communicative use of Italian by teaching the four language skills and providing an enhanced introduction to Italian life and culture. The new edition is distinguished by the integration of video and music, allowing a new perspective on the cultural aspects of Italian life and culture, as well as a refreshing venue for practicing new grammar and vocabulary. A fully interactive and engaging eBook allows students to take advantage of a more portable, downloadable course in introductory Italian. The thematically based chapters are enhanced by "Vedute d'Italia" sections, which focus on the vibrant life of modern-day Italy and the country's rich cultural heritage. CIAO! offers a proven approach known for its thorough grammar presentation and consistent grammar practice. Activities involve student collaboration and move the learners from form-focused to more communicative exercises in each chapter. Students find that CIAO! provides an all-in-one grammar and vocabulary program that allows them to communicate in Italian with confidence and gives them a unique cultural perspective on an ever-changing Italy. About This Edition New Features New video footage, filmed on the streets of Italy, provides a closer and more personal approach to the Italian way of life. These films are a nice complement to the "Sulla Strada" video clips also included in this edition. New "Intermezzo" video and music sections invite students to take advantage of thematically appropriate video segments and songs. These captivating sections are found in the even-numbered chapters and include activities based on the grammar and vocabulary as well as information on the artists, songs, and cultural notions explored in the video segments. Relevant vocabulary items are reviewed, and the video segments can be found online at the text's Premium Website or in the iLrn™: Heinle Learning Center. Offering unparalleled flexibility, practice, and support, the iLrn™: Heinle Learning Center is a dynamic learning environment that contains everything students need to master the skills and concepts of the course. It includes an audio-enhanced eBook, assignable textbook activities, video and musical interludes, pre- and post-viewing activities, partnered voice-recorded activities, an online Student Activities Manual with audio, interactive enrichment activities, GoogleEarth coordinates, and a diagnostic study tool to better prepare students for exams. Interesting new visuals and an array of authentic texts enhance the presentation of modern-day Italy and the country's rich cultural heritage. This provides a stimulating basis from which to learn about Italy, draw conclusions, and make relevant comparisons to students' experiences and cultures. Carefully revised "Vedute d'Italia" cultural reading sections offer a fresh perspective on an ever-changing Italian life. Many of the readings and their corresponding activities have been revised to be more accessible to first-year students and to maintain student interest. Many new authentic readings provide varied, up-to-the-minute perspectives on stimulating topics that are as diverse as Italian fashion, films, food, and cuisine; education and students' experience of the job market; immigration and the challenges of a multiethnic society; and families and social change. New, step-by-step instructions for writing in the "Scriviamo" section give students hands-on guidance. Students focus on a different writing task in each chapter, such as writing an informal e-mail, describing the weather in a postcard, narrating the past, and writing a formal letter. Strategies help students understand the cultural implications of the writing style, the organization, and the structure--and help them implement key grammar and vocabulary points with accuracy. A more visual grammar section features grammar concepts introduced with an illustration to highlight the new linguistic concepts. Concise, often-illustrated explanations follow in English. A number of this edition's "Punti grammaticali" topics have been regrouped into a new, more logical flow and include more collaborative activities designed to draw student participation from the beginning rather than at the end of an activity set. Additional Features "Vedute d'Italia" introduces students to relevant cultural contexts of Italian life while encouraging cross-cultural comparisons. Culture is interwoven with language learning; students enjoy an interesting, informative framework within which to practice and exchange ideas in Italian. Richly illustrated, thematically organized chapters--with grammatical and lexical structures supporting each chapter's theme--offer a unified approach that makes language learning more effective. Chapter grammar, vocabulary, and thematic emphasis reinforce and build on one another. Clear and concise grammatical explanations make Italian accessible and engaging in the most diverse types of teaching situations and with varied types of learners. Ciao! effectively engages students in learning the four basic language skills through active and practical use of Italian. See this title's supplement: Student Activities Manual for Riga/Lage's "Ciao!", Seventh Edition

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