical conversation. The course includes regular practice in class and scheduled drill-sessions in understanding and using the spoken language. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

Italian 2:  2 sections-Alberti @ 12 and Perego @ 11: Rapid review and continued study of the fundamentals of Italian, with intensive work in vocabulary building. The course will also include an introduction to the culture and civilization of Italy. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 1. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

Italian 3:  1 section-Ciniglia @ 11: This course is designed to reinforce and refine spoken and written language skills through a review of grammar, exposure to a broad spectrum of language ranging from colloquial to literary styles, and the use of samples of Italian language from multiple sources such as advertising, comics, television and literature. Frequent compositions, quizzes, plus linguistic and thematic analysis of texts. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 2, ITAL 11 or ARTH 12. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements.

Italian 9:  1 section-Gilebbi @12:  Advanced Language Through Culture expands on the skills acquired in the Italian language sequence (Italian 1, 2, 3, and/or the LSA) as well as offering a transition to Italian 10 and our upper-division literature and culture courses. This course introduces students to modern and contemporary Italian literature, culture and society through a focus on topics such as evolving political and regional identities, gender relations, the role of the media, and the culture of daily life. Students expand their active use of Italian, refine communicative, reading, and writing strategies, and comprehensively review grammar. Course work includes active participation in class discussions, oral presentations, and regular reading and writing assignments in the areas of narrative and poetry, cinema, music, and journalism. Instructors usually choose one or several "anchor" texts around which coursework revolves.  NRO eligible. Prerequisite:  ITAL 3 or permission of the instructor. 

ITAL 21 Early Italian Literature and Culture Boccaccio:  Callegari @ 11: 10 friends. 100 days. 100 stories. 1000 reasons to dive in. Boccaccio doesn't have the same claim to fame as Dante or Shakespeare, but that's mostly because he was way too much fun for anyone's liking. The Decameron is a world of escapism mapped out by a bunch of 20 somethings desperate for distraction in a time of global pandemic and political upheaval. Totally unapologetic and wildly irreverent, Boccaccio's Decameron is all about breaking the rules, overindulging, and behaving badly--medieval style.  Our seminar will mirror the form of Boccaccio's text: we'll read his stories about sex, love, revenge, hijinx, violence, and debauchery, think about what they might really mean, and consider how storytelling ties us all together across time and place. Prerequisite:  Italian 10 or permission of the instructor.  Degree Requirement Attributes:  Dist:LIT; WCult:W.  NRO eligible.

FRIT 31: How Languages are Learned: Convertini @ 2a: Many approaches to language teaching and learning have been proposed and implemented over time. From learning grammar rules and lists of vocabulary to memorization and practice of correct sentences to natural communication, project work, communicative language teaching, and content-based learning, this course will introduce students to some of the language acquisition research that will help them understand how languages are learned. Topics explored in the course will include language awareness, bilingualism, early-child language learning, the major trends in twentieth-century language teaching, and the role of technology in language learning. The course will also offer students the opportunity to reflect on language learning on a personal level, to find out how they think as language learners and how they can empower themselves to learn languages in an active and engaged manner. Hands-on activities, including class observations, textbook evaluations, and interviews with language learners, will complement the course. Open to all students. Text, lectures, and discussion in English. Students taking the course for major or minor credit in Italian will attend a weekly x-hour and do all written work in Italian.  Not open to students who have received credit for FRIT 093. Degree Requirement Attributes: Lang:LRP; Dist:SOC; WCult:W. 

ITAL 37.12 Topics in Literature and Culture: Premodern Italy & Food:  Callegari @ 12: A Bite-Sized History of Italy:The Story of how Italy became Italy through Food & Beverage Culture--While Italy as a nation-state has only existed since 1861, a sense of Italian identity long pre-existed that reality, thanks largely to a deeply-rooted, shared enogastronomic culture that became the envy of the world. Departing from the doormice and garum of the Roman Empire and arriving at the heresy of pineapple pizza, "A Bite-Sized History of Italy" will present a long-view, wide-lens portrait of a place that has become so well-known for its food as to almost preclude interrogation, even as it might be said that food is the very reason for its existence. Dist: Lit and W.  NRO eligible. 

LSA+:  Parati in Rome-please email Professor Parati with any questions-Graziella.Parati@dartmouth.edu.  

Italian 1:  1 section-Ciniglia @ 11:  An introduction to Italian as a spoken and written language, with emphasis on practical conversation. The course includes regular practice in class and scheduled drill-sessions in understanding and using the spoken language. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

Italian 2:  1 section-D'Angelo @ 12: Rapid review and continued study of the fundamentals of Italian, with intensive work in vocabulary building. The course will also include an introduction to the culture and civilization of Italy. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 1. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

Italian 3:  2 sections-Ciniglia @ 10 and Convertini @ 12:  This course is designed to reinforce and refine spoken and written language skills through a review of grammar, exposure to a broad spectrum of language ranging from colloquial to literary styles, and the use of samples of Italian language from multiple sources such as advertising, comics, television and literature. Frequent compositions, quizzes, plus linguistic and thematic analysis of texts. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 2, ITAL 11 or ARTH 12. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements.

Italian 11: Convertini @ 11:  This 1-credit course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of the Italian language, but who have a strong background in another Romance language (i.e. Spanish, French, Rumanian, Portuguese, Catalan, or Latin). Italian 11 is an accelerated course that combines Italian 1 and 2 in one term offering an exciting and fast-paced atmosphere to learn Italian. The course will have a hybrid component, that through cultural, grammar and multimedia introductory exercises will prepare students for the in-class activities. In this course, students will learn to talk about familiar events in the present and the past, as well as formulate plans for the future. Weekly cultural videos will situate in context the grammatical content of the course making it relevant and meaningful. Students will be actively engaged in a variety of creative written and oral activities that will help them develop their language skills. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to sign up for Italian 3 or apply for our Italian LSA+ program in Rome. Students who have not yet taken ITAL 003 may take the course after completing ITAL 011. The goal is to facilitate the acquisition of the target language, therefore this course will be conducted entirely in Italian. This course is not open to students who have received credit for Italian 1, 2 or 3. 

FYS 07.08: Gilebbi: @ 12: "What is (Italian) Cinema?": Cinema is a form of expression that, by integrating different media and disciplines (including writing, music, dance, theater, architecture, fashion, etc.) creates something that is beyond the sum of its parts. But how does cinema integrate all these other media into something new? What are the specific tools needed to read, understand, and critically analyze this multifaceted form of expression, and how can we use them effectively? In this course students will tackle these questions through an exploration of Italian cinema. Italian filmmakers played a pivotal role in advancing the language of cinema, via both technical and narrative experimentation. While Italian films are, of course, artifacts of a specific culture, they also transcend national boundaries and influence cinema around the world. At the same time, Italian filmmakers have always been avid watchers and attentive critics of foreign films – in particular, French, German, Russian, Japanese, and American – which, in turn, left a mark on their work. For these reasons, in this class students will watch and analyze five Italian films to explore what cinema in general is and does. Importantly, the critical tools acquired in this course will help students tackle the complexity of other texts and develop a critical reading of those texts. Finally, critical analysis of films, like that of any other text, should not happen in a vacuum. Watching a film with a critical eye, like doing any critical reading, is a social interaction. For this reason, this course is organized as a student-led seminar and all writings rely on peer-reviews.

ITAL 10.21:  Eat, Pray, Love:  Modes of Desire in Italian Literature-Alberti @ 11:  An introduction to Italian Literature, especially short prose fiction and poetry. In this course, we will study the ways in which desire drives narrative plot; contributes to the creation of meaning; and challenges traditional constructions of politics, identity, community, gender and sexuality. Attention will be given to building a vocabulary and critical toolset for interpreting and writing about literary texts from Middle Ages to the contemporary period.  Dist:LIT; WCult:W. Prerequisite:  ITAL 9. 

ITAL 27.03 Miracolo! Italy, 1958-63: Alberti @ 12: The years of the economic "boom," or "miracle" following post-WW II reconstruction were, for Italy, a time of unprecedented economic growth and social transformations, of new hopes abut also new challenges. As Italy left behind its predominantly agrarian past and entered full force into the global industrial economy, Italians rapidly made themselves modern: investing in new status symbols and consumer goods in the form of cars, TVs, and refrigerators, listening to new music, cultivating new pastimes and lifestyles, and even making more babies. Yet with modernization came contradictions. Optimism for the future was accompanied by a loss of traditional points of reference and community; economic expansion, by a widening of the gap between Northern and Southern Italy; mass exodus from rural areas to cities, by the creation of the no-mans lands of the urban borgate or shantytowns; and the proliferation of goods, by the perils of unbridled consumerism and existential crisis. In this course we will explore how the developments and radical shifts of these years were investigated and represented in literature, film, and music, by a remarkable group of writers, film directors, and including Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italo Calvino, Natalia Ginzburg, Alberto Moravia, Anna Maria Ortese, Dario Fo and Franca Rame, Federico Fellini, and others. Degree Requirement Attributes-Dist:LIT; WCult:W. Distributive and/or World Culture. Dist:LIT; WCult:W. Prerequisite: Italian 10 or permission or the instructor. 

ITAL 37.01 Topics in Literature and Culture: "Nature. A Cultural History": Gilebbi @ 2:  Civilization's essence lies in its distinction from Nature. Both physically and symbolically, city walls separate the world of citizens, societies, and cultures from the uncultivated land, the wild beasts, and the illiterate savages that lie without. But how solid are these walls? And how real or even desirable are the distinctions they seek to make? We may prefer the civilized to the wild, but do we not also, paradoxically, prefer the natural to the artificial? Is nature to be dominated, or revered? Is it our nemesis or our mother? Exploring texts in the Italian tradition, this course will trace the history of nature from the beginning of civilization to the present time, and uncover our ever changing, ever contradictory opinions about it. In particular, students will explore how the human/nature relationship is imagined and represented. They will also examine how these representations reflect, critique, and animate the approach that Italian culture has had toward the physical environment and its ecology, both inside and beyond the Italian peninsula. Open to all students. Texts, lectures, and discussions in English. Texts, exams, and x-hour in Italian for major or minor credit in Italian. DIST: W, INT and LIT. 

F.I.R.E.-Canepa:The French and Italian Department offers a Full Immersion in Rome Experience (FIRE) at the University of Rome in Italy. FIRE is an experiential model of study abroad at Dartmouth in which students take full advantage of dynamic Roman cultural life through intensive study of the Italian language and culture in the energetic Trastevere neighborhood.

All courses involve in-class and on-site lectures, guest presentations, cultural activities such as walking tours, visits to piazzas and markets, and trips to the opera and sporting events. Students also visit significant Roman monuments (Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peters and Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery) and travel to other towns and cities throughout Italy.

Courses are taught by Dartmouth faculty and local instructors.

Discover our Italian courses featuring innovative pedagogy, engaging experiential activities, and a deep sense of community. Embark on a learning journey that's not just about acquiring words and grammar. No matter your future career direction, Italian will enrich your experience with newly developed soft skills, intercultural sensitivity, and a global perspective. Join our welcoming and diverse community of faculty and students, where everyone is unique, heard, and valued.

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Italian 1: 4 sections--Ciniglia @ 10 and 11, Alberti @ 12 and Perego @ 12: An introduction to Italian as a spoken and written language, with emphasis on practical conversation. The course includes regular practice in class and scheduled drill-sessions in understanding and using the spoken language. Never serves in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

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Italian 2: 1 section--Callegari @ 12-Rapid review and continued study of the fundamentals of Italian, with intensive work in vocabulary building. The course will also include an introduction to the culture and civilization of Italy. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 1. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 11.

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Italian 3:  2 sections--Alberti @ 11 and Gilebbi @ 12: This course is designed to reinforce and refine spoken and written language skills through a review of grammar, exposure to a broad spectrum of language ranging from colloquial to literary styles, and the use of samples of Italian language from multiple sources such as advertising, comics, television and literature. Frequent compositions, quizzes, plus linguistic and thematic analysis of texts. Open to students by qualifying placement or to students who have passed ITAL 2, ITAL 11 or ARTH 12. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements.

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Italian 11: 1 section-- Gilebbi @ 11: This 1-credit course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of the Italian language, but who have a strong background in another Romance language (i.e. Spanish, French, Rumanian, Portuguese, Catalan, or Latin). Italian 11 is an accelerated course that combines Italian 1 and 2 in one term offering an exciting and fast-paced atmosphere to learn Italian. The course will have a hybrid component, that through cultural, grammar and multimedia introductory exercises will prepare students for the in-class activities. In this course, students will learn to talk about familiar events in the present and the past, as well as formulate plans for the future. Weekly cultural videos will situate in context the grammatical content of the course making it relevant and meaningful. Students will be actively engaged in a variety of creative written and oral activities that will help them develop their language skills. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to sign up for Italian 3 or apply for our Italian LSA+ program in Rome. Students who have not yet taken ITAL 003 may take the course after completing ITAL 011. The goal is to facilitate the acquisition of the target language, therefore this course will be conducted entirely in Italian. This course is not open to students who have received credit for Italian 1, 2 or 3. 

*from ZERO to CONVERSATION in 10 WEEKS!*

This course is perfect for students who speak another Romance language. If you graduate in 2026, and you have already taken a language up to level 3, the course will satisfy the language requirement. 

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Italian 9: 1 section Convertini @ 12-Advanced Language Through Culture expands on the skills acquired in the Italian language sequence (Italian 1, 2, 3, and/or the LSA) as well as offering a transition to Italian 10 and our upper-division literature and culture courses. This course introduces students to modern and contemporary Italian literature, culture and society through a focus on topics such as evolving political and regional identities, gender relations, the role of the media, and the culture of daily life. Students expand their active use of Italian, refine communicative, reading, and writing strategies, and comprehensively review grammar. Course work includes active participation in class discussions, oral presentations, and regular reading and writing assignments in the areas of narrative and poetry, cinema, music, and journalism. Instructors usually choose one or several "anchor" texts around which coursework revolves.  NRO eligible.  Dist:LIT; WCult:W. Prerequisite:  ITAL 3 or permission of the instructor. 

Italian 14: Convertini @ 2: Journey to Italy: An Introduction to Italian Culture:  This course introduces students to Italian culture through a representative selection of texts and topics from past to present, as well as encouraging students to think critically about notions of culture and identity. Topics include stereotypes and the idea of national identity, modern history, society and politics, food culture, the visual arts, music, cinema, religion, science and technology, the environment, Made in Italy, immigration, sports, and mafia.  In many units, guest lecturers will widen the discussion by considering the global impact of Italian cultural production across time and space. Students will actively engage with Italian cultural phenomena through in-class lectures and discussions, hands-on exercises, and site visits.  No prerequisites.  Dist:SOC; WCult:CI.

Italian 33.01-Callegari @ 11: Dante: The Divine Comedy; The work of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) stages from beginning to end a struggle between personal desire, social obligation, and the conflicting cultures of Christian religion and the body politic. The unprecedented fusion Dante made of these elements in the Commedia [The Divine Comedy] has guaranteed his great poem a vast public, extending across world cultures and the seven centuries since it initially traveled among elite readers in north-central Italy in the early decades of the fourteenth century. This course will first examine the development of Dante's poetic voice in La vita nova [The New Life, ca. 1293-94] and then focus on its subsequent expansion into an all-encompassing vision of life and death in Inferno [Hell, ca. 1306-09], the first of the three canticles of the Commedia. Situating Dante in his own time and place will be essential to our analysis of his poetry, but attention to the multiple ways that Dante's work has been interpreted, translated, and appropriated in other periods, languages, and media will provide a critical framework for understanding its enduring appeal, why – in the words of Italo Calvino – it "has not finished saying what it has to say." Readings, lectures, discussion, and written work – to include a mid-term exam, two short essays, and a final digital project – will be in English. Students taking the course for major or minor credit will attend a weekly X-hour and write the two essays in Italian.  Students taking the course for major or minor credit must have ITAL 10 or permission of the instructor to enroll, and will attend a weekly X-hour in Italian. NRO eligible.   Cross Listed Courses:  REL 32.02.  Dist:LIT; WCult:W

Italian 35.02 XL with COLT 57.07 & INT 17.10-Parati @ 2: How to Be a Fascist; How do people become fascists?  How do they rise to power? Why did people support fascism? We will focus initially on the original model for fascist dictatorships, that is Italian fascism, but we will also have in-class presentations by Dartmouth professors on German, Spanish, French and Japanese forms of fascism.  This is a course that will concentrate on history, film, literature, and fashion in order to talk about the slippery definitions of fascism. Students taking the course for major or minor credit must have ITAL 10 or permission of the instructor to enroll, and will attend a weekly X-hour in Italian.  NRO eligible.   Cross Listed Courses:  COLT 57.09 INTS 17.10.   Dist:INT; WCult:W.