Ciao a tutti! Before starting my academic career at the University of Pittsburgh, I decided to do something unconventional for an 18 year old. I wanted to move away from my surroundings, see the world, and learn what it means to be truly independent before starting college. I researched opportunities abroad and discovered a family in northern Italy looking to house an au pair. Here, I would be responsible for teaching their family English, and in exchange I would have the opportunity to live with them abroad. While this offer was intimidating at first, I knew I couldn’t resist.  Thus, the summer after graduating high school, I temporarily moved to Verona, Italy. During this time, I organized lesson plans for my family. We studied grammar, vocabulary, and practiced conversations in both English and in Italian. I slowly picked up Italian on my own from conversations with my host family and friends I had made throughout my time there. Living here, I learned more about Italian language, culture, and cooking then I ever thought imaginable! Even more importantly, I gained valuable insight into their way of life and learned from their views about the world. These conversations often challenged my opinions and prompted me to see the the word differently. 

Often times I had no other option but to adapt and put myself in situations that were naturally uncomfortable. But it was from this, I gained confidence and began venturing out to different places, meeting new people, and opening up about my beliefs. Moving outside my comfort zone prepared me not only for college, but for so much more in life.

After I completed my gap semester and returned to the United States, I decided I would continue studying Italian as my minor. After three years, I advanced to become an intermediate-level speaker, capable of having fluid discussions on a wide array of subjects. Learning another language is certainly challenging, but it is a deeply rewarding experience. For me, it has helped me build relationships with professors, opened up new career paths, and made me feel more connected to the world around me. As the world grows increasingly interconnected, it’s vital to become actively engaged with new cultures, ideas, and ways of life.

ITAL 0101: Italian Here and Now

ITAL 0102: Italian There and Then

ITAL 0103: Italian What If?

ITAL 0110: Modern Italy

ITAL 1089: Special Topics in Italian

ITAL 1902: Directed Study – History of Genoa