The aim of this course is to provide students with the means to better understand Italy, its history and culture, while experiencing Italian everyday life first-hand, in one of its major cities and regions. The course is designed to improve, in particular, students, oral proficiency and sociolinguistic competence through immersion; it consists of various sections focused on different, but complementary social and linguistic skills pertaining to getting to know people and places, learning and discussing current Italian events, making cultural comparisons, and argue one's opinions. All the while, students will get acquainted with the city and its territory, their influential past as well as their vibrant present. Emphasis is on acquiring the authentic oral communication skills necessary to navigate expertly Italian-speaking environments, and acquiring cultural knowledge through daily, immersive and exclusive practice of the Italian language
