Beginner Track
The Beginner Track is designed for students with less than 1 year (2 semesters) of college-level Italian (or the equivalent).
Please note that this track is not available to Middlebury College students.
Students in the beginner track study the Italian language in an immersive context. Content course instruction begins with a mix of English and Italian, moving toward more content in Italian as the semester progresses, while the Italian language and culture course immerses students in the language from the first day so that students quickly become accustomed to the language and their surroundings. These classes, combined with the Middlebury Language Pledge®, help students significantly improve their proficiency. In consultation with the program director, students may also choose courses taught in English at the Università degli Studi di Firenze or courses in studio art at the Accademia d’Arte Firenze.
To prepare for their immersive experience in Italy, students may wish to visit the School in Italy’s Pre-Immersion website for introductory Italian phrases, music, book, and movie recommendations, and student testimonials about studying under the Middlebury Language Pledge®.
Track Structure
Students in the Beginner Track will enroll in three (3) courses for a total of four (4) Middlebury credits. There is one required Language and Culture course at the Middlebury School in Italy Sede that all students must take, and two elective courses; one of the two electives must be taken at the Middlebury School in Italy Sede, the second elective can be taken either at the Sede, at the Accademia d’Arte, or at the University of Florence. Students will be asked to select their courses before the start of the semester and will work with the director of the School in Italy to finalize their course selections prior to arrival.
Below are the course options for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2023 semesters. Please note that course availability may vary depending on enrollments.
Fall 2023
Course 1/Required Sede Course
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Italian Language and Culture | Course Description |
Course 2/Elective 1: Sede Course
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| The Italians: Food, Culture, and Society | Course Description |
| Storia dell’arte: Love, Power, and Magic: The language of Jewels in Italian and European culture | Course Description |
Course 3/Elective 2: Sede, Accademia d’Arte, or University of Florence
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Sede Course | Please refer to the descriptions above |
| Accademia d’Arte | Course Descriptions |
| University of Florence | Course Descriptions |
Spring 2023
Course 1/Required Sede Course
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Italian Language and Culture | Course Description |
Course 2/Elective 1: Sede Course
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Art and Identity in Today’s Italy | Course Description |
| Cultural History of Food Through Art and Literature | Course Description |
Course 3/Elective 2: Sede, Accademia d’Arte, or University of Florence
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Sede Course | Please refer to the descriptions above |
| Accademia d’Arte | Course Descriptions |
| University of Florence | Course Descriptions |
Previous Courses at the Middlebury Sede
Courses offered at the Middlebury Sede vary from semester to semester. Below are examples of other courses from past semesters:
- Art and Identity in Today’s Italy
- Contemporary Italian Society
- History of Renaissance Art
- Landscapes in Italian Cinema