For many decades, Italy’s geographical position in the center of the Mediterranean Sea has made the country a preferred port of entry into Europe for migrants coming from North Africa, joined over time by people coming from Eastern Europe, Albania, China, the Far East, South America, and, lately, from Syria. Some of Italy’s Southern regions have been in a perpetual state of emergency for many years, as migrant survivors land on their beaches in desperate conditions. At the same time, Italy now hosts migrants of the second and third generations. Through journal articles, documentaries, films, and literature, this course discusses the social changes that Italy has undergone as a multiethnic country. Students will continue developing their speaking skills, widening their vocabulary, and strengthening the use of complex linguistic structures. They will write longer, more sophisticated analytical texts, conduct research, and show their findings in formal presentations, and final written or video essays. The course is conducted in Italian. Intermediate-high level.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
❖ effectively communicate ideas in the target language, both orally and in writing
❖ understand, situate, evaluate, and critique various types of discourse about migration and otherness within multiple contexts
❖ analyze the ideas and the concepts from the perspectives of the culture studied, which includes the migrant perspective
❖ raise valid and rational questions and analyze the questions from the perspective of the culture they study, including the migrant perspective.
❖ form ideas and opinions based on their research and logically state and express their thoughts coherently and cohesively in the target language
❖ conduct research independently
Delivery Method: Remotely accessible
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Four terms of Italian, or permission by instructor. To register, please email Barbara Alfano at balfano@bennington.edu
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Course Frequency: One time only
Categories: Advancement of Public Action , All courses , Italian , Remotely Accessible
Tags: High-Intermediate Italian , Italian Culture , Migration , Research