The SUF Story-Telling Volunteer Program

What is it?
It is a program that gives Syracuse students the opportunity to
experience something unique—a chance to to fully engage with the
Italian culture through interaction with children in area schools.

What will you be doing?
With a partner you will be reading a children’s storybook in Italian
primary schools during their English class. Your visit will last one
hour per class and will include the story-telling and other
activities that will have you interacting with Italian students
and will give you the chance of having fun while learning
and teaching reciprocally.

How much time do you need to dedicate?
As much as you want. You must attend a drop-in
preparatory lesson with prof. Vittoria Tettamanti on the SUF
campus and then you can decide how many visits in Italian
schools you want to make. The schedule is very flexible.

When did the program start?
The volunteer program has its origins in the fall 2004
semester, when SUF students gave a preparatory
workshop in Italian schools to classes that were to go
and see the opera "Where The Wild Things Are". This
was a co-production between SUF and the city opera hall,
the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, through their program
"Operazione do you speak English?" This was such a successful endeavor that, as we prepared for our next opera co-production, Snow White, our enquiries to the area schools for further participation on our part were met with great enthusiasm. Thus the SUF Story-Telling Volunteer Program was officially born in the spring semester of 2006-with SUF students going to almost thirty elementary classrooms in one semester.

You will receive a certificate of participation, and three volunteers will be given awards at the Outstanding Students ceremony to be held at the end of the semester.