TASKS+FOR+ITALIAN+STUDENTS

=June 4th=

Grazie a tutti per la proficua collaborazione nel gestire questo nostro scambio "virtuale" (ma neanche tanto...). Invito tutti gli studenti a compilare un questionario online, che ci servirà a verificare eventuali punti di criticità e a migliorare l'esperienza in futuro. Questo è il link:

= = Auguro a tutti voi una splendida estate! Your Teacher of English

=May 24th= = = Istruzioni per la registrazione del file audio/video.

La registrazione deve essere ALMENO di 3 MINUTI.

Accedere al sito: http://babel.uoregon.edu/MessageBoards/

Se siete inseriti nel 3° gruppo, digitare: username: 32476 password: oregon1

Per il 4° gruppo, digitare: username: 32473 password: oregon2

Non appena caricata la pagina, nel riquadro a sinistra, selezionate da ‘Topic Menu’ la vostra coppia. Fate click poi su ‘Add a message’. Fate click su ‘Consenti’ per poter accedere al microfono ed eventualmente alla webcam.

Seguite i 3 passaggi:

STEP 1. (ADD A MESSAGE) A. Enter your name (lo stesso usato nell’abbinamento delle coppie) B. Give your message a title: scrivete, ad esempio, ‘Message from (vostro nome)’. C. Add text to your message: qui scrivete in INGLESE il testo che registrerete prima in ITALIANO e poi in INGLESE (non dovete perciò scrivere in italiano).

STEP 2. (ADD A RECORDING) Fate click su ‘Audio only’ - se volete solo registrare la voce - o su ‘Audio & Video’, se volete anche fare vedere il viso in cam. Attaccate il microfono. Fate clic su ‘Record’ e parlate per pochi secondi per fare una brevissima prova di registrazione. Fate click su ‘Stop’ e poi su ‘Play’ per verificare se si sente bene. Fate click su ‘Forget it’ (in basso) per NON memorizzare il file audio di prova. Ricordatevi di parlare in modo chiaro, non velocemente e di regolare la distanza tra voi e il microfono. Il tasto Adjust Mic (in basso) può aiutarvi.

STEP 3. (CHOOSE ONE) Quando avete fatto la registrazione definitiva (prima parlate in italiano e poi in inglese), fate click su ‘Add it’, in basso a destra. Ricordate che una volta aggiunta, la registrazione non può più essere cancellata. Fate quindi più prove (da eliminare con ‘Forget it’) prima della definitiva (soprattutto verificate la qualità audio).

Ricordate di salutare il vostro corrispondente sia all’inizio che alla fine, di essere cortesi e di parlare in modo comprensibile. Have fun!

=May 9th:=

This time we are going to talk about a historical and cultural issue: the postwar period (World War II) and the Italian Neorealismo. Even if you haven't studied anything about it at school yet, try to collect some information in your history book. In addition to that, interview your grandparents: they may have experienced WW2 and can tell you what they remember about it. Ask them (or your parents) if they have seen some films related to the Italian Neorealismo, just like 'Ladri di Biciclette'. Your American correspondents have watched it (maybe you have watched it, too?). What aspects of the Italian life are highlighted? There will be something about stereotypes, too: what does it mean to be a "typical" Italian or a "typical" American? Let's start watching a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVF1XfUpo2U ...do you agree with what is shown here?
 * REMEMBER: write the date of your answer at the beginning of the page. The message must be written both in Italian and in English. Correct some mistakes your American partners may have made in their text.**

=April 22nd:=

Welcome to the two new American groups! As usual, introduce yourselves, read the instructions given in 'Esercitazioni per gli americani' and get ready to talk about the new issues. Add some pictures if you can, answer all the questions and add new ones. = = = = =March 17th:=

Open the messageboard of the Oregon University: http://babel.uoregon.edu/MessageBoards. Use the course number and password given. Listen to your correspondents' **audio messages** and read their texts. Get ready to record a reply to your correspondents' messages, both in Italian and English. = = =March 3rd:= = = = = = = Click on 'OREGON TANDEM PROJECT' on the left, then on ‘Esercitazioni per gli studenti americani’. Read carefully what their book of Italian as a Foreign Language writes about ‘campanilismo’. Then listen to this song by Luca Carboni: You can also read the lyrics here: http://www.prato.linux.it/~lmasetti/antiwarsongs/canzone.php?lang=it&id=5399

Now read the questions your American correspondents are going to deal with. Then get ready to write your own answers. You’ll have to talk about following topics: 1. As an Italian young citizen, do you recognize yourself in what you read in your American correspondents' page and listened to in Luca Carboni's songs? 2. Look up in the Italian/English dictionary: is there a proper English translation for the Italian word ‘campanilismo’? 3. Which festival does your family celebrate most? 4. What is the most important public holiday celebrated by people in Bergamo? 5. How important is dialect in your area? Do you speak it in your family/with friends/at school? 6. What is the difference between being ‘campanilista’ or ‘nationalist’? Do you recognize yourself in one of the two? 7. Do you support the local (football or other sports) team? What kind of supporter are you? 8. If you support a team that is not from Bergamo, are there any particular reasons? 9. What happens in Bergamo or in other Italian cities when a derby takes place? 10. Enter the discussion ‘Lo sport è bello, la violenza è stupidità’. Read the comments already posted and leave yours.

Please write your new text by __**3rd March**__ (both first and second group).

=Feb 20th:=

Read your tandem student’s message carefully and answer her/his questions. Please write your new text by **20th February (first group)** and by **28th February (second group)**.

Here are some new guidelines for the next text (please answer questions 4, 5 and 6 only if you haven’t done it in your previous text yet):

1. Why did you choose to study at a ‘liceo scientifico’? What do you like and dislike most of your school (campus; subjects; teaching methods; extra-curricular activities etc.)? 2. Are you going to choose a University course in scientific subjects after leaving high school? Why/why not? 3. Read the text "**Who should pay for University?**". Exchange opinions with your American partner. 3. Click on ‘Oregon Tandem Project’ and then on the page ‘Esercitazioni per gli studenti dell’Università dell’Oregon’. Watch the video about some European students taking about their experience in the Erasmus program. Do you share some of their opinions? Do you recognize yourself in what the Italian students say? 4. Would you like to study abroad for a short/long period after leaving high school? 5. Would you take part in the Erasmus project (read here for further information: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/erasmus/what_it.html). 6. Once abroad, would you share a flat with other students? What kind of problems would it imply? 7. Carnival and Valentine’s Day are typical festivities in February, but maybe not the most representative ones. Choose a typical or national festivity and write about it to your tandem student.

= = = = =Feb 3:=
 * Remember to write your new text at the TOP of the page (and put the date before it).**

1. Where would you like to attend University? 2. Have you ever thought of going to a European or overseas University? 3. If you could participate in the Erasmus programme, in which country would you like to go? 4. What will you be majoring in? 5. Would you like to study for a term or two in the USA / at the University of Oregon? 6. What kind of difficultes would you have living in the USA/ in Eugene? 7. Did you know anything about Eugene or Oregon before corresponding with the University of Oregon? After reading their webpages, what have you learnt now about this city and University? 8. What are the main differences between the [|University in Bergamo] and the University of Oregon? 9. Would you like to live with American, international or Italian students? Why/why not?
 * Guidelines for next text:**

= = =Jan 29:=

How much do you know about the EU? Try this quiz: http://www.eu-taschenquiz.at/Spielregeln.php?b_lang=en

= = =Jan 22:=

Here you can find some information about:

1. the American college and university system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_United_States#College_and_University

2. Admission to the University of Oregon: http://www.uoregon.edu/about.shtml http://admissions.uoregon.edu/apply/freq.htm (click on ‘International’)

Please read the pages and get ready for an oral presentation. Use your own discussion page to talk about the American college system with your partner and feel free to ask them any questions.