#AP Italian Study Guide: Unit 1 - Family and Community

Welcome! Let's get you feeling confident about Unit 1. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for a quick, effective review before the exam. We'll make sure you know all the key points and how to apply them.

#🎯 Unit 1: Core Themes

This unit focuses on Italian families and communities, exploring how they shape values, traditions, and individual identities. We'll also touch on contemporary life and global challenges.

#🔗 Family Structures and Dynamics

#🔗 The Roles of Men, Women, and Grandparents

#🔗 Strive for Five Vocab

#🔗 Final Exam Focus

#🔗 Practice Questions

#👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Structures and Dynamics

#Traditional vs. Modern Italian Families

In the past, the traditional Italian family was large, with clearly defined gender roles. But things have changed a lot! Here's a quick breakdown:

• Traditional: Large families, men as breadwinners, women as homemakers.
• Modern: Smaller families, more women working, increased equality.

#Key Changes in Italian Families

• More women work outside the home: Roles are becoming more equal (alla pari).
• Increase in mixed families: Reflecting a more diverse society.
• High number of families with 1 or 0 children: Due to economic and social factors.
• Decreased marriage rates and delays: People are getting married later or not at all.

#🚻 Gender Roles and Grandparents

#Men

Traditionally, men were the financial providers and authority figures. While this is still true in some cases, roles are becoming more flexible.

#Women 👩🏾👧🏻👩🏻‍🎓👩🏼‍💻

• Past: Homemakers (le casalinge).
• Present: Increasingly working outside the home, pursuing higher education, and contributing financially.
• Role in the family: Often seen as the "soul" of the family, providing emotional support and care.

#Grandparents 👵👴🏽

Grandparents play a vital role in Italian families, often living close to or with their children. They are active members of the community and provide support to their families.

• Living situation: Often live closer to the city for healthcare (assistenza sanitaria).
• Social life: Active in their communities, often going out with friends.
• Family support: Unlike in the US, they are usually cared for by their families, not in a nursing home (casa di riposo).

#🔑 Strive for Five Vocab

Here's your essential vocab list for Unit 1. Make sure you know these words inside and out!

• Legame - bond

• La casalinga - housewife

• Monogenitoriali - single parent

• Allargato/a - expanded

• La famiglia patriarcale - patriarchal family

• La famiglia alla pari - both parents have equal rights

• L'anziano - elderly person

• La famiglia nucleare - nuclear family

• Condiviso/a - shared

• Il divorzio - divorce

• Il matrimonio - wedding

• Occuparsi dei figli - to care for the children

• Il badante - caregiver

• Sacrificare - to sacrifice

  Vocabulary is crucial! Make sure you know these words and can use them in context. Focus on how they relate to the themes of family and community.

#🎯 Final Exam Focus

Here's what to focus on for the exam:

• Family Dynamics: Understand the changes in family structures and roles.
• Gender Roles: Know the traditional and modern roles of men and women.
• Grandparents: Recognize their importance in Italian families and society.
• Vocabulary: Master the key terms related to family and community.

#Exam Tips

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back if needed.
• Read Carefully: Make sure you understand what the question is asking.
• Use Examples: Support your answers with specific examples whenever possible.
• Connect Concepts: Show how different themes relate to each other. For example, how economic changes affect family structures.

#📝 Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Quale delle seguenti affermazioni descrive meglio la famiglia italiana tradizionale? a) Le donne lavoravano fuori casa e gli uomini si occupavano dei figli. b) Le famiglie erano piccole con pochi figli. c) Gli uomini erano i capifamiglia e le donne le casalinghe. d) Non c'era differenza tra i ruoli di uomini e donne.

2. Come è cambiata la situazione delle donne in Italia rispetto al passato? a) Le donne non hanno più accesso all'istruzione. b) Le donne sono meno coinvolte nella vita familiare. c) Le donne hanno un ruolo sempre più importante nel mondo del lavoro. d) Le donne non hanno più diritti.

Free Response Question

Descrivi i cambiamenti principali nella struttura della famiglia italiana negli ultimi decenni. In che modo questi cambiamenti hanno influenzato i ruoli di uomini, donne e anziani? Fornisci esempi specifici per supportare le tue risposte.

Scoring Breakdown:

• 2 points: Clear and accurate description of changes in Italian family structure (e.g., smaller families, more working women).
• 2 points: Explanation of how these changes have impacted the roles of men (e.g., less traditional authority, more shared responsibilities).
• 2 points: Explanation of how these changes have impacted the roles of women (e.g., more economic independence, higher education).
• 2 points: Explanation of how these changes have impacted the roles of the elderly (e.g., continued family support, active community involvement).
• 2 points: Use of specific examples to support the answer (e.g., reference to the movie "La Vita è Bella" or the economic situation in Italy).

Good luck! You've got this! 💪