Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions Heading link
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Why study Italian?
Italy’s cultural importance spans from antiquity through the present, and knowing Italian is greatly beneficial in several career fields (literature, art, music, fashion, culinary arts, interior design, etc.). Visit our “Why Italian?” page to find out more about how studying Italian can benefit you!
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What will I get out of my Italian class if Italian is not my minor?
Italian classes will help you develop skills useful across the curriculum: reading more effectively, writing a well-crafted essay, successful test-taking, public speaking, critical thinking, cultural understanding, problem-solving, teamwork, and computer skills, to name a few.
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What can I expect from the first two years of Italian?
Learning Italian means working with language in communicative contexts and gaining a better understanding about Italian culture. We will study grammar, practice speaking, read articles and short literary readings, watch movies, listen to music, write compositions, etc. You will discover that learning Italian is useful and fun!
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Where can I get free help?
Instructor office hours (or make an appointment) and Italian tutoring hours. For more information, contact us.
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Where can I practice speaking Italian?
In class, during our free conversation sections, and at our weekly meeting at the Italian table, “La tavola italiana”. We offer plenty of cultural activities throughout the semester, and all our students are encouraged to participate! For more information, contact us.
About the Minor Heading link
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advising info
Please see our Advising page for more details. Schedule an appointment now. It is never too early to think about your future!
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requirements
Nineteen credit hours, including ITAL 104. UIC students usually complete their minor very quickly.
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shortcut
Yes, there is! If you participate in our summer program in Siena, organized by the UIC SAO and the Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies, you can take the next level of the Basic Language Program (101-104) and a 3-hour course (Italian Society Through the Arts, taught in English) in Italy, over the summer. When you come back, you will be one semester ahead toward the completion of your foreign language requirement; plus, you will have accumulated three credit hours toward completion of the Italian minor.
Also, if you took Italian (or another foreign language) in High School or score high enough on the placement test, you may be placed into higher level classes.
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Study Abroad
Plenty! For more information regarding study abroad in Italy please go the UIC Study Abroad Office page.
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Teacher Ed
If you complete a major in Teacher Education, you can teach Italian too. All you need to do to get an endorsement in Italian, is to earn 20 credit hours in the subject matter beyond 104 and take the content exam in Italian. Schools tend to hire candidates who can teach more than one subject/language. Consider adding a minor in Italian especially if you are a major in the Teaching of Spanish, French, German. Questions? Contact Professor Inma Taboada.
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events
Yes! All students of Italian are welcome to attend our weekly Italian Table for snacks and fun. Contact us to find out this year’s schedule. Our students also run an Italian Club, organizing social activities such as parties, movie nights, conversation sessions, museum visits, field trips, cooking contests, and more! Free tutorials and conversation hours are available too.
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PD opportunities
We encourage our minors to be active in the executive board of the Italian club, to acquire leadership and administrative skills, and to tutor their peers in lower levels to get teaching experience. Italian minors also enjoy giving public presentations on Italian culture and helping their professors lead the Italian Table, thus learning how to enhance conversation in Italian and conduct discussions. Our students have received significant awards and recognition; their most recent achievements include the Alumni Association Leadership Award (2011), Chancellor’s Student Service and Leadership Awards (2009, 2010, 2011), Varga Awards (2009, 2010, 2011), prestigious summer internships (2009, 2010, 2011), and an interview on UIC radio with famous Italian singer Elisa (2008).