Società Dante Alighieri, Comitato di Siena, is the ideal host
institution for university students abroad. It is an organization
with a long and distinguished history, and is today a uniquely
vibrant and stimulating learning environment. The Società
Dante Alighieri was created in 1889 by a group of Italy’s leading
intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Giosué Carducci, and
tasked with teaching and spreading the Italian culture throughout
the world. It is now a vast and dynamic web of ‘Comitati’ both in
Italy and abroad. The Comitato di Siena proudly offers a school of
culture and language, housed in a distinguished palazzo in the most
ancient part of Siena, Castelvecchio.
Here, students pursue studies intended to introduce them to the best
of Italy, and to allow them the linguistic skills to immerse
themselves in Italy’s unmatched cultural patrimony. In our 20 large,
sunlit classrooms, well-stocked library, reading room, and culinary
studio, we offer language classes, and a rich program of culture
courses. These range from an introductory Survey of Italian Culture,
to more advanced coursework in Art, Architecture, and Literature;
Contemporary Urban Design; Post-War Italian Culture; Political
Economics of Contemporary Italy; History of Italian Opera; History
of Italian Cinema; Regional Italian Culture and Cuisine; Sociology
of Contemporary Italy; History of the Italian advantage of their
time in Siena, providing guided visits Medieval Art, Architecture,
and Literature; Renaissance to the museums and historic sites of
Siena and its neighboring cities and towns, trips to the Sienese
countryside and to the major Tuscan cities, and explorations of the
foods of Tuscany. Participating in these activities will allow the
student to practice the language and to deepen his or her
understanding of the cultures of Italy.
All
of our courses follow a syllabus that accords with one of the six
levels of linguistic competency laid out by the European Council.
The lessons will help the students to inductively gain a knowledge
of the linguistic structures appropriate to their level, and to put
this knowledge to use by communicating in various contexts with
native speakers and cultural informants. teachers place great
importance on using authentic Italian-language materials, allowing
students to explore Language; and Latin (at various levels).
Siena is the ideal setting for this
immersion in the culture, art, history, and cuisine of Italy. It
sits on the rolling hills of the heart of Tuscany, and is a
priceless Gothic jewel, full of artistic treasures. A city that is
both passionate and contemplative, proud of its unequaled heritage
but always forward-thinking, Siena offers the best of Italy. We
believe that a country’s language and cultural are intimately
connected, and that studying language alongside culture in the
country of origin provides an invaluable formative experience.
All of the teachers in the school are specialists in the teaching of
Italian as a second language. What is more, they are constantly
furthering their own learning in this field by participating in
seminars and continuing education programs.
The
use of varied didactic techniques makes the classroom fun,
stimulating, and motivating, never dull. Our programs will help
students to take Our the language in the varieties of its use. The
students’ experience at the Società Dante Alighieri, Comitato di
Siena will be unforgettable. They will grow and learn in a beautiful
and stimulating environment, and return home with a more profound
knowledge of Italy, its people, its culture, and its language. Three
to five hours of Italian class daily, Theacher-guided off-campus
learning activities, Conversation practice, Welcome and closing
receptions, Progress evaluations, Accommodation service, Computer
facilities
Testimonial
Dear Academic and Administrative Staff
This is Hillary Burbank. I wanted to thank you so much for the most incredible
experience of my life. I was able to do so much, learn so much, build so many
friendships. It made it very difficult to leave when I was having such a
wonderful time. I can't express to you how much it changed me and meant to me.
How often I think about everything I was able to do there in Siena and the
things I've taken away with me. I have such a more concrete knowledge of Art
History now that I've lived in Italy and I just needed to say thank you so so so
very much. Thank you. I hope you all are doing really well! Everyone at the
school is fantastic! Thanks again!
Hillary Burbank
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I leave Siena in less than five hours! I can't believe it. This
week has been very good though. I had classes both Monday and
Tuesday. Wednesday was a really fun day. There are two main tourist
attractions in Siena: the Duomo and Piazza del Campo. We decided
that it was pretty pitiful that after two months we hadn't been
inside the Duomo yet. So we did that on Wednesday. After that, we
enjoyed lunch and some gelato. I went home after that to finish
writing a paper and then I went on a run. Daniela came home and we
had dinner together then had our own little Family Home Evening (it
had been planned for Monday, but we had to reschedule because of my
class). After opening exercises, I shared a scripture and thought
and then we enjoyed our refreshments (pears from dinner) and watched
Harry Potter. It was a very fun night!
Hillary Olsen -
blog
Accreditated by
For more information about our Study Abroad Programs
in Siena please visit
www.danteabroad.org
