ITAL401

ITAL401

Upper-Intermediate Italian I

L’obiettivo principale di questo corso è di consolidare la competenza linguistica ed interculturale degli studenti. Le strutture e le funzioni comunicative di questo corso sono basate sul livello B2[1] o “independent language learner and user”, come definito nel Common European Framework (CEFR) e prevede i seguenti obbiettivi generali:

  • comprendere i punti principali di argomenti astratti o concreti con letture, articoli e notiziari in giornali, siti, radio
  • interagire spontaneamente in diverse situazioni
  • esprimere la propria opinione su cinema, letteratura e società
  • scrivere email, brevi articoli e recensioni
  • pronunciare la lingua correttamente
  • usare il registro formale e informale per comunicare in italiano.

Il corso ITAL 401 è MOLTO interattivo e richiede la partecipazione attiva e regolare ed attività individuali e di gruppo, utili a promuovere lo sviluppo autonomo e la fiducia nelle proprie abilità degli studenti, lo sviluppo della fluidità nel recepire e produrre la lingua o in altri casi, ad scrivere e parlare accuratamente. La maggior parte delle lezioni sono sincrone con qualche occasionale, lezione asincrona per vedere dei video, ascoltare dei podcast, fare dei quiz di comprensione e leggere brani di letteratura

Obiettivi Comunicativi e Interculturali

  1. Leggere, Scrivere, Ascoltare e Parlare di temi culturali italiani quali economia e lavoro, scelte di vita, ambiente, feste e tradizioni, problemi sociali
  2. Leggere brani di Letteratura italiana e parlare dei tempi culturali che ne emergono
  3. Fare paragoni con la vostra esperienza personale
  4. Esprimere opinioni, preferenze e stati d’animo
  5. Raccontare esperienze passate
  6. Fare ipotesi
  7. Riflettere su come impariamo una lingua straniera e Usare le strategie più utili

[1] Per informazioni su CEFR: https://rm.coe.int/CoERMPublicCommonSearchServices/DisplayDCTMContent?documentId=090000168045bb5d

Language of instruction: Italian

Recommended prerequisites: Second-year standing or higher and ITAL 302 or successful completion of CEFR level B1.

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Grading Breakdown

20% Preparation
25% Participation
15% Quizzes (3)
15% Oral Assignments
25% Final Written Exam

2% Extra credits*

Readings

Required texts: The course instructor will provide the students with a code to access the digital copy of the textbook Al Dente 4, Casa delle Lingue [Autore/i: M. Birello, S. Bonafaccia, F. Bosc, D. Donati, G. Licastro, A. Vilagrasa] - ISBN: 9788416943739

Determine your entry level
Find out which course level to start at given your previous experience with Italian.

ITST385

From Rossellini to Fellini: Neorealism and its Legacy in Italian Cinema

In the rubble-strewn world of the immediate post-Second World War period, the films by Rossellini, Visconti, De Santis and De Sica (and the scripts by Zavattini) amounted to a landmark event and established Italian Neorealism as a worldwide cause célèbre.

This artistic movement, exemplary both in aesthetic achievements and ethical commitment, proved to reverberate durably in time. It influenced successive waves of younger Italian filmmakers who later became great auteurs in their own right; and it travelled widely in space, with an enormous impact on filmmakers the world over.

The topics covered are the following. Before the midterm: General intro to the class; Italian cinema under Fascism; Rossellini: Rome Open City (1945); Rossellini: Paisan (1946); Visconti: The Earth Trembles (1948); Rossellini: Stromboli (1949). After the midterm: De Sica: Bicycle Thieves (1948); De Santis: Bitter Rice (1949); De Sica: Umberto D. (1952); Lattuada: The Overcoat (1952); Fellini: The Nights of Cabiria (1957); Visconti: Rocco and His Brothers (1960). Last meeting: Fellini’s La dolce vita (1960) and final wrap-up.

All films are subtitled in English. The viewings will be introduced and/or followed by presentations and discussion.

Textbooks (REQUIRED)
Marcus, Millicent. Italian Film in the Light of Neorealism. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1986.
Bondanella, Peter. A History of Italian Cinema. New York: Continuum, 2011 (copyright 2009).

Prerequisite: None

Language of instruction: English

Course Registration

SPAN590A

Listening to Extractivism: Sound and the Capitalocene in 20th- and 21st-century Latin American Literature and Culture

Latin America has a rich and complex tradition of orality, both aural and textual. This course considers 20th- and 21st-century literature and culture in relation to that tradition, considering how recent works build on and, perhaps more importantly, diverge from, oral practices that have been the ground of storytelling, memory making, and political interventions in the region. Throughout the semester, we will attend closely to how Latin American literary and cultural expression wields sound and aurality to portray, comprehend, and challenge the impacts and effects of advanced capitalism. Grounded by Rob Nixon’s concept of “slow violence,” which proposes a capacious understanding of the effects of resource extraction and capitalist reason, the seminar brings a sound studies lens to Nixon’s theory to meditate on topics like gendered violence, genocide and epistemicide, increased forced migration to North America, environmental degradation and ecological disasters, and the impacts of ableism and anthropocentrism on human and more-than-human worlds. In particular, our conversations will inquire into how literature and culture invoke or represent sound, listening, and silence—both thematically and through literary devices and formal structure—as a means of indexing, critiquing, and deconstructing structures of power. Together, we will consider how aurality is deployed in aesthetics as a means of perceiving alternative epistemologies and responding to precarity, inequality, and violence of the Capitalocene.

Discussion of primary works will occur in Spanish and will be informed by critical readings from philosophy, literary theory, media studies, and other related disciplines. As the semester progresses, we will acquire a critical vocabulary (e.g., orality, aurality, orality-literacy binary, intermediality, audile technique, audiovisual litany, acousmatic sound, etc.) for analyzing and discussing sound and sonorities in literary and cultural texts.

CONTENT NOTE: This course will cover sensitive, mature, and charged material, including scenes of sexual and physical violence. You may find some readings and other content difficult.

Language of instruction: Spanish

Instructor: Dr. Tamara Mitchell

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Grading Breakdown

In addition to careful preparation of materials and informed participation in class discussion; students will lead one class session; prepare semi-regular reflections on materials; and compose midterm essay (midterm may be substituted with aural alternative, such as podcast episode or sonic essay); and compose scaffolded final essay (abstract, annotated bib, essay) reflecting on course topic/materials. Assessment load/expectations will vary slightly for MA and PhD students.

Readings

Literary readings (provisional) & Topics

Oralidad/Testimonio

  • “Prólogo”, Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la conciencia (1983), Rigoberta Menchú Tum
  • Insensatez (2004), Horacio Castellanos Moya

Intermedialidad/La narrativa musicalizada

  • “Sonatina para los tambores” (1973), Carlos Arturo Truque
  • Managua, Salsa City (2000), Franz Galich

Auralidad y migración

  • Noche de fuego (2021), dir. Tatiana Huezo
  • Las tierras arrasadas (2015), Emiliano Monge

Silencio y/en el Cono Sur

  • El Sueño del Sonido (2023), Soraya Maicoño en colaboración con Dani Zelko
  • Inclúyanme afuera (2013), María Sonia Cristoff

La risa como poder decolonial

  • Desnudo riendo, Xandra Ibarra (2014-2019)
  • Resiliencia Tlacuache (2016), de Naomi Rincón Gallardo (16 minutes)

Auscultando la violencia de género en la narrativa

  • “Con los ojos abiertos” (2009), Amparo Dávila
  • La hija única (2020), Guadalupe Nettel

El agua presa de la energía verde

  • Resurrección (2018, dir. Eugenio Polgovsky)
  • Nosotras (2019), Suzette Celaya Aguilar

Critical readings (selections, provisional), Sound & Environmental Studies

PDFs available at provided link, as eBook at UBC Library, or as PDF on Canvas

ITST345

[Cross-listed with RMST 222]

Types and Archetypes of Fascism in the Age of the Crisis of Liberal Democracy

This course aims at offering students with diverse backgrounds some foundational knowledge about the phenomenon of “xxx-ism” as, in successive incarnations, it arose and ran its course in the context of neo-Latin societies and cultures. Since the phenomenon originated in Italy, our primary focus will be the Italian peninsula.

We will read Neville and make references to Bosworth, Mack Smith, Martin Clark, Procacci and other contemporary historians and sociologists. We will analyze works of theory, politics, fiction and memoirs from that age (by Marinetti, Moravia, Pirandello, Ungaretti, Carlo Levi); examine the architecture and fine arts of Mussolini’s regime; and watch clips from films belonging to the genres of telefoni bianchi comedy (Camerini’s Il Signor Max), war propaganda (Balbo’s transatlantic flights, Rossellini’s The White Ship) and historical “peplum” kolossals (Gallone’s Scipio the African).

Ultimately, the goal of this Italy-based extended case study is to provide students with the analytical tools indispensable not only to condemn, in facile, dogmatic (and thus ultimately misplaced) self-assurance, the fascism(s) of yesteryear, but, more importantly, to condemn and — so it is hoped — oppose effectively the many forms of xxx-ism facing us today.

Textbooks
LIT (REQUIRED)
A reader containing excerpts from works of theory, politics, essays and literary texts will be available from Copiesmart in the UBC Village.

HIST AND CIV (REQUIRED)
Peter Neville, Mussolini, 2nd ed., London: Routledge, 2014.

Prerequisite: None

Language of instruction: English

Course Registration

SPAN549

Master’s Thesis

All candidates for the M.A. degree with thesis are required to deposit in the Department a thesis of approximately 80 pages, including bibliography and notes. It must be presented in accordance with the university guidelines for the format and presentation of graduate theses.

Candidates will defend their thesis during a one-hour and a half oral examination.

Candidates must register in Spanish 549 in the year in which they intend to submit the thesis.

For information about your thesis preparation and submission, click here.

SPAN501A

Introduction to Literary Theory

[cross-listed with FREN512A]

The aim of this seminar is to introduce students to the key texts, themes and some of the more influential theories in literary criticism and cultural studies from the twentieth century to the present. The course is primarily designed for those with little or no background in theory who need an initial survey to focus their interests. Students are encouraged to go beyond the material covered in class in individual assignments.

Required readings:

Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan, eds. Literary Theory: An Anthology (Third Edition, Blackwell, 2017).

Recommended readings:

Malpas, Simon, and Paul Wake, eds. The Routledge Companion to Critical Theory (Routlege, 2006).

Selden, Raman, Peter Widdowson, and Peter Brooker. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (Pearson, 2005).

Culler, Jonathan. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford UP, 2011).

Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction (U Minnesota P, 2008).

Language of instruction: English

Instructor: Antje Ziethen

Course Registration

 

ITAL342

Introduction to Italian for Senior Students I

(cross-listed with ITAL 102-930)

This course is offered in Italy (June 20 – July 10, 2016)

This immersion and intensive course in spoken and written Italian, Ital 102/342 uses an integrated method that facilitates the development of communicative abilities without neglecting the study of grammatical structure. This is a highly participatory class and students therefore are asked to do many activities and exercices in pairs and in groups, such as role-plays, interviews, short presentations, review and practice grammar concepts, learn about cultural aspects of Italian life using Italian only.

By the end of these courses, students are expected to develop a good understanding of the Italian language and be able to express themselves, in a variety of survival situations, such as asking for directions, buying food, talking about themselves, their family, their interests and their daily routine, express likes and dislikes and talk about the present and the past, express opinions and make polite requests (see level A1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, for more details).

Evaluation techniques include a number of different methods such as a final exam and practice tests and quizzes, structured interactions with Italian people, short presentations to the entire class and drama assignments.

As to pre-requisites for this course, students are expected to have completed ITAL 101 and also to study the first chapters of the required textbook (as a review to what was learned in Italian 101 and hand in a few assignments.

Textbook
Bultrini P., Graziani F., 2014, New Italian Espresso, Italian course for English Speakers, Firenze: Al

Prerequisite: ITAL 101 or equivalent

Language of instruction: Italian

Course registration

ITAL302

Intermediate Italian II

ITAL 302 sviluppa ulteriore le competenze linguistiche e culturali degli studenti e li prepara a raggiungere e completare il livello intermedio o B1, come descritto nel Quadro comune europeo di riferimento per la conoscenza delle lingue straniere. Gli studenti comprendono ora le idee principali di testi complessi su argomenti sia concreti sia astratti; sono in grado di interagire con fiducia e spontaneità con i parlanti nativi e sanno produrre un testo chiaro e dettagliato su un’ampia gamma di argomenti e spiegare un punto di vista su un argomento fornendo i pro e i contro delle varie opzioni. L’approccio globale su cui è basato Ital 302 (e Ital 301), utilizza una varietà di generi testuali e lingua orale. Le diverse aree tematiche affrontano argomenti di geografia, società, storia e arti attraverso brani letterari, video, test di valutazione e autovalutazione, e spiegazioni grammaticali, sempre rivolti ad approfondire i differenti temi morfosintattici. I temi significativi e di attualità  riflettono la pluralità e la complessità dell’Italia contemporanea ed un approccio che privilegia il confronto interculturale. La grammatica è spiegata induttivamente e attraverso attività in cui lo studente è concentrato sul contenuto linguistico, e non sulla forma.

Il corso comprende una diversi sistemi di valutazione, che variano dalle discussioni in rete, alle presentazioni, alla produzione di brevi video o di un ePortfolio.

Le lezioni si svolgono in italiano e gli studenti devono quindi esser in grado di esprimersi usando esclusivamente l’italiano.

Gli studenti avranno inoltre l’opportunitá di partecipare ad un modulo di “Community Service-Learning” attraverso cui potranno creare del materiale in Italiano per la comunità italiana e riflettere su alcuni interessanti elementi culturali. Questo lavoro conterà per una certa percentuale del voto finale, e soprattutto, sarà un’opportunità unica per usare la lingua italiana.

Language of instruction: Italian

Recommended prerequisites: Second-year standing or higher and ITAL 301

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Grading Breakdown

20% Preparation
25% Participation
15% Quizzes (3)
15% Oral Assignments
25% Final Written Exam

2% Extra credits*

Readings

Textbook
AA.VV., Al Dente 3, Casa delle Lingue Edizioni, Ed. Premium  3 978-84-17710-85-9; Digital edition 978-84-17710-95-8

Determine your entry level
Find out which course level to start at given your previous experience with Italian.

ITAL301

Intermediate Italian I

ITAL 301 è un corso di lingua e cultura di livello intermedio — o livello B1 del Quadro Europeo di riferimento delle lingue — che prepara gli studenti ad essere più ‘indipendenti’ e capaci di comunicare in diverse situazioni che possono presentarsi quando si viaggia in Italia. Alla fine del corso lo studente potrà parlare di esperienze ed avvenimenti, sogni, speranze, ambizioni e spiegare le sue opinioni e i suoi progetti futuri. L’approccio del corso si basa su principi linguistici funzionali e socio-culturali: attraverso i metodi e strategie usati nel corso, lo studente potrà rivedere ed approfondire gli aspetti morfosintattici, pragmatici, conversazionali, lessicale ed interculturali della lingua.

L’uso di testi autentici, video, letture ed altre attività creative e coinvolgenti, lo studente sviluppa tutte le abilità linguistiche ed approfondisce la conoscenza di aspetti culturali quali gli italiani a tavola, natura ed ecologia o storie d’Italia.

Le lezioni si svolgono in italiano e gli studenti devono quindi esser in grado di esprimersi usando esclusivamente l’italiano.

Language of instruction: Italian

Recommended pre-requisites: Second-year standing or higher and one of ITAL 202, ITAL 203, ITAL 206, or successful completion of CEFR level A2.

Note: Transfer students or students with experience in Italy should contact the Italian Language Program Director for a language competence assessment

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Grading Breakdown

20% Preparation
25% Participation
15% Quizzes (3)
15% Oral Assignments
25% Final Written Exam

2% Extra credits*

Readings

Required readings: Birello, S. Bonafaccia, F. Bosc, G. Licastro, A. Vilagrasa, Al Dente 3, edizione Premium (Level B1, Common European Framework), Casa delle Lingue. ISBN: 9788417710859

Determine your entry level
Find out which course level to start at given your previous experience with Italian.

FREN566B

Microscopie linguistique du texte poétique: les Fables choisies de La Fontaine

Le premier but du cours est de montrer aux étudiants qu’un texte même connu et en apparence simple contient, cachées dans ses structures linguistiques, des nuances et de l’information dont le lecteur n’est souvent pas conscient (bien qu’elles aient pu inconsciemment contribuer à sa lecture). Le second but sera d’amener les participants à faire eux-mêmes de telles analyses.

L’approche sera avant tout pratique, le cours consistant essentiellement en une quinzaine d’analyses de fables, au début présentées par le professeur, puis menées collectivement en séminaire, et en fin de semestre présentées en exposés par les étudiants. Ce sera le travail principal. Tous les ordres de données linguistiques seront pris en compte: phonétique, mètre et rime, lexique, morphologie, syntaxe, stylistique. Les données culturelles ne seront pas pour autant délaissées: allusions et références explicites à des faits historiques, des mythes, des croyances diverses, à d’autres écrivains  et d’autres textes aussi. Un cours, en français bien entendu, sur l’analyse linguistique du texte poétique, un cours sur la langue du 17e siècle, mais aussi un cours sur La Fontaine et la fable.

Bibliographie.

Texte: nous travaillerons sur l’édition princeps des Fables choisies (Barbin, Paris,1668), disponible sur le site de la Bibliothèque nationale.

Ouvrage obligatoire:

H. Curat, La mesure des mots. Microscopie du livre I des fables de La Fontaine. (Droz, Genève, 2015) Éditions critiques à consulter à la bibliothèque ou en salle de lecture : Henri Regnier (éd.) OEuvres de La Fontaine. (Paris, Hachette Collection des Grands Écrivains 1892); Jean-Pierre Collinet (éd.) OEuvres complètes. Fables et contes. (Paris, Gallimard La Pléiade 1991). Quant aux ouvrages de référence, les étudiants devront connaître et consulter pour les questions de lexique et d’emploi les dictionnaires de Richelet, de Furetière et de l’Académie (1694), disponibles sur le site de la Bibliothèque nationale, de même que ceux de Littré et Robert et le Trésor de la langue française; pour la grammaire, le Bon Usage de Maurice Grevisse et André Goose (Gembloux, Duculot); pour la versification, le Petit Traité de versification française de Maurice Grammont (Paris, Colin, 1965). Ces ouvrages sont disponibles à la bibliothèque ou en salle de lecture.

Langue d’enseignement: français

Professeur : Hervé Curat

Course Registration