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Summer 2018: 4 Weeks

Siena Italian Studies

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Course description

Full-immersion course composed of: 45 contact hours of Italian Language & Culture, 45 hours of Humanities & Social Science courses, and Service-Learning.

After meeting the group on the arrival day at Pisa International Airport (PSA), SIS staff will accompany the group to Siena where host families meet the students. Orientation activities take place in the three days that follow. During Orientation, students get to know the city of Siena, each other, staff and are introduced to various aspects of the coming semester. They will start exploring the various intriguing, though sometimes contradictory, characteristics of Italy and Italians today.

The Orientation days also include a series of group activities, a welcome reception with host families, faculty and staff as well as a group historical tour of the ancient city.

During the program students take Italian Language and choose 1 elective course from the following list*:

ITALIAN LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE
- Sociolinguistic Studies

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
- Art History: History of Italian Costume
- Art History: Rediscovery of Humanity – The Renaissance in Central Italy
- Italian Emigration to the Americas
- Medieval Art History
- Medieval Italian History

*All of our elective courses are gradually taught in Italian using the EUFICCS methodology and comprise 45 total contact hours. Final course offerings are determined based on enrollment. Not all courses will be offered.

Students enrolled in our Summer 2018: 4 Weeks program may complete up to 7 US college credit hours. The program is composed by the following courses:

- Semester Italian Language (45 contact hours - 3 credits)
- Reflective Writing (15 contact hours - 1 credit) taught in English.
- 1 elective course (45 hours each. 3 credits)

SERVICE-LEARNING
Service is a fundamental component to the study abroad experience at Siena Italian Studies. All students are required to participate in projects that benefit the local community.

The service requirement for students is a minimum of 5 hours a week and there are many different opportunities in varying fields. Some examples are: setting tables and serving food at the city soup kitchen, visiting with the elderly at a nursing home, teaching English to local elementary school children or volunteering with Siena’s ambulance service.

To provide service in the community is an unparalleled way to improve language skills, be a part of the local social fabric, and make a genuine contribution to the host community.

INCLUDED IN PROGRAM FEE:
- Courses, meals and homestay accommodation
- Pick-up at Pisa International Airport on designated arrival day.
- Wireless internet at program offices
- Transcript issued by SIS
- Orientation and welcome cocktail
- Local bus pass (if necessary depending on location)
- 2-Day excursion (ie. Tuscan Coast, etc.)
- Several day-trips (ie. San Gimignano, Tuscan Coast, Organic Farms, etc.)
- Wine and cheese tastings
- Cooking lesson
- Siena city museums visits
- Uffizi gallery and Florence visit
- Travel advice during the program
- Final dinner & gadget

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities

Class schedule

Course duration
15 weeks
Classes per week
8 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 120 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level.

Class size

Average 10 students
Maximum 12 students

Student age

Age range 18 years old and older
Average 20 years old
(22 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

SIS employs a unique approach called EUFICCS. European Use of: Full-Immersion, Culture, Content, Service is a method that unites the guided input in the classroom with spontaneous input from outside the classroom, with host families, language exchange partners, and at community service placements and during daily interactions with locals in the streets of Siena.
EUFICCS has recently received sponsorship by the European Union with funding through the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme, the projects aims to enhance the motivation and capacity of language learners to study a foreign language in the country of origin with the use of this innovative methodology applied to learning Italian, Spanish and Portuguese as second languages”.

Year opened
2004
Number of classrooms
4

Accreditations

Facilities

  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • TV Room
  • Elevators
  • Wheelchair access
  • Wireless Internet
  • Studying Area

Teacher qualifications

Native Italian speakers
Over 50%
Teachers with Italian teaching certification
All
Teachers with college degrees
All

University partners

has partnerships with the following universities and colleges in Italy. You can gain full or conditional acceptance into one of these institutions.

Baldwin-Wallace College
Carroll College Helena
Franklin College Switzerland
Lewis and Clark College
Montana State University
Ohio State University
Oklahoma City University
Portland State University
Siena College
State University of New York (SUNY)
Susquehanna University
Universidad de Especialidades del Espíritu Santo
University of Georgia
University of Minnesota
Williams College
Winona State University

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at Siena Italian Studies varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 20. In the summer, the average age is 22.

School holidays

does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

School holidays
None

School location

Siena Italian Studies is a “gentle” full immersion program for motivated and curious students. Since 2004 the program has been 100% independent and the staff and founders are extremely proud of the experiences that they create for the students and strive to be the best study abroad program in Italy. The program is located in the heart of Tuscany in the perfect setting of one of Italy’s most unique cities. Students can experience Siena Italian Studies for a semester, a full year, or for shorter periods of time during the summer.

Siena Italian Studies is conveniently located in Siena’s medieval city center, the perfect place to discover Italy’s rich history. Our area of town is named Fontebranda after the majestic water well that has been bringing fresh water into the city center since the 1100’s.

Everything in Siena’s medieval center is a quick walk away from our location. Our study center is close to major sites such as the Piazza Del Campo, the Duomo di Siena, and the Santa Maria Della Scala museum. If you need to take a bus, the main bus depot (Piazza Gramsci) is 10 minutes by foot.

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photos

Photos

  • Classes at Siena Italian Studies 1/14
  • Service-Learning 2/14
  • Service-Learning 3/14
  • Service-Learning 4/14
  • Homestay housing offered by Siena Italian Studies 5/14
  • Service-Leaning 6/14
  • Classes at Siena Italian Studies 7/14
  • City of Siena 8/14
  • Students of Siena Italian Studies 9/14
  • Activities offered at Siena Italian Studies 10/14
  • Activities offered at Siena Italian Studies 11/14
  • Students of Siena Italian Studies 12/14
  • Activities offered at Siena Italian Studies 13/14
  • Activities offered at Siena Italian Studies 14/14
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you. If you wish to receive your paperwork by express mail, you will be charged $45 when you register.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Siena based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Siena Italian Studies staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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