In Spring 2012 Italian 222, “Introduction to Modern Italian Literature and Film,” has a record enrollment of 15 students. This is the most advanced Italian course offered at ISU, and one that Professor Druker really enjoys teaching. Students are reading and writing about works of literature published in the last 15 years by some of Italy’s best contemporary writers. In addition, they are watching and writing about highly acclaimed contemporary films, including Gomorrah, a fearless exposé of the Neapolitan mafia.

Coffee Italian Style…

Students and instructors of Italian continue to meet for coffee and Italian conversation once a month. In Spring 2012, you will find us at Coffee Hound (205 North St, Normal) between 4:00 to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 15, Wednesday, march 21 and Wednesday, April 25.

Students of all Italian language abilities, as well as alumni and members of the community, are warmly invited to attend.

Record Enrollments in Italian!

The ISU Italian program is thriving. For the first time ever, we found it necessary to offer four sections of first-semester Italian in Fall 2011 to accommodate record enrollments. This spike in interest is due, in part, to the new on-line textbooks that we have adopted. Student engagement with these new materials has been impressive.

We take this opportunity to welcome our new adjunct instructor of Italian, Laura Edwards! Professor Edwards, who has traveled and lived extensively in northeastern Italy, already serves the Department very ably as an instructor of French and as our academic adviser.

Mike Hart, class of 2005, talks about the lasting benefits of studying Italian at ISU and in Italy.

“My study abroad experience in Italy, as well as the Italian Studies minor, continue to influence my life in direct and sometimes more subtle ways. Only a few months ago I flew to Boston to reunite with some of my classmates from Florence and the five of us spent a day walking around Boston’s North End (Little Italy) while discussing our still thriving love of all things Italian. As for the influence of the Italian Studies minor, it has on multiple occasions earned me brownie points during job interviews. It is prominently featured under the education portion of my resume, and about half of all my interviewers have asked about my study of Italian. So, even if I’m not working in a field directly dependent on my previous study of Italian language, culture, and history, that academic pursuit is a constant conversation starter during job interviews. I’d recommend the minor to future students for this reason, in addition to the fact that the coursework was very interesting.”

Travels to Italy

Italy continues to be a popular destination for ISU students who study abroad.

Most of the 33 undergraduates in Italy in Spring semester 2011 are studying in Florence while a few are in Rome and Tuscania, a beautiful little town north of Rome. Nearly all are taking courses provided by the Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici.