Italian Language & Literature 248 - ITALY BY VESP

Imagine yourself in Italy on a Vespa, visiting out-of-the-way cities and small towns scattered throughout Italy, including enchanting places as Bergamo, Cinqueterre, Amalfi, Lucca, Gubbio, Maratea, or Erice. Imagine going to the tiny Renaissance jewel of Pienza and on the way stopping for a picnic and enjoying local pecorino with a glass of chianti, then taking a passeggiata and chatting with some locals. The objective of the course is to create "scenes" in which students will act-out similar experiences in order to learn about many of Italy's distinctive regional wonders, including art, music and cuisine. Skype will be used to provide a touch of Italian "reality"; while the imaginary Vespa will encourage students to view learning in terms of "slow-travelling", an alternative mode that echoes that other Italian phenomenon - the "slow-food" movement. Conducted in English.