This course focuses on the Italian commedia and aims to reflect on the literary, cultural, social, and political meanings that this genre assumed through the centuries. Texts are mainly from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the 1700s by authors such as Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli, Ludovico Ariosto, and Carlo Goldoni. Special attention is given to modern stage performances in light of their cultural and social backgrounds.

Designed to support Intermediate Italian students to help them improve their conversational skills, this course offers intensive practice in pronunciation, vocabulary, oral comprehension and conversation. It includes class discussions, role-playing and short oral presentations. Prerequisite: two semesters of ITL 110Y or by placement.

Comprehensive grammar review through practice in writing and reading. Literary texts and cultural material constitute the base for in-class discussions and compositions. Students taking ITL 220 are strongly encouraged to take a conversation course. Taking both courses strengthens students’ confidence and ability to become proficient in Italian. Prerequisite: ITL 110Y or ITL 111 or equivalent.

Offered as ITL 211 and POR 211. This course combines the Theatre of the Oppressed, created by Augusto Boal, and Dario Fo’s and Franca Rames’ popular theatre. It also explores the fundamentals of the “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”  by Paulo Freire and contributions from philosophers of Ancient Greek classical period, Italian Renaissance, and contemporary European notions, namely playwright Bertolt Brecht. In the first part, the students learn about performative, pedagogical, and social justice theories.

Offered as ITL 189 and GER 189. This series of interdepartmental lectures by a selection of Smith faculty examines the myth of cultural homogeneity perpetuated by the ideal of “native” linguistic competency. These lectures explore hybridity and interaction between cultures and languages as the rule, not the exception. The goal is to help students comprehend the transnational, multilingual web into which they are woven, and to appreciate how they contribute to that web, to appreciate their own position as transnational subjects.

Designed to support beginning Italian students and to help them improve their conversational skills. This course offers intensive practice in pronunciation, vocabulary, oral comprehension and conversation. It includes class discussions, role-playing and short oral presentations. Prerequisite: ITL 110Y or ITL 111 must be taken concurrently. Enrollment limited to 12.

One-semester course designed for students with a background in other foreign languages. It covers the material of the yearlong ITL 110Y in one semester. Students should enroll in ITL 220 the following semester. Does not fulfill the foreign language requirement for Latin honors. Cannot be taken S/U. Seniors may be granted an exception. Concurrent registration in ITL 135 strongly recommended. Enrollment limited to 20.

One-year course that covers the basics of Italian language and culture and allows students to enroll in ITL 220 in the following year. Students entering in the spring need department permission and must take a placement exam. In the second semester, students may change sections only with instructor permission. Yearlong courses cannot be divided at midyear with credit for the first semester. Cannot be taken S/U. Concurrent registration in ITL 135 strongly recommended. Enrollment limited to 20.

One-year course that covers the basics of Italian language and culture and allows students to enroll in ITL 220 in the following year. Students entering in the spring need department permission and must take a placement exam. In the second semester, students may change sections only with instructor permission. Yearlong courses cannot be divided at midyear with credit for the first semester. Cannot be taken S/U. Concurrent registration in ITL 135 strongly recommended. Enrollment limited to 20.