Italian Language 1
This language class is designed for students with no prior experience of Italian language. Each unit, which consists of approximately 6-8 hours, will concentrate on the rudiments of the Italian language (pronunciation, basic grammar and communicative functions) thus to provide the students with some basic language abilities to be able to navigate Florence and live in an Italian environment while studying abroad.
The lessons will be held in Italian in order to enable the students to understand the basic principles of Italian pronunciation, intonation and rhythm, and to speak Italian in every-day situations. Role-plays, listening and reading-comprehension, games and short written productions will be the activities aimed at reinforcing the new structures presented in each unit.

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Italian Language 2
This is a course specifically designed for students who have already taken Italian level 1 and are already in possession of some basic notions of the Italian language. Each unit, which consists of approximately 6-8 hours will help to develop the students’ skills in understanding and speaking everyday Italian in different common situations. To read and write with accuracy using elementary grammatical structures; to learn about Italy and some peculiar aspects of its culture; to participate in simple discussions regarding various topics such as family, holidays, social gatherings.

The lessons will be held in Italian in order to enable the students to understand the basic principles of Italian pronunciation, intonation and rhythm, and to speak Italian in a clearer and more natural way. Role-plays, listening and reading-comprehension, games and short written productions will be the activities aimed at reinforcing the new structures presented in each unit.

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CONTEXTUAL COURSES

Art History -  “The City of Florence and the History of Italian Art from Antiquity to Baroque”
This course introduces students to a broad range of painting, sculpture, and architecture in Florence. It views Florence as an ideal setting for formal discussions which deal with the fine arts and architecture produced in Italy from the Etruscan and Roman civilizations to the Baroque period. Discussion will center on how works of art were made, their style, and how they communicate intellectual meaning. The student will analyze the interrelationship between people’s creative achievements and their society. In other words, students must understand a work of art in the social, historical, and artistic context of Florence and Italy.

The course, which will have a cultural, historical and art-oriented approach, focuses on the following topics:

• The territory of Florence, Etruscan civilization and art
• The origins of Florence and the Roman culture
• Late Medieval Florence: religious and mercantile society’s artistic production
• Florence the cradle of Renaissance Art
• Florence and High Renaissance
• Florence and Mannerism
• Florence and Baroque

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Italian Life and Culture
The Italian Life & Culture course is designed to offer students an interesting and stimulating way to develop and increase their knowledge of Italian life, customs and society. The program is rich in content presenting modern and dynamic themes designed to stimulate the student's participation in discussion and conversation. 

The course will occupy 39 hours in total over a period of 13 weeks for 3 hours per week.  It will explore different areas of Italian life and culture which will include geography, history, language and communication, regionalism, family life, culinary tradition, fashion, design, music, cinema, etc. By integrating a series of activities the group will participate in debate and conversation on the various topics under discussion. Classes will combine short lectures, video clips, seminar-style debates and more informal discussions.

Although this course will be conducted principally in English, for reasons of comprehension, the instructors will try to use as much Italian as possible in order to give students maximum exposure to the Italian language.

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FINE ARTS COURSES

Beginning Composition Drawing
The course will take the students from a beginning or intermediate level through the various steps of approaching drawing: tools, composition, art subjects and different media. Individual guidance will be given to more advanced students, helping them to develop their personal style. Students are encouraged to take advantage of studio hours to complete all their assignments and to develop their personal method of working. All students will be required to keep a neat and updated notebook with information which was given during the demo-lectures. In addition, students should keep a sketchbook as testimony of their preparatory and observational work done while they have been in Florence. Sketchbooks, as well as homework, will be checked weekly and discussed in class since they are the on-going proof of students’ effort, progress, application of techniques and their ability to filter visual information.

During the second half of the course, students- in accord with the teacher- will work on various drawing projects which will lead to their final grade along with drawings and homework assignments.
The syllabus may be modified to meet the students’ artistic needs.

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Beginning Watercolor
The course will take the students from a beginning or intermediate level through the various steps of approaching watercolor: tools, composition and art subjects. Class work will intensely focus on learning to mix color to be able to explore the potential of the medium. Students will be coached to learn to identify subject matter which is suitable to watercolor. Individual guidance will be given to more advanced students, helping them to develop their personal style. Students are encouraged to take advantage of studio hours to complete all their assignments and to develop their personal method of working. All students will be required to keep a neat and updated notebook with information which was given during the demo-lectures. In addition, students should keep a sketchbook as testimony of their preparatory and observational work done while they have been in Florence. Sketchbooks, as well as homework, will be checked weekly and discussed in class since they are the ongoing proof of students’ effort, progress, application of techniques and their ability to filter visual information.

During the second half of the course, students- in accord with the teacher- will work on various drawing projects which will lead to their final grade along with drawings and homework assignments.

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Beginning Life Drawing
The course is structured to introduce drawing starting from the basic techniques to reach more sensible approaches and ideas. The goal of this course is to give you the ability to reproduce “reality” (objects, human figures etc.)The aim of the course is to become familiar with the main bones structure of the figure and certain objects. It is particularly important that you learn, to observe and in order to do so, you will be taught how to develop your concentration when you look at nature.

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