www.usspeaksitalian.org Teaching activity Lesson plan

Name of Unit: / Lucio Dalla
Author: Roberta Pennasilico / e-mail:
Abstract (Presentation)
Student Level / High School, College/university
Proficiency level / Lower Advanced
Learning Objectives / Spoken Interpersonal Communication Audio, Visual and Audiovisual Interpretive Communication Written and Print Interpretive Communication Written Presentational Communication
Communicative objectives / Speaking of Italian pop music
Structures / Use of Past tenses
Vocabulary
Cultural Objectives / Italian popular singers, history of Italian music
AP Themes / Bellezza e Estetica
Timing / Class activities: 60 minutes
Presentations of researches (following class): 30 minutes
Materials / Smart Board + computer connected to a projector
Worksheet “Lucio, l’artista che non si fermava; dalle canzoni del cuore al web”
http://www.robertapennasilico.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:lucio-dalla&catid=48:my-posts&Itemid=1
Procedure
10 minutes / Anticipation: tell students that this article was written the day that Lucio Dalla passed away (1 March 2012). The entire country mourned this extraordinary artist, and many TV shows and newspaper articles were dedicated to the importance of his music in the Italian culture. Ask students whether they like/listen to Italian pop music, whether they have a favorite singer and song and why, to name Italian singers, etc.
10 minutes / Have students read the article in turns. Pause at the end of each paragraph to ask whether students need help on some vocabulary.
10 minutes / Go over the questions on activity #2.
15 minutes / Before watching videoclip with Michele Serra’s comment, ask students to read the questions that they will need to answer. Watch videoclip and then answer the questions in class. http://video.repubblica.it/spettacoli-e-cultura/serra-lucio-dribblava-la-banalita/89377/87770
15 minutes +
10 minutes / Read lyrics from song “Caruso”, assist with some vocabulary and go over the questions that follow. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRGuFM4DR2Y
If you see that students like the song, you might have them sing the song a couple of times with the karaoke version at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS692MR0Psk
Homework/Assessment / Assign a research on one of the most important Italian singers to pick from a list (Lucio Battisti, Fabrizio de André, Mina, Vasco Rossi, Jovanotti, Laura Pausini, etc – make sure that each student has a different singer) and prepare a power-point presentation about their music. Students will share their presentations to their classmates next class (30 minutes).