Posted By: Career Enrichment Network
Liberal Arts student, Matt Mignogna traveled to Italy for the Todi program this past summer. The Italy, Todi: Italian Language, Art History, and Culture program has been running since 1986! It is a six-week program, and you can earn either 8 or 9 credits in Italian and Art History. Students must be at least sophomore standing, have a gpa of 2.5 or higher and there is no language requirement! The program is designed to combine classroom studies with travel. Student visit Rome, Todi, Perugia, Assisi, Florence and Naples.
Content and photos contributed by: Matt Mignogna, Schreyer Honors Scholar majoring in Psychology and Learning, Design and Technology.
I decided to take part in the Todi program because I wanted to be in an immersive setting, and the six week program over the summer didn’t interfere with my academic plans.
Todi was a real Italian town (i.e. no English speakers) and it helped me develop my Italian language skills much more. I don’t think going to a place that had many English speakers would have been good for me because then I wouldn’t have had to rely on Italian much. Taking the program brought me closer to the requirements for my Italian minor.
I would recommend that students thinking about studying abroad really consider the program carefully.
Study abroad can be really enriching, but it can also be superficial, so you have to know what you want to get out of the experience. I studied abroad because I wanted to develop better fluency in Italian, and I am glad that I took part in the program because it gave me an opportunity to really explore the culture! I also got to see family in Italy whom I hadn’t seen in over four years.
To learn more about study abroad, attend the Education Abroad Fair on September 30, 2015 from 11am- 4pm, in the Alumni Hall at the HUB!
Matt also recieved Liberal Arts Enrichment Funds to support his expereince. All Liberal Arts students studying abroad are eligible for Enrichment Funding. To learn more, please schedule an appointment via Network Symplicity or email Jackie Smith, Global Experiences Coordinator (jds54@psu.edu).