Romance Languages and Literatures

Fall Term, 1998 (September 8-December 21, 1998)

French, Italian, and Spanish Placement Tests

If you are planning to take an elementary French, Italian, or Spanish class and you are a new student, freshman or transfer student, or you have not yet begun the elementary language sequence on the Ann Arbor campus, you must take the placement test in order to register for the correct course. You must register for the class into which you have been placed.

If you have registered for a class prior to taking the test, you will still be required to take the test in order to verify that you are in the appropriate level class.

If you have already taken French, Italian, or Spanish 101-232 on the Ann Arbor campus, or if you have already taken the placement test once, you are not eligible to take the test again. For questions regarding the LS&A language requirement, please see a general academic advisor or call POINT-10 (764-6810).

Please Note: With the reduction in the number of classrooms throughout LS&A, departments must limit the number of classes offered between 10 am and 4 pm. There will be more classes open before 10 am and after 4 pm. Please take advantage of the opportunity to register for these classes and avoid the "Lottery" (see 2b below).

Instructions for students requesting overrides for French or Spanish 101, 103, 231, or 232.

Try to find a section that will fit into your schedule, since the Department cannot guarantee every student a space in a section of his/her own choice.
However, do not register for a class that you cannot attend. You will not be eligible to override into the section of your choice if you are registered for any section of 101-232, even if you cannot attend that section.
As it states in the Time Schedule any registered student who misses one of the first four class meetings will be dropped from the course, thereby leaving some open spaces for those students who have been closed out.
If there is absolutely no section open which will fit your schedule, you should follow this procedure:
1. Start attending the section you would like to get into on the first day of class. You will receive a Proof of Attendance form which must be signed by your instructor every day. You must attend a class every day, but it does not need to be the same section. All students must take action through T-T Registration to make sure their official schedule of courses matches the courses they are taking.
2. On Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m., there will be a meeting in the basement of the MLB, rooms to be announced later, for each of the above courses. At these meetings, students will be assigned to remaining vacated spaces in the most fair and equitable manner possible, using a lottery system. At no time, however, will any class be allowed to exceed 25 students. Students must bring their printout of classes and the Proof of Attendance form to the meeting!
Please note that you will not be allowed to change sections at these meetings. Beginning Wednesday, September 11, Elementary French Language Supervisors will hear requests for section changes and fill those requests to whatever degree is possible.
Please ensure when adding with the override that you also add modifiers for pass/fail, etc.

Courses in Italian (Division 399)

Take me to the Fall Time Schedule

Elementary Language Courses

Students who intend to continue a language begun in high school must take the Placement Test to determine the language course in which they should enroll. Italian 102 is NOT open to students who have begun instruction in high school. It is strongly recommended that students who began Italian at another college or university also take the placement test. Students must check with the Course Coordinator for any exceptions to the Placement Test level.

101. Elementary Italian. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in Italian 101. (4). (LR).
This course is task- and content-based and incorporates grammar in a functional use of language through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Vocabulary and structures are practiced in class through communicative activities. Cultural awareness and listening skills are further developed through audio-visual materials. Evaluation criteria include: regular attendance, oral participation, in-class work, homework assignments, quizzes, a midterm, and a final examination.
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103. Accelerated Italian. Assignment by placement test. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 102. (4). (LR).
Italian 103 is an accelerated course for those students who wish to develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills at a rapid pace, while being introduced to various aspects of Italian culture. The material covered in this one term course is equivalent to that taught in two terms of elementary Italian 101 and 102. Evaluation criteria include: regular attendance, oral participation, in-class work, homework assignments, quizzes, a midterm, and a final examination.
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Courses Taught in English Translation (without language prerequisites)

150. First Year Seminar in Italian Studies. Only first-year students, including those with sophomore standing, may pre-register for First-Year Seminars. All others need permission of instructor. (3). (HU).
Section 001 - Society and Its Discontents. In this course, taught in English, a small group of incoming students will have the opportunity to read and reflect upon a select group of texts, both fiction and nonfiction, written in Italy at different times, that all comment upon and critique their own social and political context. At issue will be problems of immigration, both to and from Italy, the mafia, tensions between North and South, unification and regionalism, Italy's cultural and political relations with the rest of Europe, and its use and interpretation of the past. Authors to be read in reverse chronological order will include Levi, Sciascia, Verga, Leopardi, Manzoni, Goldoni, Campanella, Machiavelli, Aretino, Alberti, Boccaccio, Petrarch, and Dante. The course will require active participation, two essays (4-6 pp.) and a final exam. No prerequisites. (Cornish)
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