Accelerated Beginning Italian This course is an intensive introduction to the Italian language that condenses the material normally covered in ITAL 0101, 0102 and 0103. We will focus on the spoken language and encourage rapid mastery of the basic structures and vocabulary. Conversation and drill will be stimulated and fostered through active reference to popular Italian culture, film, and music. We will meet 5 times a week including two 75-minutes meetings and an additional drill session. After completing this course students will be fully prepared for second-year Italian. 6 hr. lect./disc./1.5 hr. drill

Italian Culture II: From the Sixties to the Present Day To deepen the historical knowledge gained in ITAL 0251, we will discuss and analyze modern and contemporary Italian literature of various genres, as well as essays, art, and film. In the context of reading, critical viewing, textual analysis, and discussion, we will continue to develop both historical and linguistic competence. Discussion and the writing process, along with selected exercises, will continue to refine grammatical competence.

An Introduction to Contemporary Italy  Intended for students at the intermediate level, this course will afford the opportunity to expand conversation, writing, and reading skills while consolidating knowledge of the more difficult points of grammar. The contextual focus of the course is contemporary Italian culture, including contemporary history and politics, the economy, the division between North and South, immigration from developing countries, environmental issues, and popular music, among others. Italian films, music, and articles from newspapers and news magazines will enhance and complete the learning experience.

Beginning Italian II  This course is a continuation of ITAL 0101, and emphasizes spoken and written Italian and the mastery of more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students continue to work with conversation partners, but will also incorporate more specific cultural references in oral presentations and in written assignments.  Students attend the Italian table and mandatory film screenings.

Beginning Italian  This course is an introduction to the Italian language that provides a foundation in both spoken and written Italian. Focus on the spoken language encourages rapid mastery of the basic structures and vocabulary of contemporary Italian. The exclusive use of Italian in dialogue situations and vocabulary building encourages the student to develop skills in a personalized context. Conversation and drill are stimulated and fostered through active reference to popular Italian music, authentic props, and slides of Italian everyday life and culture. Students are required to participate in the Italian table. 6 hrs. disc./perf.; 2 hrs. screen

Film Form, Film Meaning: Fellini and the Art of Cinema In this seminar we will discover the hidden art of cinematic form.  How do movies construct meaning?  Why are they often so emotionally engaging?  How is cinema related to the other arts (literature, painting, photography, music)?  In the first half of the seminar we will analyze six films by Federico Fellini—one of Europe’s most famous auteur directors (La strada, La dolce vita, 8 1/2, among others).  In the second half of the seminar, students will analyze films of their choosing (any film by any European director).  Armed with the critical skills gained through analyzing Fellini, groups of students will then screen their films to the entire class, complete a major classroom presentation, and engage in original research.

Il cinema d’autore: 1945-2010 In this course we will critically analyze films of great Italian directors  from post-war Neorealism to the present.  We will examine films by Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Lina Wertmüller, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Marco Bellocchio.  After mastering the film terminology and learning  formal film critique, students will engage in independent research that will culminate in the screening and analysis of an Italian film of their choice.  Taught in Italian.

Love, Laughter, and Desire in Medieval and Renaissance Italian Literature Through a careful reading of excerpts from the literary masterpieces of the Italian Middle Ages and the Renaissance, we will explore artistic representations of some of the most enduring facets of human experience: love, humor, and desire. How do Medieval and Renaissance texts still communicate with our deepest feelings and emotions, and, in particular, with our perception of love and sexuality? From spiritual to carnal love, from Dante to Boccaccio, we will explore how Italians from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance wrote, talked, and laughed about their loves and desires.

Thomas Van Order

Reviews and ratings for Thomas Van Order at Middlebury College.Thomas Van Order teaches Accelerated Beginning Italian, Italian Culture: Fascism-Pres, Intro Contemporary Italy and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Thomas Van Order good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

This course was very enjoyable. Professor Van Order balanced the work load perfectly, and I was able to effectively engage with the course material while also make the most of J term! I would absolutely recommend this course!

The course is very intensive. There are a good number of presentations for this course. Also, be prepared for this class as the professor likes to cold-call a lot. I will say he may look very strict, but the professor is very understanding. 

At this point, having had taken various Italian classes, this class felt very similar in regards to the teaching style. The biggest difference is the amount of reading. Now at a higher level, the difficulty is definitely increasing, but the essence of the class remains and it is still easy to keep up. Additionally, the professor was very helpful in class when it came to making sense of the readings. 