2027-2028 Italian Courses
Summer 2027
F.I.R.E. Rome (Canepa): Students will have the opportunity to spend ten weeks in Rome, fully immersed in Italian language (Italian 1 and Italian 2) and culture (Italian 4). The immersion experience will include visits to significant Roman monuments such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peters and Vatican Museums, and the Borghese Gallery, as well as other towns and cities of Italy, and to participate in co-curricular activities such as visits to piazzas and markets, trips to the opera and sporting events, and more. Participants are housed in student apartments in the lively and charming neighborhood of Trastevere. The program will be directed by a Dartmouth faculty member in Italian. Contact Professor Nancy Canepa for more information. Students will have the opportunity to experience Rome at its best and the diverse cultural and natural wonders in other areas of Italy, as well. And by participating in the program, students will complete two-thirds of the Dartmouth language requirement!
Italian 33.01 XL Rel 32.02 (Callegari) @ 11: Into and Beyond Dante's Inferno: 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. Cross Listed Courses: REL 32.02. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:LIT; WCult:W. NRO eligible. *Please note, that courses that receive an NRO grade may not fulfill major requirements.*
Italian 27-Callegari-TBD-new course.
Fall 2027
Italian 1-3 sections-TBD-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-TBD-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-TBD-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 11-1 section-TBD- An intensive entry point into Italian for students with prior experience in a Romance language (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, or Latin). Learn Italian through active, immersive practice rooted in real-world communication and contemporary Italian culture. Includes a weekly practice component with a choice between collaborative Enriched Drill sessions (twice a week) or one-on-one FLEX conversation meetings with peer mentors. Upon successful completion, students may enroll in Italian 3. Recommended preparation. Prior study of a Romance language or Latin (approximately one year at the university level or three years at the secondary-school level), or placement through the Dartmouth Placement Exam. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements.
Italian 9-Convertini @ TBD:Italian Culture--This course students will analyze some of the most significant Italian cultural, social, and political themes from the 60's to present. Through the viewing of the film La Meglio Gioventù (2003), blogging, and creative writing assignments, students will strengthen their ability to express ideas in both the written and spoken language. NRO eligible. Dist:LIT; WCult:W. Prerequisite: ITAL3 or permission of the instructor. NRO eligible.
Italian 14-Convertini @ TBD: 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. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist: SOC; WCult:CI. NRO eligible. *Please note, that courses that receive an NRO grade may not fulfill major requirements.*
ITAL 37.01-Gilebbi @ TBD- Nature: A Cultural History: 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. Students will explore how the human/nature relationship is imagined and represented in Italian literature, cinema, and art. 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 and x-hour in Italian for major or minor credit in Italian. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:INT or LIT; WCult:W.
Winter 2028
Italian 1-2 sections-TBD: 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-TBD: 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 TBD: 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.
ITAL 10: Alberti @ TBD: Introduction to Italian Texts and Contexts: An introduction to Italian literature, culture, and media across time that provides students with the tools to read and analyze texts critically. Through a selection of literary works, films, and other cultural artifacts, students will explore key themes such as the city, food culture, the environment, and evolving artistic forms. The course examines how ideas, genres, and narratives develop and intersect. Topics and materials vary based on the instructor’s focus, allowing for an engaging and dynamic exploration of Italy’s literary and cultural landscape. Not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 10.01-10.99. Prerequisite: Italian 3 or permission of the instructor. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:LIT; WCult:W.
ITAL 26 Italian Cinema: Gilebbi @ TBD: Conducted in Italian, this course introduces students to classic Italian cinema, including its history and its predominant genres—from the silent film to comedy and melodrama and thriller. Students will become familiar with Italian cinematic movements such as Neorealism, directors such as Federico Fellini and Roberto Benigni, and with important concepts in film analysis. Not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 15. Prerequisite: ITAL 10 or one ITAL course numbered 10.01-10.99; or instructor permission. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:ART; WCult:W.
ITAL 37.10-Canepa @ TBD: Mafias: What is “mafia”? Organized crime, global big business, shadow state, deeply entrenched mentalities, glamorized myth, all of the above? This course focusses on Italian mafias (primarily the Sicilian Cosa Nostra) and, to a lesser degree, other Italian and Italian-American mafias. We will examine the conditions in which mafias emerged; those that make it possible for mafias to continue to thrive today; the social “codes” of the mafias, such as honor, omertà, and vendetta; and the forms that mafias take in the collective cultural imagination, in particular as they have been translated and represented in fiction and film on both sides of the Atlantic. In the process, we will explore Italian history and contemporary society and discuss topics such as the uses and abuses of power and the attraction of outlaw cultures. This course is not open to students who have received credit for ITAL 07.07. Cross Listed Courses: COLT 57.12. Prerequisite: ITAL 10 or one ITAL course numbered 10.01-10.99; or instructor permission. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:INT or SOC; WCult:W.
LSA+ in Rome-Parati-please email instructor with questions.
Spring 2028
Italian 1-1 section-TBD-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-TBD-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-TBD-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 11-1 section-TBD- An intensive entry point into Italian for students with prior experience in a Romance language (Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan, or Latin). Learn Italian through active, immersive practice rooted in real-world communication and contemporary Italian culture. Includes a weekly practice component with a choice between collaborative Enriched Drill sessions (twice a week) or one-on-one FLEX conversation meetings with peer mentors. Upon successful completion, students may enroll in Italian 3. Recommended preparation. Prior study of a Romance language or Latin (approximately one year at the university level or three years at the secondary-school level), or placement through the Dartmouth Placement Exam. Does not serve in partial satisfaction of the Distributive or World Culture Requirements.
FYS 7-Gilebbi-TBD.
ITAL 27.04-Convertini @ TBD-- The Revolutionary Classroom. Lessons from Great Italian Educators-Great educators continue to speak to us long after they are gone. This course explores the values and lessons of visionary Italian educators. From Maria Montessori’s child-centered approach to Don Milani’s focus on social justice, Gianni Rodari’s imaginative storytelling, and Alberto Manzi’s educational television—we will examine how their ideas reshaped education. Through readings, films, and hands-on projects, we will reflect on their relevance in the classroom and beyond today. Prerequisite: ITAL 10 or one ITAL course numbered 10.01-10.99; or instructor permission. Degree Requirement Attributes: Dist:SOC; WCult:W.
FRIT 31-Convertini @ TBD-- How Languages are Learned: 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.
LSA+ in Rome-Callegari-please email instructor with questions.