Course Schedule

ITAL 433 – Italian Business

Writing Emphasis Course

This advanced seminar will provide an introduction to the Italian economy from the 1950s to the present, focusing on key factors in the transition from an agricultural based economy to a leading country in world trade and exports (`Made in Italy: brand, vehicles, clothing, furniture, food, wine, etc.). We will study the broader history of Italian business through its representation in film and other media. We will also focus on the acquisition and reinforcement of the essential and practical vocabulary and style of every-day business situations and transactions. This is accomplished through written assignments and workshops based on real-life business situations like how to make professional introductions, run business meetings, make business travel arrangements, write an Italian resume and cover letter, prepare for a job interview, create a business plan and launch a new product. Finally, while students will familiarize themselves with the language and the practices of Italian business, they will also review advanced grammatical structures in writing and speaking. This course counts as a Writing Emphasis Course (WEC): 81.25% of your final grade will be based on an assessment of writing.