Perfetto!
An Italian Textbook for Intermediate to Advanced Learners
by Anna Iacovella Ed.D.
Yale University
Perfetto!’s Goals
Perfetto!’s Goals are to perfect and master language skills through Italian language structure as taught and learned in Italy. Italian language is also presented through a wide variety of authentic current and classic literature texts to better understand the multi-faceted Italian life. The varied texts and materials offer students an array of vocabulary, writing styles and meaningful speaking registers for a productive gradual discovery and acclimatization in the Italian language learning process.
The integration of cultural and historical elements at glance throughout the text provides encouragement for students to deepen their knowledge of Italian civilization. Meaningful expressions for communication are also presented throughout the program and to be used in applied realistic conditions. Vocabulary lists provide definitions and synonyms in Italian to clarify the meanings. The texts and readings are in the realistic setting of the language. Grammar and structure are presented in the target language to favor the mastering of the reading and comprehension skills. Speaking and writing are applied by completing communicative activities and written practice exercises to perfect and understand rather than memorize. The exercises and activities are presented in the text with a similar and gradual progression from reading, comprehension, speaking, and writing.
Table of Contents
Chapters are presented thematically offering students the opportunity to connect themselves with cultural associations and assessments. Featured topics offer the use of the language with the correct grammar structure and colloquial forms currently used in Italy. Students are given the opportunities to ample their research and find similarities or differences in both Italian language structure and customs. The text can serve as a platform to broaden topics research and communicative approach and as a text for an academic semester or a year of language and culture instruction.
Links to Online Resources
The featured online resources provide instructors and students tools to keep themselves conversant with the information related to Italian life and customs.
Suggested links offer research assignments and discussions, but also offer opportunities to reinforce structure and vocabulary in varied layouts.
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the Center for Language Study at Yale University for their continuous support and encouragement.
My appreciation also goes to Kaleb Trice for working with dedication to make this text reader friendly and enhance it into Open Education Resource for all students eager to learn Italian language and culture.
