Italian Language and Culture

The core mission of the LdM Italian Language and Culture Department is to teach and promote the Italian language and culture through an interdisciplinary philosophy. Students not only learn the language but also deepen their understanding of the country, analyze its history, and observe its peoples within local and global contexts, starting from the Middle Ages and Renaissance to the present day. Students also gain a solid foundation in critical thought and communication skills expected in higher education.

LdM’s curriculum is designed to reflect the city in which the courses take place, in connection to the diverse traditions within each territory. The course topics cover the different aspects of Italian Culture through a variety of theoretical and practical subjects. This Department offers academic courses dedicated to Italian culture, specifically the history of art, cinema, language, and literature. Also offered in Italian are practical and theoretical cooking courses. These different studies on Italy allow students to discover different aspects of the country they inhabit, while gaining insight into contemporary Italian life.

All courses are taught in Italian and may require a specific level of competency (A1 to C1). The Department offers classes in small groups, led by dedicated faculty who avail of varied teaching techniques, so each student can become an active participant in the learning process to acquire the four main language skills: comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. 

To make studying and learning about the Italian language and culture more stimulating, the Department organizes extracurricular activities and language exchange programs to put students in contact with the local community, thus enriching their time in Italy.

Through these multifaceted and in-depth studies of Italian culture, LdM aims to prepare students for successful careers in a broad range of professional fields in Italy and abroad, in areas like education, international relations, and translators.