Another Rich Edition of the Summer Intensive Course for High School Students at Montclair State U

高中生在他们学校最后的两年里，当他们考虑他们的未来时，他们会想到什么？ 很可能是大学。 他们的一些问题是关于他们在此之前所学到的知识如何在他们继续接受教育的过程中发挥真正的作用。 The Early College Summer Intensive Course in Italian offered on the Montclair State University campus this past summer was again the ideal opportunity to link the high school and university experience through three weeks of intensive immersion in Italian language and culture. In the words of one of the attending students, Spencer Acciarito: “The perfect mix of learning and fun.”

This second edition of the summer course hosted an ethnically diverse group of HS students from all over NJ. Importantly, many Hispanic students were able to capitalize on the similarities with Spanish to hone their skills in Italian. They will be even more equipped to take the AP Italian course and exam, thus increasing their presence among AP takers at a time in which the school system calls for more diversity in the AP endeavors (article). The summer course students; interests in Italian culture as an integral part of their future plans range from studying physical therapy in Italy to becoming an international interpreter, using Italian in the musical profession, and pursuing a career in fashion design. What unites them within their diversity is a love of Italian and the desire to become fluent in the language.

By focusing on a variety of contemporary issues ranging from the use of technology (social media) to food practices (slow vs. fast food), art movements (contemporary artists challenging traditional notions of Italy), and family habits (aging family members and grown-up children living at home), they honed their conversational skills, as well as reading and writing abilities, via engaging audio-visual and written materials chosen by the instructor, Matilde Fogliani.

The class experience was enhanced by dynamic lunch talks given by professors from Montclair State University and high school teachers, a contributor to the Corriere della Sera, Italian store managers, and experts active in architecture preservation in the local area. The talks provided a rich background to the off-campus tours, which constituted the high point of this course according to the participants.

Students made fresh pasta at Eataly, NY; learned about the values of beauty and creativity inspiring Made in Italy brands at the Scavolini, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana stores in Soho; and visited the unique Arte Povera collection on display at Magazzino in Cold Spring, NY. In the course of these visits they were led by young, enthusiastic guides who explained how learning Italian as college students has not only opened a new exciting culture for them, but ultimately careers in art, gastronomy, and fashion.

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To learn more about the course see video and official page. For information, please contact inserra@montclair.edu