Immersive Italian in Orvieto

Program Facts

Program Type: UA Faculty-led

Credit Type: UA Direct Credit

Level of Study: Undergraduate

GPA: 2.5

Class Eligibility: Freshman who will be Sophomores after the Spring Semester , Junior , Sophomore , Senior

Language of Instruction: Italian

Program Open To: UA and Non-UA Students

Explore Immersive Italian in Orvieto

Immersive Italian in Orvieto is the only UA Italian faculty-led program that offers intermediate and advanced students of Italian a 100% total immersion experience.  The Immersive summer curriculum is founded on experiential, hands-on learning and community-based experiences that provide students the opportunity to use their Italian communication skills in real-life situations and to engage with the local community.  The city of Orvieto is more than a beautiful backdrop to your studies: it will be your classroom and point of entry to Italian culture and everyday life. If you have any questions about the program, classes, or your eligibility to participate please contact the program's faculty-lead Dr. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu

Watch a preview of what you will experience on this study abroad program from Allie's video filmed during the summer of 2023!

"Studying abroad in Orvieto, Italy is an experience I will remember forever. I learned so much about Italian culture and language, met amazing people, and traveled to some of the most beautiful places that the world has to offer. As a junior studying Film and Television with a minor in Italian, I wanted to make a video that captured my time in Orvieto, Italy through a cinematic lens. This video represents the deep love that I now hold for Italy, along with the relationships that defined my experience abroad." - Allie, 2023 Immersive Italian in Orvieto student

Summer 2024

Summer 2024 tentative dates: 7/1-8/6/24 (Please do not purchase airfare until instructed by your Study Abroad Coordinator)

Students will take 2 courses that count towards the minor and major in Italian. There are two tracks offered for students according to their proficiency level and prior studies in Italian before the start of the program in late-June. All classes are direct UA credit, and are taught by UA Italian Faculty and a local instructor. All excursions and field trips are conducted in Italian. Students who have previously studies Italian are eligible to apply to one of two tracks:

  • Intermediate Track (ITAL 102 or ITAL 201 completed before the start of the program)
  • Advanced Track (ITAL 202 completed before the start of the program)

Intermediate Track (students who will have completed  ITAL 102 or ITAL 201 by the end of June)

  • ITAL 202z Intensive Intermediate Italian (4 units): Prerequisite: ITAL 102 or ITAL 201. This is an accelerated Italian language course covering the material of both ITAL 201 and 202. In this course you will continue to develop your Italian language skills and cultural knowledge through hands-on experiences in the classroom, local excursions, interactions with the community Orvieto, and field trips.  Students who have taken ITAL 201 are eligible to take this class.  Taught by a local instructor.
  • ITAL 496A: Topics in Advanced Italian Studies: Italian Fashion, Food, and Wine (3 units) This course explores the history, lived (Italian) reality, and exportation of Made in Italy (fashion & design), the Slow Food Movement, and the protected status of Italian wine (DOC, DOP, IGT).  We will consider how these movements have affected the construction and representation of “Italianness” both in Italy and abroad.  We will also explore how our host city Orvieto – the international headquarters of Cittaslow, and famed producer of the Orvieto Classico white wine and ceramics – embodies and keeps alive these internationally recognized movements.  Community-based activities include cooking lessons, trips to the weekly farmer’s market, wine tasting, meetings with local artisans, chefs, and business owners, and other local excursions integrated into the curriculum.  This course is conducted in Italian, with some readings in English, and will include students from both the Intermediate and Advanced tracks.  Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu

Advanced Track (students who will have completed ITAL 202 by the end of June)

  • ITAL 310 Italian Encounters: Spoken Italian in Context– Live, from Orvieto! (3 units): Prerequisites: ITAL 202.   This course is an advanced Italian conversation workshop that focuses on Italian popular culture and current events as represented in different Italian media.  While we will discuss a wide range of topics from politics,  immigration, and history, to music, the arts, and food, we will also focus on news and events happening in Orvieto.  You will explore Orvieto,  engage in community-based excursions and encounters with local Orvietans, and report on your experiences to your peers.  Through your hands-on experiences in the community, you will discover what makes Orvieto unique as you learn about its history, culture, and community.  ITAL 310 may be taken twice for credit when course content is different.  Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu
  • ITAL 496A: Topics in Advanced Italian Studies: Italian Fashion, Food, and Wine (3 units): This course explores the history, lived (Italian) reality, and exportation of Made in Italy (fashion & design), the Slow Food Movement, and the protected status of Italian wine (DOC, DOP, IGT).  We will consider how these movements have affected the construction and representation of “Italianness” both in Italy and abroad.  We will also explore how our host city Orvieto – the international headquarters of Cittaslow, and famed producer of the Orvieto Classico white wine and ceramics – embodies and keeps alive these internationally recognized movements.  Community-based activities include cooking lessons, trips to the weekly farmer’s market, wine tasting, meetings with local artisans, chefs, and business owners, and other local excursions integrated into the curriculum.  This course is conducted in Italian, with some readings in English, and will include students from both the Intermediate and Advanced tracks. Taught by Prof. Cavatorta (beppe@arizona.edu

 

Orvieto is home to the headquarters of Cittaslow, the internationally recognized organization founded in Italy and dedicated to improving the quality of life of those living in an urban environment.  Located high atop a tufa plateau in the central region of Umbria, Orvieto is only one hour from Rome by train, but the pace of life is tranquil.  Students live and study in the historic district, a mostly car-free pedestrian zone that allows for more interactions and engagement with locals.  It is a small urban gem nestled into the Umbrian countryside, a town whose residents embody Italian small-town friendliness and the slower Cittaslow pace of life, making it the ideal environment for a total immersion program.  Famous for its cathedral, archeological ruins, art, ceramics, white wine, and food, Orvieto is a destination for Italians and a second home to UA students in our  Immersive Italian in Orvieto program. All classes are held in Palazzo Negroni, in the heart of the city near Piazza del Popolo.

Good to Know:

LGBTQ+ Equality Index rating: Italy rates 64/100 (with 100 being the most equal) on Equaldex’s LGBTQ+ Equality Index.

Global Peace Index rating: Italy ranks 34/163 in the Global Peace Index. The lower the score, the more peaceful the country.

Languages spoken: Italian (official); German, French and Slovene-speaking minorities. 

Students live in nice, fully furnished apartments, all located in the historical district in Orvieto and within walking distance from the school. Generally, an apartment with two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and living room, is shared by four students (no co-ed housing). Housing costs are included in the program fee, and they will also cover all expenses (water, gas, electricity bills), sheets and towels (changed once a week), and a weekly cleaning of the apartment. A refundable deposit of Euro 100 will be requested upon arrival.

  • The Department of French & Italian offers scholarships in the range of $1,000-2,000 exclusively to Italian students participating in the Immersive Italian in Orvieto Program. Click here for more information and to complete the application.
  • SILLC Global Award Fund: Benefits UA undergraduate students in good standing who are declared majors in any of the SILLC disciplines (Africana Studies, East Asian Studies, French, Italian, German Studies, Religious Studies, Classics, Russian, Slavic Studies).
  • The UA College of Humanities offers a number of scholarships specifically for study abroad, including the Alfred and Mary Beigel Memorial Scholarship ($5,200), Donna Dillon Manning and Larry Horner Endowed Humanities Award for Study Abroad ($2,500), Donna Swaim Study Abroad Award for Double Majors ($1,000), Werner Schirmer Memorial Scholarship ($400). See complete list above for general scholarship opportunities from COH.
  • Students who receive the Pell Grant may qualify for the Gilman Scholarship is a national study abroad scholarship sponsored by the Department of State. Many UA students have received the Gilman Scholarship!
  • The Fund For Education Abroad is another national study abroad scholarship that is a great opportunity- if you are eligible, be sure to apply!
  • Although it is not exhaustive, our office has put together a list of study abroad scholarships & we have compiled them into a database. Please visit our Scholarship Tracker to view the available scholarships. Do not forget that Scholarship Universe also is another great resource!

Term: Summer
Application Deadline: February 25
Start Date: Jul. 1
End Date: Aug. 6

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