Give the Gift of Italian Culture!
Italian Cultural Center Gift Certificates
We are happy to offer gift certificates for membership and classes at the ICC.
Giving a membership or language class as a present to your close friends and family is a unique and wonderful way to spread the joy of the Italian experience and to introduce them to a vibrant community of Italian native speakers, Italophiles and millennia of Italian art, literature, culture and daily life. It truly is a gift that keeps on giving.
Certificate options:
-> $50 = Individual Membership
-> $80 = Family Membership
-> $120 = Membership + 1 Private Lesson
-> $280 = One YOUTH term language class at any level (ages 3-17)
-> $350 = One ADULT term language class at any level (ages 18 and older).
Membership is required to enroll in language classes.
A perfect gift at any time of the year, and for any occasion, to say "Benvenuto" to the singular experience of all things Italian.
Grazie mille!
Placement Test
Not sure in which class to register?
We offer a professional Italian language proficiency evaluation for a $50 charge. The amount is reimbursable if you enroll in our classes.
1. REGISTER ONLINE and PAY $50.
2. Download, print and complete THIS PLACEMENT TEST.*
3. Email a copy of the completed test to: sabrina@theitalianculturalcenter.org
Sabrina Infante, Director of the Italian Language Program.
You will be contacted within 72 hours to schedule a conversation with an instructor via Zoom to further assess your oral skills. We will then discuss the results, and determine which class best fits your language needs and personal goals. After you complete your first course, you may request reimbursement for the assessment.
*The test is for new ICC students with some knowledge of Italian who are registering for our classes for the first time. Students registering for Beginner 1 do not need to take this test.
Improve your Italian language skills while exploring Modena and the Emilia Romagna region!
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its extraordinary architectural masterpieces, Modena is also celebrated for its rich culinary traditions, iconic sports cars, and world-class opera heritage.
Your 2 week-stay will include daily language classes (Mon-Fri) at Romanica, Accademia Italiana di Lingua e Cultura, an accredited School for the teaching of Italian, recognized by Italian Ministry of Education, where you will improve your grammar and conversation skills.
On this exclusive itinerary created for a small group (max 14 people), you will discover the history and culture of Modena and nearby jewel towns, including Bologna, Parma, and Mantova.
You will explore the region's artistic masterpieces, experience Modena's love for music and fast cars and savor and learn about its culinary excellences, including traditional balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano Reggiano, tortellini, and Lambrusco wine.
I am excited to be your tour leader again in 2026 and look forward to traveling with you! For questions, please email astrid@theitalianculturalcenter.org.
Astrid Garino, MD
President of ICC
For detailed information on the itinerary and package, click HERE
Rates:
Contribute to the Vibrant Arts and Cultural Scene of the Twin Cities
Step into the spotlight and help us bring the Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul to life! From February 26 to March 1, 2026, at The Main Cinema, we’ll celebrate the artistry and passion of Italian storytelling through contemporary masterpieces alongside timeless classics.
Event Details
When: February 26 - March 1, 2026
Where: The Main Cinema, Minneapolis (with easy parking access!)
All films are in Italian with English subtitles, offering an authentic and accessible experience.
Whether you're an organization or an individual, your contribution enriches the Twin Cities cultural landscape while allowing you to be part of a prestigious and meaningful cultural event. Benefits of Sponsorship Include:
How to Become a Sponsor: Explore the Sponsorship Package (View package HERE).
To Complete your Sponsorship: Click on the Register button and select the sponsorship level at which you’d like to support the festival.
For sponsorships of $1,000 or more, we prefer payment by check to help us avoid transaction fees. If this works for you, please select ‘Invoice Me’ when prompted so we know to expect your check.
Please make your check payable to Italian Cultural Center (250 Third Ave. N, Suite 625, Minneapolis, MN 55401) and include “IFF” in the memo line.
The Italian Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is proudly presented by the Italian Cultural Center in partnership with MSP Film Society and The Main Cinema.
Join us in celebrating Italian cinema and making a lasting impact on the arts community.
Grazie ai nostri sponsor e sostenitori!
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Produttore d’Élite
Produttore Esecutivo
This 5-week "Special Topics" language and culture course is designed for students at the Intermediate level (B1) or above who wish to approach language learning in a different way. Short stories from the greatest Italian 20th century authors from up and down the peninsula! Students will expand their vocabulary, strengthen oral competency, and deepen their understanding of Italian literature and history by reading and discussing selected short stories from 20th-century authors in lingua originale. Students will participate in guided discussions to explore each work’s literary style, themes, and socio-historical context, and will hone their speaking skills through grammatical exercises aligned with each reading. This course offers the balance between structure and flexibility by providing the opportunity to practice specific grammatical structures and vocabulary found in the readings in a personally meaningful and authentic conversational context.
Cost: $180 (note: each class is 90 min. not 120)
Materials: Please purchase a copy of the textbook Racconti Del Novecento - Realtà Regionali.
New to ICC? If you haven’t taken a class with us before, please SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR PLACEMENT TEST so an instructor can assess your level.
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Cancellation & Refund Policy
This 10-hour (5 week) special course is the perfect chance to review, practice, and better digest everything you need to know about verbs in the present tense. More focussed on putting language into practice than traditional grammar courses, here students will concentrate exclusively on proficiency with verbs and reviewing accurate use of present-tense conjugations in more detailed sentences in a variety of social contexts, such as speaking with family and friends about social plans, daily activities, one's profession and hobbies, as well as likes and dislikes. Students will work together on new and sequential materials compiled by the director, with the aim of speaking with increased precision and automaticity, thus increasing comfort and confidence. This course will also build a much stronger foundation for proceeding to future courses such as Advanced Beginner (Beginner 4 or 5) or Pre-Intermediate (1-3).when speaking in more detailed sentences with accurate use of many verbs in the present tense.
This course is designed to bring each individual student to a higher level of comfort and automaticity, and not all students need to have the same end goals. Students will also gain a deeper understanding of proper etiquette in cultural contexts such as cafes, restaurants and stores in Italy.
Prerequisite: Beginner 2.
Cost: $200
If you have not taken any other classes at ICC before, PLEASE SIGN UP TO TAKE OUR PLACEMENT TEST HERE. An instructor will assess your level.
Instructional materials will be provided by the instructor, but please come with a notebook!
If interested, English Grammar for students of Italian is a great reference for differences in English and Italian grammar structures.
In this 5-session (10-hr) course for absolute beginners, students will learn the basic fundamentals of Italian grammar and essential communications skills such as how to introduce oneself, greet others politely and informally, get to know others by asking and sharing information about oneʼs place of origin, current residence, occupation and hobbies, as well as how to order in a cafe and a restaurant. This course also addresses various aspects of Italian culture and daily life. Students will complete the first 2+ chapters of the textbook in HALF THE TIME, and be all ready for the next level in January. The course is ideal if you are a Beginner who is planning to travel to Italy in the Spring!
Please use these links to order a copy of both the text and workbook prior to the first day of class:
Textbook: NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO (Beginner/Pre-Intermediate) UPDATED ED. TEXTBOOK + E-BOOK
Workbook: NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO (Beginner/Pre-Intermediate) UPDATED ED. WORKBOOK
Note: The E-book includes Audio and Videos and interactive exercises used throughout the course. Online Access is good for 14 months, but as long as you are enrolled with ICC you will continue to have free access! The same textbook will be used for our entire Beginner series.
Join us for a discussion of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jhumpa Lahiri’s memoir In Other Words (In altre parole). Both deeply personal and universally resonant, the book recounts Lahiri’s bold decision to immerse herself in Italian, set aside English in her writing, and embrace a new identity as an author in another language. Written originally in Italian and published in a dual-language format, In Other Words explores the challenges of learning to write in a new tongue, the vulnerability of beginning again, and the freedom Lahiri discovered in making Italian her literary home. Critics have praised it as “an honest, engaging, and very moving account of a writer searching for herself in words.” In Other Words is published in a bilingual version (Vintage Books) with Lahiri's Italian original text on the left page and Ann Goldstein's English translation on the right. Participants to the book club may read the Italian or the English version of this memoir. The event will be in English.
The discussion will be led by Pieranna Garavaso, professor emerita at the University of Minnesota Morris.
About Jhumpa Lahiri Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London and raised in the United States. She is the author of Interpreter of Maladies, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000, The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, and The Lowland. After moving to Rome in 2012, she has written and translated in Italian, publishing both fiction and nonfiction that explore language, identity, and exile. In 2022 she returned to her Alma Mater Barnard College in New York as the Millicent C. McIntosh Professor of English in 2022.
Pieranna Garavaso is native Italian and came to the US to earn a PhD in Philosophy (at the U of Nebraska Lincoln). She taught Philosophy at the University of Minnesota Morris for 34 years. She was awarded the UMN Morris Alumni Association Teaching Award (2003), the Horace T. Morse Alumni Association Undergraduate Teaching Award (2004) and the UMN Morris Faculty Research Award (2017). Her areas of research include History of Analytic Philosophy, Philosophy of Mathematics, and Feminist Philosophies. She has published articles in Italian and English and authored, co-authored or edited several books; the last collection she has edited is the Bloomsbury Companion to Analytic Feminism (2018). As Emerita/retired she plans to devote more time to reading and discussing Italian literature.
In 2021, ICC was appointed Presidio Letterario of the Società Dante Alighieri (DA), one of the most important Italian institutions for the promotion and appreciation of Italian language and culture since 1889. ICC is now part of a network of cultural centers in Italy and abroad promoting events and initiatives related to Italian literature. Since 2009 DA has officially been part of the jury of Premio Strega, the most prestigious Italian literary award.
Join us for a cheerful evening filled with good treats, warm conversation, and the company of friends as we celebrate the season together at the ICC.
If you’re new to the ICC—or haven’t joined an event before—this is the perfect opportunity to make it your first. We’d love to welcome you into our community.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re deeply grateful for everyone who helped make this year meaningful: our students, members, volunteers, and partners. Thank you for being part of our community as we look ahead to celebrating the ICC’s 20th anniversary in 2026. For questions, please contact Ron at 612-272-5312 or ron@theitalianculturalcenter.org
Join us for a sparkling evening of Italian holiday cheer with our native instructor, Ileana Tamberlani! Discover the magic of Tombola—Italy’s most beloved Christmas game that has been bringing families and friends together for generations.
Numbers and keywords will be called out in both Italian and English, making it fun and accessible for everyone. Play along while sipping Prosecco, nibbling on festive sweet treats, and savoring pandoro and panettone, the iconic cakes that light up every Italian Christmas table. And yes, there will be prizes!
No Italian required—just bring your holiday spirit!
Please note: This event is intended for adults only and is not suitable for families with children.
Minimum number of participants: 15 | Maximum number of participants: 30
Please note: All workshop cancellations must be made at least 72 hours before receiving a refund, minus an administrative fee.
Youth School's FESTA DI NATALE and POTLUCK
DECEMBER 13, 2025
Join us for our Annual Youth School Holiday Tradition!
Youth School students of all ages and proficiency levels, along with their extended families, are invited to immerse themselves in a variety of Italian Christmas traditions.
Tombola: Experience Italy's most quintessential Christmas game, a beloved holiday pastime that brings family and friends together.
Mercante in Fiera: Always a hit, this popular (yet lesser-known) game is very Italian and very fun. Kids will learn vocabulary and win prizes!
Pizzelle: Learn to make one of Italy's iconic sweet treats, perfect for the holiday season.
Biglietti di Auguri: Make Natale-themed arts and crafts, or write a holiday card to someone you love, all in Italian, with some great new expressions!
Celebrate the holidays by practicing new vocabulary, socializing, and enjoying some favorite Italian Christmas treats, including delicious desserts and festive fun!
RSVP and let us know what you will bring to the Potluck.
BUON NATALE!
How to approach learning the Italian language - a FREE WORKSHOP for Beginners only.
If you are enrolled or are thinking about enrolling in an Italian Beginner 1 class, or if you are enrolled in Beginner 2 and missed this workshop last time, please consider registering for this FREE INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP. This is the perfect opportunity to gain helpful insights into the essential basics of the Italian language before embarking on an exciting journey into "La Bella Lingua."
Luisa Narducci O'Gara, a native Italian and experienced ICC instructor, will guide you through the essentials of Italian grammar structure and pronunciation, including helpful concepts and terms. Additionally, Luisa will familiarize you with the learning materials used in the Beginner series, provide advice on related resources, and offer tips for learning Italian effectively, in a pleasant and productive setting.
This workshop is free, but space is limited to the first 25 people. Priority will be given to those already enrolled.
For any questions, please email the Director of Language Programs, sabrina@theitalianculturalcenter.org and we will be happy to respond.
The goal of this workshop is to review all the fundamental grammar points from Beginner 1 and to practice them through games and conversation practice activities and new engaging materials. Build your confidence through improved automaticity as you work in a small group with a native instructor to reinforce all the basics.
Prerequisite: Beginner Level 1
Cost: $45
The goal of this workshop is to review all the fundamental grammar points from Beginner 2 and to practice them through games and conversation practice activities and new engaging materials. Build your confidence through improved automaticity as you work in a small group with a native instructor to reinforce all the basics.
Prerequisite: Beginner Level 2
Grammar Review Workshop:
Open to everyone – members and non-members alike!
This 2-hour workshop is designed to review the key grammar points from Beginner Level 3 and give you the chance to practice them with new, engaging materials.
Build your confidence and fluency through increased automaticity as you work in a small group to reinforce essential grammar structures and practice them through games and conversational activities .
This workshop is ideal for students preparing to enter Beginner 4, Advanced Beginner (A2), or higher-level courses.
Prerequisite: Beginner Level 3
Cost: $45 for Members | $55 for Non-Members
Materials: Provided by the instructor
We look forward to helping you refresh your skills and move forward with confidence!
The goal of this workshop is to review all the fundamental grammar points from Beginner 4 and to practice them through games and conversation activities. Build your confidence through improved automaticity as you work in a small group to reinforce all the basics and get all warmed-up for the Winter Term~
Prerequisite: Beginner Level 4
The goal of this course is for students to build and expand on their vocabulary, grammar skills, and oral proficiency in a more sophisticated manner using mood and tense as they approach Upper Intermediate level fluency. Students will engage with a variety of activities by continuing with and completing the textbook Nuovo Espresso 3, each chapter of which provides the opportunity for discussion on cultural aspects of contemporary Italian life.
Prerequisite: Intermediate Level 2
Cost: $350
If you have not taken other classes at ICC before registering, REGISTER HERE for our PLACEMENT TEST. An instructor will assess your level.
Please order a copy of your text prior to the first day of class:
NUOVO ESPRESSO 3 (incl. INTERACTIVE E-BOOK)
The E-Book contains all audio and videos—The duration of access to the E-book is 14 months.
Note: the textbook includes homework exercises (with keys).
Prerequisite: Pre-Intermediate 2
Please order a copy of the textbook prior to the first day of class:
NUOVO ESPRESSO 2 (Book + Interactive e-book)
This course is designed for Advanced Beginner and Pre-Intermediate students who want to practice and consolidate previously learned grammar structures in new contexts to improve automaticity, comfort and confidence! Not sure if you are "ready" for the next level in your sequence? This course is for anyone who wants to better digest important concepts previously introduced (verbs tenses, pronouns, and prepositions), apply them in more spontaneous yet focused communicative situations. Students will expand vocabulary and hone both listening comprehension and speaking skills through a variety of student-centered oral activities in class, and written homework (including mini-compositions) will be assigned for further reinforcement of the material. As always, each session explores aspects of Italian life and culture, and materials will be provided by the instructor. We look forward to building your confidence through this rewarding NEW approach and alternative option to our standard sequential curriculum.
Pre-requisite: Beginner 4 (or permission from the Director)
If you have not taken any other classes at ICC before, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE FOR OUR PLACEMENT TEST. An instructor will assess your level.
Materials: provided by the instructor on the first day of class
Cost: $375 (materials provided by the instructor)
In this 10-session (20-hr) course for absolute beginners, students will learn the basic fundamentals of Italian grammar and essential communications skills such as how to introduce oneself, greet others politely and informally, get to know others by asking and sharing information about oneʼs place of origin, current residence, occupation and hobbies, as well as how to order in a cafe and a restaurant. This course also addresses various aspects of Italian culture and daily life. Students will complete the first 2 chapters of the textbook, integrating written and oral grammar exercises with lots of speaking practice in mini-dialogues and conversational scenarios.
In this 10-session (20 hour) course, students will be able to offer and follow directions around town, describe cities and places with greater detail and accuracy, ask and answer questions about hotel accommodations, travel, transportation, and special occasions. Students will continue to practice use of the present tense verbs and will be introduced to the simple past tense. Students will complete Chapters 6 and 7 in the textbook.
Use these links and order a copy of your text and workbook prior to the first day of class:
Textbook: NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO UPDATED EDITION (BOOK+E-BOOK)
Workbook: NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO UPDATED EDITION
Note: The E-book includes Audio and Videos and interactive exercises used throughout the course. Online Access is good for 14 months, but as long as you are enrolled with ICC you will continue to have free access! The same textbook will be used for our entire Beginner (Elementary and Advanced).
This "Special Topics" language and culture course is designed for students at the Intermediate level (B1) or above who wish to approach language learning in a different way. Short stories from the greatest Italian 20th century authors from up and down the peninsula! Students will expand their vocabulary, strengthen oral competency, and deepen their understanding of Italian literature and history by reading and discussing selected short stories from 20th-century authors in lingua originale. Students will participate in guided discussions to explore each work’s literary style, themes, and socio-historical context, and will hone their speaking skills through grammatical exercises aligned with each reading. This course offers the balance between structure and flexibility by providing the opportunity to practice specific grammatical structures and vocabulary found in the readings in a personally meaningful and authentic conversational context.
Cost: $280
The goal of this 10-session (20-hr) course is for beginner students to build their fundamental vocabulary and grammar skills in order to speak more extensively about themselves, and to get to know others better by speaking about their daily activities and routines, their occupation and their hobbies, interests, likes and dislikes. Students will be able to make plans for specific days and times of day, as well as pose questions to get more detailed information about people, places and things. Students will also explore various cultural aspects of Italian life and focus heavily on using verbs with comfort and ease in specific conversational contexts. Students will complete Chapters 4 and 5 in the textbook.
Note: The E-book includes online access to Audio and Videos and interactive exercises used throughout the course. The same textbook will be used for our entire series Beginner 1-5.
In this course of the "Advanced Practice and Consolidation" series, designed for students at or close to the C1 level, we will continue to review (practice) and reinforce (consolidate) language skills at the Upper Intermediate level while working towards a more Advanced level of accuracy and fluency. Students will CONTINUE the textbook Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 3 as they study grammar structures in greater depth and more nuanced detail, and increase vocabulary to discuss socio-cultural topics relevant in contemporary Italy.
Prerequisite: a previous iteration of Advanced Practice and Consolidation at the C1 level (or permission from the Director)
If you have not taken other classes at the ICC before, PLEASE REGISTER HERE for our PLACEMENT TEST so an instructor can assess your level.
Please order the textbook and workbook before the first class. Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 3 TEXTBOOK (+ versione interattiva) and Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 3 WORKBOOK (Quaderno degli Esercizi)
Capire l'Italia is an advanced/upper-intermediate level comunicative course about the language and culture of Italy. The course is organized into 5 thematic units - Customs, Mass Media, Cinema, Society, and Design - which illustrate fundamental aspects of the contemporary Italian language and culture around the turn of the millenium. Advanced students looking to participate in stimulating discussions regarding Italy's language and culture will enjoy engaging with sophisticated texts focused on different topics related to contemporary Italian society. The goal of the course is for students to expand their vocabulary and improve accuracy when speaking, commenting, questioning, and expressing opinions using a wide variety of appropriate and advanced grammatical structures, as well as to build their cultural competence by diving deeper into more complex aspects of Italian history and society.
Prerequisite: Upper Intermediate 3 (or permission from the Director)
If you have not taken any other classes at ICC before, REGISTER HERE for our PLACEMENT TEST. An instructor will assess your level.
Please use order a copy of the book Capire l'Italia e gli italiani (Guerra Edizioni) before the first class. Here are a few links:
Capire l'Italia e gli italiani from Amazon
Capire l'Italia e gli italiani from IBS
Capire l'Italia e gli italiani from Glu
The goal of this course is to bring students to a solid A2 level. Students will focus on expanding their use of the past tenses as they discuss their youth, and will begin to distinguish between the simple (passato prossimo) and imperfect (imperfetto) past to express backgrounded vs. foregrounded actions, as well as repeated and habitual routines in the past. Students will also distinguish between the present and the present progressive (or gerund) form of verbs, as well as use object pronouns to refer to people, places and things when relaying information. Students will practice making, accepting and refusing invitations, nd discuss the advantages and disadvantages of technology. Each session incorporates discussion on cultural aspects of Italian life. This course covers Chapters 12-13 in the textbook.
Use these links and order copies of your text and workbook prior to the first day of class:
Textbook: NEW ITALIAN ESPRESSO UPDATED EDITION -(BOOK + E-BOOK INTERATTIVO)
Note: The E-book includes Audio and Videos and interactive exercises used throughout the course. Online Access is good for 14 months, but as long as you are enrolled with ICC you will continue to have free access! The same textbook will be used for our entire Advanced Beginner Series.
This NEW COURSE is designed for Intermediate students who want to practice and consolidate previous introduced grammar structures in new contexts to improve automaticity, comfort and confidence! This course is for anyone who wants to improve their use of verbs, (especially the past tenses), as well as pronouns and prepositions, and use them in everyday communicative situations with greater ease and spontaneity. Students will expand vocabulary and hone both listening comprehension and speaking skills through a variety of student-centered oral activities in class, and written homework (including mini-compositions) will be assigned for further reinforcement of the material. We look forward to building your confidence through this rewarding NEW approach and alternative option to our standard sequential curriculum. Materials will be provided by the instructor.
Pre-requisite: Pre-Int 1 (or permission from the instructor)
Prerequisite: Upper Intermediate 1
If you have not taken any other classes at ICC, REGISTER HERE for our PLACEMENT TEST . An instructor will assess your level. You must be a B1 or above to enroll in this course.
Use this link and order a copy of your textbook prior to the first day of class:
NUOVO ESPRESSO 4 + EBOOK INTERACTIVE - it includes textbook+workbook, plus access to e-book
Nuovo Magari C1/C2 is a brand-new book by one of our favorite editors! Students will love this advanced/upper-intermediate level comunicative course all about contemporary Italy and Italian culture. A wide variety of authentic texts and audio-visual materials serve as our springboard to explore and discuss key aspects of Italian society like you have never approached them before. The goal of this course is for advanced students to expand their vocabulary and improve accuracy when speaking, commenting, questioning, and expressing opinions , as well as to build their cultural competence by diving deeper into more complex conversational topics.
Please use order a copy of the book from your preferred bookseller before the first lesson. Here are a few sample links:
Nuovo Magari C1/C2 from Amazon - 2024 edition! (not 2014 edition)
In this course of the "Advanced Practice and Consolidation" series, designed for students at the B2 level or above, we will continue to review (practice) and reinforce (consolidate) language skills at the Upper Intermediate level while working towards a more Advanced level of accuracy and fluency. Students will begin the textbook Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 3 to further internalize familiar grammar structures, understand more nuanced detail of when and why to use them, and to increase ease and automaticity. Students will also focus on improving vocabulary in order to discuss numerous socio-cultural topics relevant in contemporary Italy.
Prerequisite: A previous iteration of Practice and Consolidation (B2 or above)
Please order both the textbook and workbook before the first class:
Nuovissimo Progetto Italiano 3 TEXTBOOK (+ versione interattiva)
and
Prerequisite: Pre-Intermediate 1
Please order a copy of the books prior to the first day of class:
NUOVO ESPRESSO 2 Esercizi supplementari
Note: Nuovo Espresso 2 will be used as the main text for the remaining levels of our Pre-Intermediate courses, but the instructor will also include new outside materials which will be provided in .pdf format.
In this 10-session (20 hour) course, students will be able to tell time, discuss the calendar, speak about oneʼs daily routine, describe oneʼs family, family activities, and relate past events with more confidence, building on the simple past tense. Students will complete Chapters 9 and 10 in the textbook.
