Study abroad in Italy- any info?

Aardvark · 06-25-2008, 05:16 PM

My dtr will be a soph in Aug. She will be going to Florence for the Spring semester. (Art and Art History) She will be taking Italian this semester and in Italy. Does anybody know what other courses they take (or offer) in Florence? How work intensive is it? Any insights into the good and bad about the semester in Italy? There's not much info on the website.
Thanks

Trapper · 06-25-2008, 06:30 PM

It's a lot of fun; no hard courses. It's an easy way to earn credits. Florence is very expensive. start saving in Euros.

stl1252 · 06-26-2008, 02:48 PM

Can you ask your daughter what courses she's able to take in Florence?

This is from their web site, which looks pretty complete (Semester Study (Spring))
with a video and a blog, too.

Classes
A full load of classes is scheduled: two studio classes, Renaissance art history, Italian language, and an Art and Culture class. Students should be prepared to work hard, beginning with a two-week intensive Italian orientation. Classes will be held in several locations: at our own space, the Language School Centro Fiorenza, and on-site in museums and churches. Entrance fees for classes on these sites will be covered by tuition.* Language classes may include English-speaking students from other universities, but other classes will be College of Art students only.

NUgraduate · 06-26-2008, 05:37 PM

My daughter was there this past Spring. I went to visit her for a week, so got a good flavor for the program.

It is as easy or difficult as the student makes it. Whereas freshman year is focused on technical skills, sophomore year (particularly in Florence) is focused more on the idea/creativity/intention. The majority of art classes are studio-related, with the obligatory Italian and art-history classes.

The studio area is in the west side of Florence, away from Centro - the tourist areas. The kids bond, with themselves, and with their professors.

I'm not sure what else to write?

I must reinforce the expense of this semester - the exchange rate is TERRIBLE, and a "normal nice" dinner out is about $100 a person! Lunches also expensive. My daughter had a budget (which she nearly kept) and she ate a lot of pizza and pasta cooked at home. Don't forget, they'll need money for some travel, and the train system is fantastic - but not inexpensive. And of course, it would be a shame if they didn't have a chance to travel around Europe afterwards - just a bit...

Aardvark · 06-26-2008, 08:36 PM

Hey, thanks for the info. I looked all over the web site (I thought), but for some reason never found your link. It was very helpful.

I am fearful of the cost and am saving vigorously, but will deal with that issue.

Once again; thanks for the info

INVENIAMVIAM · 06-26-2008, 08:44 PM

Definitely make sure you're aware of the increasingly bad exchange rate for Euros.. and make sure she exchanges her money either all at once or at least in large chunks - the added exchange fees are killer!

Also your daughter may find it fairly easy to get a good job while she's there - if she has the extra time - they definitely like to have people who can speak English fluently [which she obviously does] and if she's taken enough Italian courses, that shouldn't be a problem either.

NUgraduate · 06-27-2008, 06:57 PM

Some of the kids, already fluent in Italian, DJ'd at a local nightclub - but I don't think they were paid for it. I think it was just for fun.

NUgraduate · 06-27-2008, 06:58 PM

My daughter didn't tell me about anyone having a job to help cover expenses - I don't see how they could without losing the opportunity to go on quick day trips on the weekend, though they would certainly get a better flavor of Italy. The kids, particularly those who stay in the apartments, tend to hang around with themselves and there is not much intermixing with native Italians. That is a shame.

One way to save money, and to better immerse yourself in the culture, would be to choose the home-stay option instead of the apartment option. The downside is that you are constrained by living with a family, and must remember your manners - letting people know when you're coming and going, eating food you may not like, etc... Also, the home-stays are farther from the campus, often requiring public transportation. The upside is that they are less expensive, the kids will speak/learn more Italian, and be exposed to more of the culture.