LAC (Language Across Culture)

With the purpose of learning language in context while gaining greater insight into Italian life and society, LAC classes engage Syracuse Florence students in a variety of cultural activities, conducted strictly in Italian, while contributing to and encouraging an ongoing and active exchange between SUF and the local community.

Artisan workshops, local exhibits and outdoor markets
Visits to artisan workshops in the unique Florentine neighborhoods of Santo Spirito and San Frediano are an exciting component of the Italian language and culture program. These visits enable students to experience firsthand the character and charm of traditional botteghe degli artigiani and talk with artisans about their trades while observing the typical passion and skill with which they work.

Other excursions may include visits to nearby exhibits which specialize in Florentine culture and civilization or to outdoor markets where residents shop for locally-produced fruits, vegetables and other staples of the Florentine diet.

Tandem exchanges
The Italian department collaborates with over 30 schools (at the high school and university levels) located in Florence and the surrounding province. Each Italian language class is partnered with an English language class at a local school. The purpose of these encounters is to have American and Italian students work together on different tasks thereby motivating their interest in learning a foreign language and better understanding a different culture while improving communication skills in the respective target languages.

Lettore per un giorno
SUF students of Italian have the opportunity to visit a local high school, the Centro Linguistico di Ateneo of the University of Florence or a private language school and present to Italian students of English on a topic of choice related to the student’s own culture. Topics may include cinema, mass media, music, poetry, recreation, current events, or various other aspects of American life and contemporary culture.
The purpose is to give SUF students the opportunity to engage with Italian schools and share an aspect of American life with Italian students, thus helping them to improve their language skills and reflect upon cultural differences and similarities.
Following their visits, SUF students report on their experiences to their own classmates, this time in Italian.

Racconta le Chiese
Students become volunteer tour guides for a day. Members of the prestigious cultural association Ars et Fides train students to conduct guided tours in English of a few of the major churches in Florence. Students then report back to their classmates, in Italian, on their experience as “experts” of religious art. This initiative is offered in the fall semester only.

Lezioni a tema
Guest speakers are invited to Italian language classes to share their insights on various topics related to Italian life and society. Guests range from university professors to artists, writers, musicians or simply ordinary people who have expertise in a particular field.
Students have the opportunity to hear firsthand the viewpoints of members of the local community and ask assorted questions on the topic at hand. Many lezioni a tema are organized in conjunction with the SUF Events Program.