Intensive Italian in Reggio Emilia

The program, held in the beautiful city of Reggio Emilia, offers you the opportunity to study the Italian language in Italy under ideal conditions, plus the opportunity to experience Italian culture in the most natural way. The intensive nature of the courses means that you can concentrate exclusively on mastering Italian, and in six weeks earn nine-semester credits toward satisfying divisional language requirements or requirements for a Minor in Italian or a Major in Italian Studies or International Studies.

Location

Reggio is centrally located in the north of Italy, in the historic Emilia Romagna region, well off the routes of mass tourism, but within easy week-end distance of other centers of Italian culture such as Bologna, Florence, Milan, Turin, and Venice, as well as the Adriatic Coast. Best of all, the city is famous was its refined cuisine, high-end craftsmanship, and its people, who are very receptive to students and to your desire to speak their language.

Eligibility

Any student in good standing, with a minimum overall G.P.A. of 2.00 at Miami University or at any other recognized college or university is eligible, including incoming first-year students (graduating high school seniors eligible for college study), high school students accepted to the Miami University advanced study program for high school students, college graduates, graduate students, and teachers.

Courses

All language courses offer eight semester credits and meet three hours per day. Students are also required to enroll to 1 credit course (ITL 399), which focuses on cultural competencies in Italy and is conducted in English.

These courses fulfill Global Perspectives requirement and Major/Minor requirements. Classes are taught by the program director Prof. Andrea Righi (PhD. at Cornell University) who is the Coordinator of the Italian Program, and highly selected native instructors.

The theoretical and methodological framework of the courses favors the communicative approach which centers on inductive modes of learning. Classes are highly interactive and assume the active oral participation of all students. All language courses are conducted in Italian.

Course List

Italian 105—Intensive Elementary Italian, is for beginners with no previous Italian. There are no prerequisites. The emphasis is on aural-oral communication.
Italian 205—Intensive Intermediate Italian, is for students who have had one year of college level Italian or the equivalent. It includes review and improvement of the basic language elements, structured conversation, and the reading of contemporary Italian texts with emphasis on the oral discussion of those texts.
Italian 305—Intensive Advanced Italian, is for students who have had two years of college level Italian or the equivalent. It includes written composition, structured conversation, and Italian culture.
Italian 680—Independent Study in Italian Language is for college graduates. It includes participation in either ITL 105, 205, or 305 plus additional reading in a graduate field of study.
Italian 399- A one credit pass/fail course that aims at developing cultural competencies in Italy. Students are required to complete a weekly blog entry and to work in group on a final project

Students who have completed ITL 101 or ITL 201 successfully may attend the last four weeks of ITL 105 or ITL 205 and receive 4 credits for Italian language and pay only half the tuition. Students are however required to participate to the full program length.

Transportation

Students will arrange for their own transportation to Bologna Airport (BLQ) Saturday morning, June 2. Dr. Righi will meet the students with a chartered bus to take them to Reggio. The round-trip airfare is about c. $1,700.

Lodging

The program arranges your lodging for you at the historical and central Ostello della Ghiara. Arrangements include rented double or triple bedrooms with kitchen and inside laundry facilities. All rooms are within walking distance of classes. A $500.00 deposit, that you make to the program after your acceptance, is used to reserve your room and serve as a security deposit.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Passport: $110.00 to renew/$135.00 for new
Textbooks: $75.00-$150.00 (approximate)
Spending Money: Approximately 30% to 40% more than you spend at college in the U.S.
Travel on weekends & after final exams: Approx. $100 per day for meals & lodging.

Meals

A continental breakfast is included. You may eat your midday and evening meals at the historical and central Ostello della Ghiara dining hall where, in 2016, full- course meals cost about $9.00.

In a caffè costs about $15.00. You are free to take your meals wherever you wish, but, assuming two full meals in the dining hall plus continental breakfast, the cost for meals amounted to approximately $900 for the period.

Scholarships

Scholarships ranging from $100 to c. $2000 are available. Application forms will be mailed to those who have been accepted to the Institute.

Application Procedure

The application process is now open!

You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible because qualified applicants are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis generally within one week after receipt of the application. The group is typically limited to twenty-five students.

On March 1st, 2019 you will be expected to confirm your place in the Institute by making a $500 deposit that will be used to reserve your lodging, and is non-refundable.

The full program fee is due on April 1st, 2019.