Voci: Encounters with Italian

Voci is an innovative textbook for students of Italian at the intermediate level. It is designed to engage readers in conversation through a series of interactive activities and reading and writing exercises. The text features a variety of Italian “voices’ - selections from literature, interviews, and contemporary film, as well as illustrations of a number of Italian dialects. Included are writings from such authors as Dante, Giovanni Guareschi, and Luigi Pirandello; as well as interviews with the historian Piero Melograni and the novelist and linguist Umberto Eco.

A series of topics ranging from cultural attitudes to dialect variation provides the focus for the fourteen units of the book. Each unit contains an introductory section that establishes the theme of the unit and illustrates one or more styles of expression; a linguistic section that includes grammar, vocabulary, and language exercises; a reading selection that expands the topics introduced in the unit; and a writing task linked to the unit’s theme. A unique feature of Voci is the emphasis on paired and small-group activities designed to prompt students to work together in developing their own conversational strategies.

The aim of Voci is to promote creative expression in Italian. Through the combination of readings and the exercises students learn about Italian culture, history, and language while they expand and develop their language skills.