Intermediate Italian Language and Culture

By the end of the course, students can:

In this course, the final course grade is based on seven elements: three written exams, a presentation, an individual cultural project (portfolio), a group cultural project (documentary) and an oral assessment.

This course focuses on the language, but also on the history, geography, artistic works, traditions, and current events of Italian society. While exploring different aspects and contents, we will deepen the topic of migration from and to Italy, both in historical and contemporary perspective. We will focus on the representation of migrants and asylum-seekers in Italian social media and political discourse, analyzing the impact that such representations have on the social inclusion of migrants in the Italian society.

New this semester is a collaboration with international students studying in Siena, Italy, in a community engaged learning (CEL) project, aimed at creating and piloting activities to foster the linguistic, cultural and social inclusion of young migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in the local host society (the city of Siena), according to the principles and aims of the project Home 4 the World. This project is run by volunteers, both international students and locals. The aim of the project is to collaboratively create a handbook of activities that can be implemented and developed in the Home4TheWorld project sites both by volunteers from outside the engaged organizations and by students and volunteers doing service learning activities through this project.

There will be the opportunity to travel to Siena during the midterm break to work on location. Students will be offered accommodation in host families, so they will get the chance to have a full immersion in the Italian language and culture, while at the same time developing cross-cultural communication skills.

Format 
In-class work:
Classes will focus on language practice in line with the textbook chapters. Students will mainly work in pairs and small groups. All participants must complete obligatory self-study assignments before class. Students are expected to actively engage during the lessons as well as in group tasks.
Outside-class work:
This involves studying grammar and vocabulary and making exercises and quizzes, as well as close reading and preparation of required assignments for the cultural assignments. It also involves collaboration with peers for group cultural assignments.
CEL project:
The first part of the project will be online (once a week for five weeks): in mixed groups students will analyze the migratory process to Europe and to Italy, its dynamics, and steps, to then explore patterns of (self) representation of and by migrants and refugees. The second part of the project will take place on location in Siena during the midterm break (1 week). Students will co-create and propose activities for intercultural dialogue to the participants to the Home 4 the World project. They will reflect on the process and the outcomes, to then finalize the activities for collection in the handbook.
Students who won’t opt for the on-location option will be assigned alternative CEL tasks.
Costs if students opt to travel to Siena
A package with accommodation in host families, most meals, activities and excursions in Siena will be offered by our partner institution for ± € 600,00. Travel expenses will depend on how student will travel.
The instructor will look for possible funding for covering (part of) those expenses.