The Department of Italian Language offers a wide range of courses from basic to advanced levels. Courses are aimed at improving conversational and writing skills, as well as the knowledge of the Italian language through cultural perspectives and specific disciplines.
3 semester credits. This course focuses on the relationship between students and the city. Students will receive an overview of basic Italian language structures used to develop communication skills. Students will also develop a vocabulary that will enable them to engage in simple but useful everyday conversations, thus enhancing and supporting their Italian experience. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves in daily life contexts such as shopping for food, clothes, interacting with Italians, talking about yourself, habits, and hobbies. Emphasis will be given to oral expression of practical vocabulary. This level is for absolute beginner students who have never studied Italian before. The coursework will invite students to practice the acquired knowledge in a native environment.
3 semester credits. This course on communicating in Italian seeks to enhance and increase the opportunities to speak to Italians on a daily basis, either through performing daily activities or through social interaction. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves with a more comprehensive knowledge of the Italian vocabulary in a variety of contexts and by using both formal and informal language. This level is for students who already have previously studied Italian language fundamentals. Through the coursework, students will be invited to practice the acquired knowledge in a native environment. Prerequisites: Communicating in Italian or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This introductory language course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. The course presents linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures necessary for elementary communication. Students will learn the regular conjugations of common -are, -ere, and -ire verbs, working primarily with present tense verbs. Simple prepositions will also be introduced along with other fundamental structures.
3 semester credits. This second-level introductory course is intended for students who have previously completed one semester of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. Students will practice the use of passato prossimo (past tense) conjugations. The Imperfetto will be introduced and students will begin to decipher the appropriate use of both tenses. Communicative functions, pronunciation, listening, reading, and speaking skills will continue to be developed. Prerequisites: One semester of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course concentrates on rapidly developing a basic command of Italian while introducing the student to various aspects of the Italian culture through the hospitality industry. Students will have the opportunity to learn on-site with their instructors through a series of walking tours and visits in Florence to hotels, restaurants, and wine-related establishments. Technical vocabulary will be enhanced and finalized to prepare the student for the hospitality industry. Equal focus will be given to grammatical structures, vocabulary, and conversation skills. Students will develop a vocabulary that will enable them to engage in simple but useful everyday conversations, thus enhancing and supporting their Italian experience. After taking this course, students will be able to express themselves in the Present tense and Passato Prossimo and to use both nouns and adjectives in the correct form with reference to gender and number. No prior knowledge of Italian required, this is a beginner-level course.
3 semester credits. This level is for those students who already have a sound knowledge of Italian grammar and are able to express themselves fluently and articulately using all past tenses. Students should have familiarity with Subjunctive and Conditional tenses in both written and spoken Italian. During the course they will improve vocabulary and comprehension by reading and discussing literary tests as well as newspaper articles on current affairs, culture, and politics. Students will perfect their skills in the use of all verb tenses acquired at the intermediate levels and study the Passive voice. Prerequisites: Four semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This final level covers a more sophisticated use of the language, both written and spoken. Students will be exposed to different registers of communication in Italian from the very colloquial to the literary standard, also taking into consideration modern 21st century Italian through the media. Students will become familiar with non-finite forms of verbs (Forme Implicite) i.e. the use of Gerund, Present and Past Participle, and the Infinitive. Prerequisites: Five semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course develops basic conversation, reading, and writing skills. Equal focus will be given to grammatical structures, vocabulary, and conversation skills. Students will develop a vocabulary that will enable them to engage in simple but useful everyday conversations, thus enhancing and supporting their Italian experience. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves in basic sentences, recognize gender and number in both nouns and adjectives, and begin approaching the Passato Prossimo. Emphasis will be given to the oral expression of practical vocabulary and newly acquired grammar structures. This level is for absolute beginner students who have never studied Italian before.
4 semester credits. This introductory language course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. The course presents linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures necessary for elementary communication. Students will learn the regular conjugations of common -are, -ere, and -ire verbs, working primarily with present tense verbs. Simple prepositions will also be introduced along with other fundamental structures. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience.
6 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, learning how to use gradually more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to communicate simple and routine tasks, discuss familiar and routine topics and describe his/her background, and understand clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. The course will start from linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures, including singular and plural forms of articles, adjectives, nouns, and their agreement; regular and some irregular conjugations of -are, -ere, -ire verbs in the Present tense; and simple prepositions. It will then move on to reflexive verbs, conjugation of regular and irregular verbs in the Past, and direct object pronouns. It will finally introduce students to Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, along with the continued practice of expanding vocabulary and gradual building of complexity in grammatical structures. All lessons will be taught in Italian.
9 semester credits. This intensive nine-credit course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, learning how to use gradually more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to communicate in both written and oral form about topics they are familiar with pertaining to personal interests (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel), as well as simple aspects of Italian culture. The course will start from linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures, including singular and plural forms of articles, adjectives, nouns, and their agreement; regular and some irregular conjugations of -are, -ere, -ire verbs in the Present tense; simple prepositions; reflexive verbs; conjugation of regular and irregular verbs in the Past; and direct object pronouns. It will then move on to the conjugation of Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, along with the continued practice of expanding vocabulary and gradual building of complexity in grammatical structures. It will finally introduce students to Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and a basic grasp of the four Subjunctive tenses. All lessons will be taught in Italian.
12 semester credits. This intensive twelve-credit course is intended for students with no prior knowledge of Italian. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, learning how to use gradually more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to participate in conversations on topics they are familiar with pertaining to personal interests or everyday life (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events), as well as narrate a story, relate the plot of a book or film, and write properly about topics that are familiar or of personal interest. The course will start from linguistic fundamentals and essential grammatical structures, including singular and plural forms of articles, adjectives, nouns, and their agreement; regular and some irregular conjugations of -are, -ere, -ire verbs in the Present tense; simple prepositions; reflexive verbs; conjugation of regular and irregular verbs in the Past; and direct object pronouns. It will then move on to the conjugation of Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and a basic grasp of the four Subjunctive tenses. It will finally introduce students to Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio and Infinito Passato. All lessons will be taught in Italian.
3 semester credits. This course builds on and extends fundamental skills developed in the beginning-level course. Emphasis is placed on developing fluency skills and integration of language and culture through more extensive reading and writing. Upon course completion, students will be able to express polite requests using the Present Conditional and develop their language ability by using direct and indirect object pronouns. This course is aimed at students who already have a basic vocabulary of Italian and some knowledge of elementary language structures. Prerequisites: One semester of Italian language or equivalent.
4 semester credits. This intermediate level course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. With the mastery of common verb conjugations, students will move on to future tense structures as well as use of irregular verbs. Focus will be on strengthening reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Conditional tenses will be introduced, along with continued practice on expansion of vocabulary and gradual building of complexity in grammatical structures. This course includes service learning hours within the Florentine Community. Service learning is a method that incorporates intentional learning with service to the community, in which the service component functions as a reflection on classroom learning for all tasks performed. In addition to regular class hours, students will be involved in a volunteer project for the entire session that integrates them in the local community in order to remove barriers and gain a sense of social responsibility. The acquisition of new skills and knowledge obtained in the service learning environment outside the classroom will enrich the learning experience and contribute to personal and emotional growth, as well as cultural consciousness, to develop a greater sense of a global citizenship and sensitivity to the needs of others. Students are guided through the experience by the non-profit association supervisor and the service learning coordinator to enhance outcomes both inside and outside the classroom. The contribution to the association is not only crucial to a deeper understanding of course topics but also allows for a greater sense of belonging in the community, allowing for students to acquire a heightened awareness of emotional intelligence that enhances the classroom learning experience. Prerequisites: One semester of Italian language or equivalent.
6 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed one semester of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, building on and extending fundamental skills developed in the elementary course. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to communicate in both written and oral form about topics they are familiar with pertaining to personal interests (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel), as well as simple aspects of Italian culture. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of Passato Prossimo and introduce Imperfetto conjugations, direct object pronouns, Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, followed by Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and a basic grasp of the four Subjunctive tenses. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 1 semester of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This level is for those students who already have an active knowledge of elementary language structures (i.e. the expression of past actions and events, discussion of future plans), can communicate simple and routine tasks, discuss familiar and routine topics and describe his/her background, and can understand clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to use more complex pronouns both in spoken and written Italian and will have a basic grasp of the following topics: Condizionale, Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi, Imperativo and a basic grasp of the four tenses of Subjunctive. Prerequisites: Two semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
6 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them to acquire more complex grammatical structures to express personal opinions and preferences. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to participate in conversations on topics they are familiar with pertaining to personal interests or everyday life (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events), as well as narrate a story, relate the plot of a book or film, and write properly about topics that are familiar or of personal interest. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto, and introduce Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and the four Subjunctive tenses, followed by Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 2 semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
9 semester credits. This intensive nine-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed one semester of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, building on and extending fundamental skills developed in the elementary course and preparing them to acquire more complex grammatical structures to express personal opinions and preferences. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to participate in conversations on topics they are familiar with pertaining to personal interests or everyday life (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events), as well as narrate a story, relate the plot of a book or film, and write properly about topics that are familiar or of personal interest. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of Passato Prossimo and introduce Imperfetto conjugations, direct object pronouns, Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, followed by Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and a basic grasp of the four Subjunctive tenses. The course will finally introduce students to Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 1 semester of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course is based on the acquisition of more complex grammar structures to express personal opinions and preferences. The level prepares students to participate in conversations on topics with which they are familiar pertaining to personal interests or everyday life (i.e. family, hobbies, work, travel, and current events). During this course, students will develop skills that will allow them to narrate a story, relate the plot of a book or film, or write properly about topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Upon course completion, students will have developed a good understanding of the Subjunctive and will be able to judge when to use the Indicative, Subjunctive, or Conditional moods. Prerequisites: Three semesters of Italian language.
12 semester credits. This intensive twelve-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed one semester of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, building on and extending fundamental skills developed in the elementary course and preparing them to acquire quite complex language structures in both written and oral texts. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves fluently and articulately using all past tenses on a wide range of topics (both familiar and unfamiliar), use Subjunctive and Conditional tenses in different linguistic contexts, and read and discuss literary excerpts as well as newspaper articles on current affairs, culture, and politics. The grammatical structures covered will start a review of Passato Prossimo and introduce Imperfetto conjugations, direct object pronouns, Future and Conditional tenses, possessive adjectives, and indirect object pronouns, followed by Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, a basic grasp of the four Subjunctive tenses, Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato. The course will finally introduce students to the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 1 semester of Italian language or equivalent.
9 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them to acquire quite complex language structures in both written and oral texts. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves fluently and articulately using all past tenses on a wide range of topics (both familiar and unfamiliar), use Subjunctive and Conditional tenses in different linguistic contexts, and read and discuss literary excerpts as well as newspaper articles on current affairs, culture, and politics. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto, and introduce students to Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and the four Subjunctive tenses, followed by Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato. The course will finally introduce students to the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 2 semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
6 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed three semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them to acquire quite complex language structures in both written and oral texts. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to express themselves fluently and articulately using all past tenses on a wide range of topics (both familiar and unfamiliar), use Subjunctive and Conditional tenses in different linguistic contexts, and read and discuss literary excerpts as well as newspaper articles on current affairs, culture, and politics. The grammatical structures covered will introduce Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato, followed by a review of the four Subjunctive tenses, the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 3 semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
6 semester credits. This intensive six-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed four semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them for a more sophisticated use of the language, both written and spoken. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to recognize different registers of communication in Italian from the very colloquial to the literary standard, engage in complex conversations on both specialized and non-specialized topics, and read and discuss a wide range of literary, scientific, and media excerpts. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of the four Subjunctive tenses and introduce students to the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. The course will then move on to non-finite forms of verbs (Forme Implicite), i.e. the use of Gerund, Present, and Past Participle, and the Infinitive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 4 semester of Italian language or equivalent.
9 semester credits. This intensive nine-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed three semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them to acquire quite complex language structures and a more sophisticated use of the language, both written and spoken. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to recognize different registers of communication in Italian from the very colloquial to the literary standard, engage in complex conversations on both specialized and non-specialized topics, and read and discuss a wide range of literary, scientific, and media excerpts. The grammatical structures covered will introduce students to Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato. The course will then move on to a review of the four Subjunctive tenses, the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. It will finally introduce students to non-finite forms of verbs (Forme Implicite), i.e. the use of Gerund, Present, and Past Participle, and the Infinitive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 3 semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
12 semester credits. This intensive twelve-credit course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. It will give students the opportunity to experience a total language immersion, preparing them for a more sophisticated use of the language, both written and spoken. Upon course conclusion, students will be able to recognize different registers of communication in Italian from the very colloquial to the literary standard, engage in complex conversations on both specialized and non-specialized topics, and read and discuss a wide range of literary, scientific, and media excerpts. The grammatical structures covered will start with a review of Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto, and introduce Trapassato Prossimo, Pronomi Relativi and Combinati, Imperativo, and the four Subjunctive tenses. The course will then move on to Passato Remoto, Periodo Ipotetico, Gerundio, and Infinito Passato, the difference between Indicative and Subjunctive, the Indicative and Subjunctive tense agreement, a more in-depth study of the Periodo Ipotetico, and the Passive. It will finally introduce students to non-finite forms of verbs (Forme Implicite), i.e. the use of Gerund, Present, and Past Participle, and the Infinitive. All lessons will be taught in Italian. Prerequisites: 2 semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course is addressed to intermediate-advanced students of the Italian language. The goal of the course is to improve writing skills, to enrich vocabulary, and to broaden knowledge of the Italian and Tuscan culture. Students will explore and describe Florence and other historical and art highlights/Tuscan cities. They will be required to take notes and to produce written assignments (in Italian) about the visits. At the end of the course, students will produce a written guide-report of Tuscany. Italian Language Placement Test required. Prerequisites: Three semesters of Italian language.
3 semester credits. This intermediate level course is intended for students who have previously completed two semesters of elementary Italian language studies at the undergraduate level. With the mastery of common verb conjugations, students will move on to future tense structures as well as use of irregular verbs. Focus will be on strengthening reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Conditional tenses will be introduced, along with continued practice on expansion of vocabulary and gradual building of complexity in grammatical structures. Prerequisites: Two semesters of Italian language or equivalent.
1 semester credit. This course seeks to support students who are enrolled health professions – including nursing, social work, public health, and pre-health programs – for what concerns basic Italian language structures related to their discipline. Students will develop a medical vocabulary that will enable them to engage in simple but useful conversations within the health sector, with the aim to ease communication with Italian patients and colleagues. The course allows students to be more embedded in the Italian experience, while also practicing conversation that can be used both during work and outside of it. This course is open to all the students enrolled in disciplines of the health sector, such as nursing, social work, public health, pre-health, or equivalent. No former knowledge of Italian is necessary.
3 semester credits. This course is addressed to advanced students of the Italian language. The goal of the course is to improve reading and writing skills, to enrich vocabulary, and to broaden knowledge of the Italian culture through excerpts taken from different periods of Italian Literature. Students will become familiar with important literary periods and authors. They will be required to take notes and to produce written assignments (in Italian) about the texts/authors discussed in class. At the end of the course, students will produce a short paper (in Italian) about a specific theme. Prerequisites: Four semesters of Italian or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course seeks to offer an overview of the Italian culture through the exploration of the city of Florence. Students will become familiar with the main Italian and Florentine cultural aspects through the observation of street names, studied as an intangible cultural heritage. In particular, students will learn about Italian social dynamics and traditions related to education, business, social life, healthcare, politics, religion, and sports. The course is held entirely outside as it makes use of the city as its learning environment. Students are therefore encouraged to observe the sites through active participation and develop a critical gaze. The course is further enriched by basic notions of Italian language, with exercises based on grammar, vocabulary, and communicative functions. The approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.
3 semester credits. This course offers an innovative way to learn the Italian language and develop environmental consciousness while exploring Florence and its green urban areas. Through the study of the relationship between humans and nature, the human role in ecology, and the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, students will learn basic Italian vocabulary and usage in the form of experiential learning. The course aims to develop four basic Italian language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), while providing experiences and on-site lessons aimed at expanding the connection between individuals and the natural world and developing sustainable lifestyles. Each topic, excursion, and experience will be supported by a structured class of Italian language, providing a great opportunity to explore Florence, its parks, its people, and its traditions from a new perspective while learning and practicing the Italian language. This course includes an Italian language component for beginning-level students. SLC (Studies with a Language Component) represents an engaging approach to learning that embraces a multi-disciplinary application of cultural education methods. This stimulating approach broadens students’ understanding of their studies and creates a link between their academic careers and the local cultural environment which surrounds them. Through SLC courses, students learn notions of Italian language and terminology as a bridge to better understand and appreciate Italy’s modern, multifaceted society. By being exposed to the Italian language, Students discover different elements of Italian communication and culture and learn the linguistic fundamentals that enable them to engage in simple, everyday conversation. While doing so, they examine the sociological and pedagogical aspects of Italy such as society, politics, education, family, geography, and the environment. SLC is a learning methodology that integrates theory with practice: students learn the culture and language of Italy in class, then experience what they have learned through interaction with the local communities within the city of Florence and its neighborhoods. Diverse student populations benefit from this educational approach. The approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the course site platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.
3 semester credits. This course offers an innovative way to learn the Italian language and develop environmental consciousness while exploring Florence and its surroundings. Through the study of the relationship between humans and nature, the human role in ecology, and the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, students will learn basic Italian vocabulary and usage in the form of experiential learning. The course aims to develop four basic Italian language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), while providing experiences and on-site lessons aimed at expanding the connection between individuals and the natural world and developing sustainable lifestyles. Each topic, excursion, and experience will be supported by a structured class of Italian language, providing a great opportunity to explore Florence, its parks, its people, and its traditions from a new perspective while learning and practicing the Italian language. This course includes an Italian language component for beginning-level students. SLC (Studies with a Language Component) represents an engaging approach to learning that embraces a multi-disciplinary application of cultural education methods. This stimulating approach broadens students’ understanding of their studies and creates a link between their academic careers and the local cultural environment which surrounds them. Through SLC courses, students learn notions of Italian language and terminology as a bridge to better understand and appreciate Italy’s modern, multifaceted society. By being exposed to the Italian language, Students discover different elements of Italian communication and culture and learn the linguistic fundamentals that enable them to engage in simple, everyday conversation. While doing so, they examine the sociological and pedagogical aspects of Italy such as society, politics, education, family, geography, and the environment. SLC is a learning methodology that integrates theory with practice: students learn the culture and language of Italy in class, then experience what they have learned through interaction with the local communities within the city of Florence and its neighborhoods. Diverse student populations benefit from this educational approach.
3 semester credits. The Special Project: Experiential Learning in Teaching Assistantship - Italian Language is for students who are at an advanced academic standing and language level. The course allows students to experience and assist with aspects of teaching under the close supervision of a faculty member. TA students assist with classroom setup, course logistics, student management, coursework and classroom activities, and assisting the instructor with the evaluation of student performance. Italian language TAs are supervised by the sQuola teaching faculty, and assist faculty members with daily course management and organization. Moreover, TAs actively participate in course activities, and reinforce their own Italian language skills while helping other students in their language learning progress. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. Students will be involved in learning through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem- solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks: Activity supervision, guiding students through course materials, creative activity preparation and development, contribution to lectures and seminars, student feedback reviews for faculty and department, assistance with grading, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Having completed at least one upper-level course in Italian language with at least a B grade or equivalent, or being Italian language native. Additionally, the student must have a GPA of 3.0 or better.
3 semester credits. Learning Italian is not a one-off event; it requires commitment and dedication. If the experience is interactive, learners will stay curious and the learning process will be more effective. Within sQuola, the School of Italian Studies and Linguistics, FUA-AUF recognizes and aims to promote the lifelong pedagogical, educational and socio-cultural role of play for individuals and for society. Therefore, FUA-AUF has developed an ad-hoc “toy library” project, designed to promote playtime culture and learning through play. Ludoteca is a place for amusement, socialization, integration and education that puts play at the center of all its activities and projects. Ludoteca contributes to the development of the individual and provides students with a dedicated space, materials to play with and expertise that, when combined, create an opportunity to engage freely in playtime activities and support learning. Ludoteca is a project managed by Italian Language Tutors, supervised by the sQuola coordinator. The Tutor is the person of reference for the students involved in Ludoteca activities, and who is in charge of the daily management and the organization of games and activities held in the facility. Moreover, Tutors prepare and manage all the Ludoteca activities. The position of Junior Tutor is open to students who are interested in and have a passion for the Italian language and culture, and have already completed Italian Language Intermediate II or III, or an equivalent level. Junior Tutors will assist sQuola’’s Tutors in Ludoteca activities. They should be prepared to start their experiential learning at an entry level to gradually be assigned more challenging tasks. By participating in this project, students will reinforce their Italian language skills through play while helping Beginner level students to increase their own learning. At Ludoteca, Junior Tutors are invested with both the responsibility to guide lower level students towards a better comprehension of the language, and the opportunity to strengthen their own language and leadership skills. EL hours may be distributed from Monday through Friday. This placement may require activities that take place on weekends, or ongoing research-based activities for remote placements. This special project course features experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. Remote option students will gain international community exposure through a virtual setting. Students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Main tasks (all the activities are held in Italian): Activity supervision, guiding students in Italian conversations, creative activity development, activity preparation, student feedback reviews for faculty and department, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire. Not applicable to remote option. Prerequisites: Italian Language Intermediate II or III, or an equivalent level. Cover letter, CV, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.
3 semester credits. This course seeks to offer an overview of the Italian culture through the exploration of the city of Florence. Students will become familiar with the main Italian and Florentine cultural aspects through the observation of street names, studied as an intangible cultural heritage. In particular, students will learn about Italian social dynamics and traditions related to education, business, social life, healthcare, politics, religion, and sports. The course is held entirely outside as it makes use of the city as its learning environment. Students are therefore encouraged to observe the sites through active participation and develop a critical gaze. The course is further enriched by basic notions of Italian language, with exercises based on grammar, vocabulary, and communicative functions. The approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as the academic space for learning and engagement. Classes are not held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyFUA platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study represented by the course, and allows the overall experience to contribute to the students' academic and personal enrichment.