Comprehensive Study Guide: Italian Language, Culture, and Course Orientation

Course Administration and Academic Logistics

  • Accommodations for Disability Services:

    • Students receiving accommodations through the Office of Disability Services must submit their official letter directly via email.
    • Arrangements and modifications will be made upon receipt and review of the official documentation.

  • Romance Languages and Etymological Background:

    • The Romance languages include Italian, Spanish, French, Romanian, and Portuguese.
    • All Romance languages derive directly from Latin.
    • Prior study of or fluency in any Romance language can serve as an instructional tool to draw structural and lexical comparisons with Italian.

  • Italian Phonetics and Pronunciation Rules:

    • Tricky Sounds Preview:
      • The letter combination sci produces a "sha" sound (/∫a//\int a/).
      • The letter combination ci produces a "cha" sound (/t∫a//t\int a/).

Instructor Profile and Academic Background

  • Personal Identification and Name Usage:

    • Full Name: Catherine Provenzalek Monroe.
    • Self-Introduction Phrase: "Mi chiamo Catherine Provenzalek Monroe" (Translates literally to "I call myself…" or "My name is…").
    • Preferred Pronouns: She / Her / Lei (Lei is the formal/subject pronoun for "she" in Italian).
    • Note on Direct Object Pronouns: The Italian equivalent of "her" varies across four distinct forms depending on grammatical context.
    • Office Hours Scheduling: Conducted via Calendly.

  • Geographic and Familial Roots:

    • Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana (located approximately four hours from Chicago, Illinois).
    • Sicilian Heritage:
      • Paternal side origins: Palermo, Sicily.
      • Maternal side origins: Santa Croce Camarina, Sicily.

  • Italian Citizenship Laws and Lineage:

    • Dual Citizenship Status: Holds dual United States and Italian citizenship (holding both US and Italian passports).
    • Citizenship by Lineage (Jus Sanguinis):
      • Obtained because Italian ancestors never naturalized as United States citizens.
      • Recent statutory modifications have increased the difficulty of obtaining Italian citizenship via lineage.
    • Citizenship by Marriage (Jus Matrimonii):
      • Requires passing a high-level, rigorous language proficiency examination in Italian.

  • Academic and Professional Background:

    • Spanish Language Background: Formal study completed in Spanish.
    • Etymology of Bologna/Mortadella:
      • The Italian city of Bologna is internationally recognized for Mortadella.
      • When Mortadella was imported to the United States, it became known colloquially as "Bologna" (retaining the spelling of the Italian city while altering pronunciation).
    • Experience in Bologna, Italy:
      • Lived in Bologna for two years following degree completion.
      • Worked as an English teacher, private tutor, translator, and interpreter.
    • Experience in Thailand:
      • Spent three months (tre mesi) in Thailand following completion of a Master's degree (dopo il master).
      • Taught intensive summer English preparation courses at an international university where all degree programs were taught in English.
    • Tenure at Louisiana State University (LSU):
      • Applied for the LSU position while residing in Thailand.
      • Currently in the 20th year of teaching at LSU.

LSU Italian Course Offerings and Curriculum Structure

  • Lower-Division Italian Courses Taught:

    • ITAL 1001 (Italiano 1001): Offered in-person and online.
    • ITAL 1002 (Italiano 1002): Offered in-person and online.
    • ITAL 2101 (Italiano 2101): Offered in-person and online.
    • ITAL 2102 (Italiano 2102): Offered online only.

  • Upper-Division Italian Courses and Prerequisites:

    • ITAL 3001 (Advanced Oral Communication) and ITAL 3050 (Italian Culture and Civilization).
    • Prerequisites: Completion of the four-semester sequence (ITAL 1001, ITAL 1002, ITAL 2101, and ITAL 2102).
    • On-Campus Faculty: Advanced courses on campus are taught by Professor Bongiorni and Joseph Filimpolo.
    • Summer Faculty: Advanced courses during the summer study abroad session are taught by Catherine Provenzalek Monroe.

Summer Study Abroad Program: "Immerse Yourself in Italy"

  • Program Overview:

    • Timing: Month of June (next scheduled program in June 2027).
    • Primary Base: Recanati, a hill town located on the Adriatic Coast of Italy.
    • Program Structure: Intensive language immersion combined with regular cultural excursions.

  • Excursions and Cultural Activities:

    • Boat excursions along the Adriatic Coast.
    • Visits to historic locations including Assisi, Rome (specifically the Trastevere neighborhood), and the Frasassi Caves (Grotte di Frasassi).
    • Travel between regions conducted by bus.

  • International Dinner Competition:

    • Organized annually by the language institute in Recanati for international students.
    • Students prepare culinary specialties from their home countries, accompanied by an informative presentation poster.
    • Judged by the native Italian teaching staff.
    • LSU Student Achievement: Won 1st place by preparing New Orleans muffaletta sandwiches and bread pudding.

Cultural and Pedagogical Concepts

  • Geographic Metaphors of Italy:

    • Mainland Italy is traditionally compared to a high-heeled boot (similar to the boot shape of Louisiana).
    • The island of Sicily is metaphorically described as the "soccer ball" at the toe of the boot.

  • Travel across the Strait of Messina:

    • Rail connection between Sicily and Mainland Italy operates via a train ferry.
    • Passenger trains drive directly onto a ferry boat to cross the Strait of Messina before resuming rail travel on the mainland toward destinations such as Rome.

  • Mount Etna Volcanic Activity:

    • Mount Etna (located near Catania, Sicily) is among the most active volcanoes in the world.
    • Frequent eruptions can cause severe local travel disruptions, including airport closures in Catania that necessitate regional train detours.

  • Pedagogical Concept: The "Linguistic Breakthrough":

    • Definition: A pivotal developmental milestone in language acquisition where a learner independently navigates a real-world transaction in a foreign language without reliance on native tongue support.
    • Practical Example in Corsica:
      • Corsica is a French-governed island in the Mediterranean Sea.
      • Students in French immersion programs spend 90%90\% of their instructional school day operating in French across core subjects (Mathematics, Social Studies, Science).
      • Real-world execution: Walking independently to a local bakery (boulangerie), ordering two baguettes in French, paying with 5 euros5\text{ euros}, and successfully receiving the correct change and product.

Introductory Conversational Italian Vocabulary

  • Basic Interrogative and Expressive Phrases:

    • Come ti chiami?: "What is your name?" (Literal: "How do you call yourself?"; uses a reflexive verb structure).
    • Mi chiamo [Name]: "My name is [Name]" (Literal: "I call myself [Name]").
    • Di dove sei?: "Where are you from?"
    • Perché l'italiano?: "Why Italian?" (Used to inquire about motives for language study).
    • Quali sono i tuoi hobby?: "What are your hobbies / interests?"

  • Instructor's Personal Vocabulary Examples (I miei passatempi):

    • Guardare i film: Watching movies and television.
    • Leggere: Reading.
    • Campeggio: Camping.

Questions & Discussion

  • Classroom Roster Verification:

    • Student Name: Ramatoulaye Diallo (Goes by: Rama; Pronouns: she/her).
    • Student Name: Jordan (Pronouns: she/her).

  • Student Discussion on Backgrounds and Motivations:

    • Many students choose Italian to start fresh after taking high school French or Spanish.
    • Students with backgrounds in French note structural similarities between French and Italian grammar and vocabulary.

  • Student Discussion on Extracurricular Dance:

    • Dance Styles and Backgrounds: Jazz, pom team (2 years in high school), studio competitive dance.
    • Competitive Dance Circuit Experience: Attendance at competitions including Beyond the Stars, Breakout, Star Dance Alliance, Star Power Revolution, and NYCDA (NYC Dance Alliance).
    • Career Interruption: A foot injury during junior year ended aspirations of joining collegiate dance groups such as the LSU Tiger Girls.