This supplementary text for elementary to intermediate courses in Italian is structured around stimulating discussions of ten contemporary Italian films, among them
Cinema Paradiso,
La vita e bella,
Mediterraneo, and
Il postino. With a chapter devoted to each movie, the book effectively fosters a deeper understanding of both Italian language and culture, and it is adaptable for any level of language instruction.
Italian Through Film features:
- Films that are easily available from school video libraries or from video stores;
- Pre-viewing, viewing, and post-viewing activities appropriate to the various films in each chapter;
- Grammar review, vocabulary in context, listening comprehension, cultural and historical background, and discussion questions for language practice;
- Exercises ranging in difficulty from elementary to highly sophisticated that are designed to enhance students' vocabulary and cultural awareness as well as oral and written skills;
- Boxed sections that provide information about the movie, director, plot, and certain cultural aspects specific to each movie;
- Lists of Internet-based activities that expand aspects of each movie by exploring Italian websites.