Category: Umbra Blog

Umbra’s own Professor Alessandro Celani will be participating in the “La forza delle rovine” exhibition from October 8^th through the 31^st of January, in the Museo Nazionale Romano in Palazzo Altemps, in Rome. Professor Celani has contributed an essay and photos to the exhibition to support the idea that memories of the past, even of ruins and tragedies, are sources of creativity to be applied to the future. 

At Umbra, Professor Celani teaches a number of courses, including Pagans and Christians: Ancient Mediterranean Religions, with a focus on ancient Mediterranean religions, their philosophy, evolution, and worldview; and Art, Architecture, and Culture in Fascist Italy,  presenting the role of various cultural elements on the diffusion of Fascism throughout Italy.

To find out more about “La forza delle rovine”, click here.

Umbra is excited to share its continued collaboration with Liceo Alessi, a local high school in Perugia that regularly invites Umbra students as English tutors for its English program. Fall 2015 Students will be volunteering with teachers to ensure integration of the American culture and language into the classroom environment. Spring 2016 students will then continue the collaboration effort as practicum students.

The program at Liceo Alessi is designed to offer Italian students the chance to work with native English speakers, better their understanding of English linguistics, and learn about a socio-cultural reality that is different from their own. In return, Umbra Students gain hands-on experience in the world of Italian education, they observe the reality of English language learners, understand diversity in language teaching and learning, and gain insights into how Italian youth view the language learning process.

This week, as an introduction to the program, Umbra students visited Liceo Alessi to discuss the content of the program as well as the teaching methods to be used with Professor Lucia Amico, who is responsible for the coordination of Liceo Alessi’s program. Students were told that the program would involve multiple chances to organize group activities in classes presenting various subjects, from math and science to geography and literature. During these activities, students will be asked to aid the teacher in encouraging conversation in English. Umbra students will also have the unique opportunity to prepare a presentation, regarding a topic chosen by the Italian teacher, and to take over a day’s lesson in a creative and interactive way. The introduction ended with a tour of the school’s facilities to familiarize students with the computer lab, library and other useful locations at the school.

To learn more about next semester’s practicum and seminar course with Liceo Alessi, Click here!

Spring in Italy is a beautiful time of year, as mountaintops take on a lush green and warmth returns to the sea. In contrast, as Umbra embraces the onset of fall, our staff is excitedly processing applications as the first step toward welcoming Spring 2016 Students to the romanticized primavera italiana.

Umbra’s Assoc. Director of Marketing and Development, Mauro Renna is currently finishing up a tour of American Universities, where he has been presenting Umbra to various student bodies and personally answering any questions students might have. Meanwhile, back in Perugia, dedicated staff members are accepting emails, phone and Skype calls from both advisers and students who are preparing for next semester’s great adventure.

The Spring 2016 application deadline is rapidly approaching as Students have until October 15^th to apply for Umbra’s upcoming General Studies Program or Direct Enrollment Opportunities.

Contact Umbra at [email protected] if you have any questions about the application process or experience.

The Fall 2015 semester is well under way here at Umbra, which means that students are actively participating in various community engagement projects and field trips to solidify the concepts being presented in the classroom.

On Friday, Umbra’s Business of Wine class took a day trip to Roccafiore winery to learn more about their semester project and find out what it truly means to be in the wine business. Students were taught about the process of wine making – from the grape to the labeling. They learned the significance of the Sangiovese grape, how modern wineries can support sustainable business practices, as well as how wine is perceived and presented in the global market. This trip was designed to put things in perspective for students who had been discussing winery business practices in the classroom as they prepare their Service Learning Project, a course component that requires students to analyze the winery and propose changes to its promotional and sustainability efforts.

On Saturday, Food and Sustainability Studies Program students enjoyed a cooking class near Assisi. This class was intended to teach the origin of various ingredients and the benefits of home-cooked meals made from scratch; creating not only good food, but also healthy food. The tradition of home-cooked meals, in Italy, is an important aspect of the culture of the Italian family, one which inspires cooking with natural and fresh ingredients and preparing only what is to be consumed during a single meal.

Also on Saturday, the students from the International Business Strategy course visited Pashmere, a luxury, family-owned, fashion company specializing in the production of cashmere knitwear. Students were given a tour of the factory and had the opportunity to meet the owners and ask them several questions regarding their online marketing strategy, the production process, and company traditions. The information they received will be used to complete the course’s final project, through which students will analyze the strategies behind the company’s international operation and formally present their finding to the company owners.

The Umbra Institute Collaborates with Perugia’s Expo Lingue to Promote the European Day of Languages.

In celebration of the European Day of Languages, September 26^th, the Umbra Institute has elected to participate in Perugia’s language festival, Expo Lingue Umbria (September 25^th and 26^th). Umbra’s participation includes: hosting dozens of mini language lessons and workshops within various Umbra classrooms, presentations made by Umbra language professors, and an English language workshop run by some of this semester’s Umbra students.

This Friday and Saturday, from 9 am to 6 pm, a new language will be presented at Umbra every hour, including English, Farsi, Albanese, Hindi, and many more. Umbra professors Giuliano Agamennoni and Borbala Samu will be presenting during the event. Prof. Agamennoni will be presenting Italian language learning and cultural integration through community engagement, followed by Prof. Samu’s presentation of teaching the Italian language to dyslexic English speakers.  During the early afternoon on Friday, Umbra students will be presenting English to children through interactive conversation and games.

By the end of this weekend, a number of Umbra students will have witnessed the European prospective on language
learning and teaching, participated in diverse intercultural exchanges, experienced rewarding fellowship with the local community, and obtained unforgettable intercultural experiences, all without stepping outside of Perugia!

For more information regarding Umbra’s collaboration with Expo Lingue or a full schedule of events, in Italian, go to www.expolingue.it.

This past spring, 2015, Michael Madigan took part in the Umbra Institute’s Food & Sustainability Studies Program. Madigan took part in classes, such as Umbra’s Business of Wine course, that revolved around the theme of Food & Sustainability. Despite his Finance and Marketing Major, Madigan quickly developed a fascination for food studies that lead to his participation in Umbra’s Summer 2015 Roccafiore Internship.

Roccafiore is an eco-friendly, Umbrian wine producer that boasts a vast international clientele base. The winery’s internship allows students to help with wine tastings and tours, online sales and the management of Roccafiore communications. Through these and other activities, during both the Spring and Summer semesters, Michael Madigan was able to gain not only marketing insight but also a deeper understanding and passion for the wine industry through intensive business, food and environmental studies. “In class we learned about what goes into running a wine business, but this hands-on experience taught me so much more,” said Michael Madigan as he described how he aided Roccafiore through his various marketing responsibilities and by helping with the production process.

Through a combination of classroom study and the Roccafiore Internship, the goal of Umbra’s Food & Sustainability Studies Program is to encourage students to think about food and ask basic questions about what we eat; where it comes from; is it important if it is local or organic; and the significance of labels – all fundamental questions to life in a globalized world.

For more information about Umbra’s Food & Sustainability Studies Program, contact Zack Nowak at [email protected],

Students at Umbra take advantage of a diverse Study Abroad curriculum that aims to develop competencies for all majors and minors – from Education, Psychology and Art to Business, Hospitality and Environmental Studies. General Studies elective courses are taught in English and offered in the afternoon while mandatory Italian language courses are provided in the morning. Approximately two-thirds of Umbra’s incoming General Studies students take a  Beginner level Italian course while one-third of students participate in Intermediate and Advanced language courses. At Umbra, students learn through experience and direct communication with the Italian community, including Italian university students in the Umbra classrooms, while they participate in courses that engage the local community and aim to develop cultural awareness as well as critical thinking methods.

General Studies students of various disciplines choose to attend Umbra to advance their understanding of the international community. The top 10 most common majors/minors that make up 42.7% of Umbra’s student body and alumni are:

1.      Psychology
2.      Communication Studies
3.      Business
4.      Italian Language
   
5.      Education
   
6.      History
7.      English
8.      Art Studies
9.      Economics
10.  Political Science

Take a look at Umbra’s course list to view ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES available to your students and remember that, on our partner portal, you can always download syllabi.

Sunshine greeted Umbra’s Fall 2015 students at Fiumicino Airport and accompanied them to Perugia as they arrived on Friday. Umbra staff met the students in Rome and brought them to the Hotel Giò by private bus – allowing a short period of rest before they got their first glimpse of the outskirts of Perugia. At the hotel, more staff was introduced and packets containing information regarding everything from emergencies to academics were provided. In the evening, students were able to mingle and get to know their future classmates during a three course welcome dinner provided at the hotel, courtesy of Umbra. 

On Saturday morning, the excited newcomers were given more specific information about Perugia and their apartments before being shuttled to their new homes in the city center. That same afternoon, students took their written and oral placement exams, took advantage of Umbra’s open house, and participated in walking tours of the city center. After burning through Friday night’s calorie intake, it was time for more! Students then enjoyed their first complementary Umbra pizza night in the heart of Perugia.

On Sunday, Students met for a standard orientation day but were joyously surprised by a spontaneous bride and groom that quickly became excited about including everyone in their wedding celebrations. Students posed for photos with the couple and took their own pictures before wishing them Congratulazioni and making their way to the orientation meeting. During the Orientation meeting students learned about the inner workings of Umbra and what to expect throughout the semester. After a charismatic discussion with an influential Italian police officer, students were invited to ask questions and share their thoughts with Umbra Staff.

Today is the first day of Umbra’s Intensive Italian Week; a special language intensive program that provides linguistic instruction in the morning as well as a more practical afternoon lesson during which students are escorted through the city to learn how to do things such as use public transportation and shop in the local supermarket. After their intensive studies, students will begin their elective courses next week. Benvenuti e in bocca al lupo!

The Università per Stranieri in Perugia (The University for Foreigners) and The Umbra Institute have been academic partners for numerous years.  Next year, this cooperation will intensify to welcome the local Italian students from the University for Foreigners into Umbra courses.

 The Umbra Institute’s most immersive and challenging offerings include Direct Enrollment programs at Perugia’s universities: the University of Perugia (UniPG) and the University for Foreigners (UniStra). For years now, American students have been directly enrolling in courses taught in Italian at the University of Perugia and in intensive Italian-language and culture courses at the University for Foreigners.  Italian students from UniPG have also participated in this exchange by taking Umbra’s courses every semester for transferable credit.

Starting in January 2016, Italian students at UniStra will enjoy the same opportunity! Selected UniStra students currently pursuing a degree in intercultural communication and marketing or promoting Italian language and culture abroad will enroll alongside their American peers at Umbra and transfer the credits to their curricula.

This is another step to fully integrating Umbra’s American undergraduate students with their Italian counterparts in order to promote intercultural competence and community engagement.