Italian is the mellifluous language of music and poetry. It is considered one of the most beautiful languages in the world, and so it is also enjoyable to learn and speak. This a beginning level Italian language course for students who have no prior knowledge of spoken or written Italian. The goal of this course is to build and strengthen students’ confidence, and increase enthusiasm and interest in learning the Italian language and culture. In Italian 1, students will work on developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through an interactive, multifaceted approach. During class the students will be encouraged to participate in short conversations and to communicate with simple sentences. Upon completion of the course the students will be able to speak with a good pronunciation and intonation; ask and answer questions using short phrases; understand simple written sentences and paragraphs; and make short spontaneous presentations on familiar topics. Students will also learn about Italian culture and geography through special research projects each semester.