Big Ideas
Big Ideas
Listening and viewing with intent supports our acquisition and understanding of a new language.
Acquiring a new language allows us to explore our identity and culture from a new perspective.
Conversing about things we care about can motivate our learning of a new language.
We can share our experiences and perspectives through stories
Stories are a narrative form of text that can be oral, written, or visual. Stories are derived from truth or fiction and may be used to seek and impart knowledge, entertain, share history, and strengthen a sense of identity.
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Creative works
representing the experience of the people from whose culture they are drawn (e.g., painting, sculpture, theatre, dance, poetry and prose, filmmaking, musical composition, architecture)
allow us to experience culture and appreciate cultural diversity.
Content
Learning Standards
Content
Italian letter patterns
common vocabulary
common words and cognates (e.g., words similar in English and Italian that are used often to complete real-life tasks)
, sentence structures, and expressions, including:- types of questionse.g., Quanto spesso? Quante volte? Di chi…? Hai mai…? Sei mai…?
- descriptions
- opinions
- sequenceusing words that indicate sequence (e.g., all’inizio..., poi..., subito dopo..., successivamente…, prima cosa…, infine..., finalmente)of events
- needs, desires, emotionse.g., Che ne dici di..., Perchè non..., Ti dispiace se..., Ho voglia di..., and opinionse.g., Secondo me…, Sono d’accordo…, Non sono d’accordo...
First Peoples perspectives connecting language and culture, including oral histories
e.g., conversations with an Elder about celebrations, traditions, and protocols
, identity Identity is influenced by, for example, traditions, protocols, celebrations, and festivals.
, and place A sense of place can be influenced by, for example, territory, food, clothing, and creative works.
past, present, and future time frames
using passato prossimo, imperfetto, presente e futuro semplice: Parlo italiano; Ho giocato a tennis ieri; Andro’ a scuola domani
elements of common texts
e.g., format (letter versus email message), language, context, audience, register (informal versus formal), purpose
common elements of stories
place, characters, setting, plot, problem, resolution
Italian creative works
e.g., painting, sculpture, theatre, dance, poetry and prose, filmmaking, musical composition, architecture
contributions
geographical discoveries, inventions, linguistic influences, works of art, world architecture, education, food
of Italians and Italian Canadians, past and present
cultural practices
For example:
in various Italian communities
- activities, architecture, clothing, dance, festivals, food, history, music, protocol, rituals, traditions
- relating to celebrations, holidays, and events (e.g., regional celebrationssuch as Il Palio di Siena, Il Carnevale di Viareggio, le sagre locali)
- daily practices such as meal time
- the idiomatic use of language (e.g., espressioni con il verbo avere: avere fame, avere sete, avere sonno, avere fretta; magari; che figata; conosco i miei polli)
ethics of cultural appropriation
use of a cultural motif, theme, “voice,” image, knowledge, story, song, or drama, shared without permission or without appropriate context or in a way that may misrepresent the real experience of the people from whose culture it is drawn
and plagiarism
Curricular Competency
Learning Standards
Curricular Competency
Thinking and communicating
Recognize the relationships between Italian letter patterns and pronunciation
Use intonation and tone to convey meaning
Derive meaning
Understand key information, supporting details, time, and place.
from speech and a variety of other texts “Text” is a generic term referring to all forms of oral, written, visual, and digital communications. Oral, written, and visual elements can also be combined (e.g., in dramatic presentations, graphic novels, films, web pages, advertisements).
Comprehend meaning in stories
Use various strategies
language-learning strategies such as interpretation of gestures, facial expressions, intonation, tone of voice, and contextual cues; use of prior knowledge, familiar words, and cognates
to increase understanding and produce oral and written language
Narrate stories, both orally and in writing
- Use expressions of time and transitional signs to show logical progression.
- Use past, present, and future time frames.
Participate in short and simple conversations
Exchange ideas
with peers, teachers, and members of the wider community; can include virtual/online conversations
and information, both orally and in writing
Seek clarification and verify
e.g., request or provide repetition, word substitution, reformulation, or reiteration
meaning
Share information using the presentation format
e.g., digital, visual, verbal; aids such as charts, graphics, illustrations, music, photographs, videos, props, digital media
best suited to their own and others’ diverse abilities
Personal and social awareness
Recognize the importance of story
e.g., expressing perspectives, values, beliefs, worldviews, and knowledge
in personal, family, and community identity
Describe similarities and differences
e.g., discussing the purpose of activities, celebrations, customs, holidays, and traditions
between their own cultural practices and those of Italian communities and regions
Engage in experiences
e.g., blogs, classroom and school visits (including virtual/online visits), concerts, exchanges, festivals, films, plays, social media, and businesses where Italian is spoken
with Italian people and communities
Analyze personal, shared, and others’ experiences, perspectives, and worldviews through a cultural lens
e.g., values, practices, traditions, perceptions
Recognize First Peoples perspectives and knowledge; other ways of knowing
e.g., First Nations, Métis, and Inuit; and/or gender-related, subject/discipline-specific, cultural, embodied, intuitive
, and local cultural knowledge