It is one thing to sit in a classroom and learn the words and phrases you might need to order food in a restaurant. It is quite another to be in Siena, Italy, and to have a real reason for using those words and phrases. Actually living in the country where the language you are studying is spoken is an invaluable experience. Vassar students pursuing either a concentration or a correlate sequence in Italian are strongly encouraged to participate in one or the other of Vassar's study-abroad programs in Italy.
Summer in Siena
The Vassar Program in Siena is a six-week summer program at the University of Siena, located in the exquisite hilltown of the same name in the heart of Tuscany. The program is directed by the Italian faculty at Vassar, with courses in language and culture taught by local University faculty. The itinerary includes side trips to Rome, Venice, Padua, and Florence as well as opportunities for students to explore nearby regions (the Italian Riviera, Portofino and the Cinque Terre, the Tuscan islands, etc.) on their own.
Junior Year in Bologna
Sponsored by a consortium (Vassar College, Wellesley College, and Wesleyan University), the Bologna program offers either a full semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year of study at the Università di Bologna, one of the most venerable academic institutions in Europe. Students take courses in language and culture specifically designed for program participants; in addition, if their language skills are sufficiently advanced, they may enroll in regular university courses in the humanities and social sciences.