Italian Education Abroad
Immerse yourself in Italian language and culture this winter in this intensive four credit language course. You will spend three weeks in Genoa taking language courses that are complemented by daily excursions where you will explore the city, visit culturally relevant sites, and further develop your Italian language skills. While no knowledge of Italian is required, the course is taught entirely in Italian in order to help you push your comfort zone and make great strides in learning the language. The course is designed so you will cover the same linguistic objectives as you would in an entire fall or spring semester. By the end of the program, you will be able to converse in Italian on a variety of practical topics and complete short writing assignments. The cultural component of the course will focus on Italian history, art history, opera, and Italian politics.
Program Information
Location
As the capital of Liguria, Genoa offers students a great variety of experiences, ranging from exploring maritime history to tasting great regional cuisine. Also known as Baltimore's twin city, Genoa is filled with theaters, museums, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers and stores of every kind. It is a historic and vast city, with medieval and renaissance palaces and streets. The port of Genoa has a renovated inner harbor with the largest aquarium in the Mediterranean. With its ideal location, at the center of the Italian Riviera, Genoa is close to Portofino and the Cinqueterre (Five Lands) which offer stunning views of Liguria's rugged coast and its beauty.
Accomodations
You will stay in shared accomodations in a pensione near the University of Genoa. This is hotel/dorm style-housing. Wireless internet is available in the pensione.
Eligibility
You must be in good academic and judicial standing. Please refer to the Fact Sheet at the top of this page for specific eligibility requirements.
Cost
Please refer to the program cost sheet for a specific breakdown of expenses.
Highlights
- Intensive language immersion for language learners of different levels
- Practical experience using Italian in everyday life
- Visits to historically important cultural sites
Courses
After you commit to the program, Education Abroad will enroll you in one of the following four (4) credit UMD courses:
- ITAL103: Italian Language and Culture
- ITAL203: Italian Language and Culture
- ITAL498: Independent study in Italian (3 credits)
Students will be expected to participate in pre-departure meetings. ITAL203 fulfills HO core (prerequisite: ITAL 103 or equivalent). This course is run in collaboration with the Consortium / University of Genoa at the Centro Internazionale di Studi Italiani in Italian Language and Culture.
Program Director
Dr. Stefania Amodeo, will be the Italian Instructor, team-teaching with faculty from the University of Genoa. A native of Genoa, Stefania Amodeo holds a laurea from the University of Genoa in Letters and Philosophy. She did graduate work in Belgium and at Harvard University where she received an M.A. in Italian language and literature.
Suzanne Branciforte, the author of the book "Parliamo Italiano" will also be involved in program activities and classes in Italy.