Italian   

Class Overview

Would you like to learn Italian but don't know where to begin? This friendly and relaxed class is a great place to get started!

Build everyday Italian vocabulary and expressions in this highly interactive class. Develop basic conversational skills while exploring Italian-speaking cultures. Get acquainted with the essentials of Italian grammar and develop basic listening, speaking, and reading skills. 

In this introductory Italian class, you will gain skills to interact with the instructor and fellow students in short and simple conversations. Develop a foundation in the Italian language that you can build upon as you gain proficiency.

Learning Objectives

• be able to say everyday expressions and phrases on familiar topics in Italian
• have simple conversations
• listen, speak and read in simple/basic Italian
• be familiar with basic grammar
• gain basic everyday vocabulary and expressions
• develope an understanding of Italian-speaking culture

Recommended Textbook 

Please acquire this book, which will be used for levels 1-6: Avanti Aski- Musumeci, Second Edition; ISBN 978-0-07-338624-9.

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

• Anyone interested in learning Italian who has never studied it before or who has very limited experience
• Italian language students who wish to review from the beginning to solidify basic skills

Class Overview

Get started learning Italian! Practice simple conversation and learn basic grammar and vocabulary in a low-pressure and supportive atmosphere. 

This class is conducted 90% in Italian, but it's geared to students with little background in languages. Time is reserved for questions in English. Learn basic listening and speaking skills in the Italian language. Develop correct pronunciation and begin to build your Italian vocabulary. Learn the basics of Italian grammar and syntax.

Enjoy learning basic phrases in Italian around useful everyday activities, such as telling time, meeting new people, and asking basic personal questions. Learn how to count to 10,000. To get started in Italian, build your foundation by learning the present tense of major verbs, as well as several of the most important irregular verbs.

Italian students usually have the opportunity to attend an Italian opera by Seattle Opera as a class at some point during the year, depending on the Opera's production calendar. Students enjoy discounted tickets with seats near the front, and a lively hosted Seattle Opera "mixer" before the opera begins.

Learning Objectives

• Basic grammar related to verbs, nouns and adjectives, definite and indefinite articles, and several idiomatic phrases such as telling time, meeting new people, and asking basic personal question
• Vocabulary with 300-500 vocabulary items
• Correct pronunciation of Italian vowels, consonants, diphthongs and other special attention pronunciation issues
• Confidence in listening to and conversing in simple everyday Italian 
• Comfort in being able to function independently in an all-Italian context

Recommended Textbook

Essential Italian Grammar, ISBN: 9780486207797

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

• Anyone interested in learning the Italian language with little to no prior experience, in a fairly immersive language enrvironment
• People who studied Italian language in the past and want to review the basics before continuing to the next level
• People with ancestral roots in Italy who would like to better understand the language and culture of their relatives
• Anyone planning on traveling to Italy in the future who would like to have some language skills during their visit

Class Overview

Continue learning Italian and build on the skills you learned in Italian Immersion - Level 1 in a low-pressure and supportive atmosphere. This class is conducted 90% in Italian, with time reserved for questions in English.  

In this class, review the basics from Level 1, including grammar, syntax, pronunciation, phrases, and numbers. Expand your listening and speaking skills. Continue to build your vocabulary. Learn more time expressions and prepositions, along with -IRE verbs, the present perfect tense, and more irregular verbs.

Enjoy more complex conversations with your classmates, and build your confidence speaking and listening in Italian.

Italian students usually have the opportunity to attend an Italian opera by Seattle Opera as a class at some point during the year, depending on the Opera's production calendar. Students enjoy discounted tickets with seats near the front, and a lively hosted Seattle Opera "mixer" before the opera begins.

Learning Objectives

• Build upon your existing Italian language, grammar and syntax skills
• Improve your vocabulary and learn important idiomatic expressions
• Gain confidence in listening to and conversing in simple everyday Italian
• Understand the present tense of -IRE verbs and the present perfect tense, and more irregular verbs
• Gain an additional 300-500 vocabulary items.
• Develop more confidence in being able to function independently in an all-Italian context

Recommended Textbook

Essential Italian Grammar, ISBN: 9780486207797

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

Prerequisite: Italian language students who have completed Italian - Level 1, Italian Immersion - Level 1, other beginning Italian classes, or equivalent experience.

• Anyone interested in learning Italian beyond the first level
• Students who enjoy a more immersive learning environment
• People with ancestral roots in Italy who would like to better understand the language and culture of their relatives
• Anyone planning on traveling to Italy in the future who would like to have some language skills for their visit

Class Overview

Continue learning Italian and build on skills you learned in Italian Immersion - Level 2 in a low-pressure and supportive atmosphere. This class is conducted 90% in Italian, with time reserved for questions in English. 

Enjoy making progress in your abilities to think, understand, and express yourself in Italian. Review basics from Level 1 & Level 2, including grammar, syntax and pronunciation, phrases, and numbers. Expand your listening and speaking skills while you learn 300-500 more vocabulary items Review the present perfect tense and learn the future tense and more irregular verbs. Learn about reflexive verbs, pronouns, and using subordinate clauses.

Gain more confidence having more complex conversations in Italian and enjoy practicing with your classmates.

Italian students usually have the opportunity to attend an Italian opera by Seattle Opera as a class at some point during the year, depending on the Opera's production calendar. Students enjoy discounted tickets with seats near the front, and a lively hosted Seattle Opera "mixer" before the opera begins.

Learning Objectives

• Build upon your existing Italian language grammar and syntax skills
• Continue to enrich your Italian vocabulary and learn important idiomatic expressions
• Continue to gain confidence in listening to and conversing increasingly complex Italian
• Gain confidence in being able to function independently in an all-Italian context

Recommended Textbook

Essential Italian Grammar, ISBN: 9780486207797

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

Prerequisite: Italian Immersion - Level 2, Italian - Level 2, or the equivalent education or experience.

• Italian language students who meet the prerequiste interested in continuing to learn Italian language 
• Students who enjoy a more immersive learning environment
• People with ancestral roots in Italy who would like to better understand their Italian heritage, language and culture
• Anyone planning on traveling to Italy in the future who would like to have some language skills for their visit

Class Overview

Improve your communication abilities in Italian while enhancing your understanding of Italy and Italian culture. Continue to improve your listening and speaking skills through conversation, reading, media, and practice. Review and expand the use of grammar, verbs, and vocabulary. 

In this early intermediate class, we will review the use of indicative mood (passato prossimo, imperfetto, futuro), and the present and past progressive moods. Expand on your ability to use direct and indirect pronouns. Learn the present and past conditional moods, along with relative pronouns. 

Become more comfortable conversing in Italian about current and past events, and gain more insight into Italian culture. 

Italian students usually have the opportunity to attend an Italian opera by Seattle Opera as a class at some point during the year, depending on the Opera's production calendar. Students enjoy discounted tickets with seats near the front, and a lively hosted Seattle Opera "mixer" before the opera begins.

Learning Objectives

• Build knowledge of Italian grammar (indicative and conditional moods)
• Strengthen listening and speaking skills 
• Become more comfortable conversing in Italian about current and past events
• Gain more understanding of Italian culture

Recommended Textbook

TBD. The instructor will choose a textbook that costs approximately $10.

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

Prerequisite: students who have completed Italian Immersion - Level 3, Italian - Level 3, or comparable education (present and past tense at an elementary level).

• Italian langauge students interested in advancing their conversation, grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills and knoweldge
• Students interested in improving their language skills in a more immersive classroom experience and more familiar with Italian culture

Class Overview

Italian language students, continue learning Italian in this early intermediate class. Review previous grammar structures and gain an introduction to some of the uses of subjunctive. 

Enjoy casual conversation and learning cultural notes about Italy. Continue to improve listening and speaking skills, grammar, and vocabulary through conversation, reading, media, and practice.

Learning Objectives

• Review and expand on relative pronouns
• Review direct and indirect pronoun, and learn how to use combined pronouns
• Review and expand on the use of indicative and conditional moods
• Learn present and past of subjunctive
• Learn the present and past infinitive

Recommended Textbook

None. 

Who Might Enjoy This Class?

Prerequisite: students who have completed Italian Immersion - Level 4, Italian - Level 4, or comparable education (indicative and conditional moods at an elementary level).

• Italian language students who wish to improve their speaking, comprehension, and cultural understanding
• Students who enjoy a more immersive language learning experience