Humorous crime stories in class

Do you teach Italian? Check this out: These humorous crime stories can also be used to complement a course, allowing some topics to be reviewed and deepened at home (please note, however, that the book has not been submitted for inclusion in any list of approved textbooks).

Reading materials like this may be useful in many respects:
• thrilling, funny stories can motivate your course participants
• at the same time, beginning-level vocabulary and grammar can be solidified
• a feeling for the language is likely to be enhanced
• the time between one class to the next can be spent in a productive way

The humorous crime stories include a double page at the end of each text with practice exercises that review important beginning-level Italian vocabulary and grammar structures (corresponding to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). They allow the student to immediately train and solidify the knowledge they just refreshed. The solutions to all exercises can be found in the appendix.

Tips for using the material in class

Assign reading a short crime story as homework and ask your students to relate the plot in Italian during the following lesson. You can then ask these follow-up questions for reading comprehension.

Time leftover? Then act out the short story “La roulotte” from the book “Delitti di Mare” in class. First, assign the six roles, such that each participant can prepare at home and take on the role of the character. During the next class...the stage is set! Your students perform the story in class—with help of the book, of course!