Umbra Professor Antonella Valoroso went on Rai3’s well-known Italian radio show Voci della Città (Voices of the City) recently to speak about The Umbra Institute’s very own “Progetto famiglia italiana.” This experiential learning project, which allows Umbra students to make short, repeated visits to Italian households to provide material for cultural comparisons, has also given Prof. Valoroso a unique perspective into her own culture. She specifically cites a study done by New York Magazine showing that 85% of Italian men didn’t know how to use a washing machine, whereas the vast majority of American teenagers are all too familiar with them.
The Progetto famiglia italiana is an optional experiential learning component of Professor Valoroso’s normal course, Contemporary Italy: Culture, Society, and Trends. The project, which has been running for four years now, is a small part of The Umbra Institute’s larger community engagement plan, which also includes internships, service learning projects, and volunteer opportunities.
You can also hear the interview (only available in Italian) on the Rai website.
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