School Life Abroad

At the CSUIP Florence Center, there was an architecture program in the upstairs studio of our building. Besides that, most classes were about history, art, and the Italian language. 

For semester students, a 3-week Intensive Learning Program (ILP) was held prior to the start of classes. This was very helpful at introducing students to the Italian language, culture, and resources available in the city. For all students, enrollment in 2 Italian classes was mandatory, one in Italian grammar and language, and one in conversation. There were different levels of class you could test into if you were more proficient in the language. No Italian prerequisites were required to study abroad with this program. I also took 2 history and classics courses on the Renaissance and the Political and Economic History of Modern Europe. 

No classes were scheduled on Fridays or weekends due to mandatory class field trips to Rome and Naples Friday-Sunday. 

Students are recommended to only take 4 classes total, which I found appropriate due to constant traveling. Homework was never too heavy, just weekly worksheets for Italian, biweekly essays, and written midterms and final exams/essays.

Each class is worth 3 units, as well as the ILP program, and easily transfers over to your home campus. In total, I took 15 units- the ILP program and 4 semester classes. Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor prior to going abroad to select which classes abroad can be used towards your major, minor, or general education requirements. The two Italian language classes I took covered my general education cultural requirement and the two history classes covered upper division requirements for my major. 

There were many clubs offered with the program, including choir, dance, teaching at Italian elementary/high schools, volunteering at various shelters, agriculture, film, yearbook, and language exchange. We even had our own soccer teams, where we played in tournaments against other study abroad programs in Florence! We also had an end of the year talent show, where I sang an Italian song and watched other students rap and perform a PG (ish) version of a Moulin Rouge show! I participated in the language exchange program, where you partnered with an Italian high school student and met with them and their family for weekly dinners to practice speaking Italian. My favorite souvenir was our class yearbook <3