Dr. Pacchioni speaks at the 49th Annual Conference of the Italian American Studies Association at California State University, Long Beach
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Exploring Sicily’s fascinating and diverse culture through films
This week students of Italian and local folks attended a lecture entirely in Italian delivered by Elisa Pianges from Babilonia, Centro di Studi Italiani in Taormina, Italy. Elisa’s love and knowledge of photography, cinema, and Sicilian culture –coupled with her obvious gift as a language teacher–made for a particularly engaging and enriching presentation. After the lecture, students had the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming full immersion summer travel course in Taormina.
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The Chapman community gathers around its piazza for an Italian evening
Join us for the 8th annual Paul’s Piazza Pasta Party and Columbus Day Celebration on Wednesday October 26, 2016, 5-7pm. An evening of festivities featuring live musical performances, artists and Italian cuisine.
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“A Trip to Sicily through Film.” Join us for a compelling presentation and to learn about studying in Taormina
Professor Elisa Pianges and other staff from Babilonia, Center for Italian Language and Culture, will visit Chapman University to deliver a presentation exploring Sicily’s fascinating and diverse culture through films set in the island. The lecture will be in Italian. After the presentation, Babilonia’s staff will be available to answer any questions regarding the upcoming travel class in Taormina. Refreshments will be served.
Join us this Wednesday, October 19th, 7:00PM – 8:30PM in Argyros Forum 201.
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New Orange-Milan Language Exchange Tandem Program
Students of Italian at Chapman can now participate in a newly established Italian-English Language Exchange Tandem Program in collaboration with Università Cattolica of Milan. This is a terrific opportunity to increase familiarity and fluency in Italian, learn more about today’s Italian youth culture, and get to know an student from Italy. Please contact Dr. Pacchioni at pacchion@chapman.edu for any questions.
A photograph of one of the magnificent cloisters composing the campus of Università Cattolica in Milan.
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Business & Culture at La Serata
This past Wednesday evening, students of Italian Studies gathered together to enjoy the first La Serata of the 2016-2017 academic year. Professor Emanuela Panebianco organized the event around the theme of “Business & Culture”, specifically highlighting the similarities and differences between Italian and American business cultures.
The evening began with special guest Mr. Andrea Landi, president of Landi USA. After a brief Italian video explaining the key aspects of the company, Mr. Landi talked about his experience as an Italian business professional working in the United States. It provided an opportunity for students to practice their Italian listening and comprehension skills outside of the academic setting, as well as gain a glimpse into one example of an Italian company thriving in the United States. The evening continued with fun communicative activities including a skit performed by Emanuela Panebianco and students Nina Walther, Noah Rulison, and Ann Mullee giving an entertaining and insightful example of what can go wrong if two business cultures clash.
The next La Serata will be held on Wednesday, December 7 at 7pm.
Ci vediamo presto!
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The Inauguration of Chapman University 13th President Daniele C. Struppa infused with Italian poetry
On Thursday evening Dr. Pacchioni opened the event A Celebration of Creativity in the Arts with a recital of Giacomo Leopardi’s “L’infinito” , followed by original music by Sean Heim, a conversation with the film director Werner Herzog, and a dance choreographed by Alicia Guy.
During the investiture ceremony on Friday, President Struppa’s speech drew inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy in presenting a view of learning as a continual journey. The speech was preceded by Dr. Pacchioni’s reading from the final canto of Il Paradiso. Watch the entire investiture ceremony here (recital beginning at 26:40).
Both events took place in the magical ambiance of the Musco Center for the Arts.
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Melissa Marino selected as future leader of NIAF on Campus
Melissa Marino has been selected by the National Italian American Foundation to join the Italian American Leadership Council (IALC) Fellow Program. Melissa Marino is a Santa Barbara native receiving a BFA in Theatre Performance and a BA in Italian Language and Culture at Chapman. She studied abroad in the spring of 2015 in Milan, Italy, and loved all of the amazing gifts and culture Italy had to offer–so much so that she eventually declared a second major in it. In 2016 she received Chapman University’s Italian Studies Council Academic Excellence Award. She is also the Vice President of the Italian Club on campus, where she truly enjoys helping the Chapman community grow. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2017.
Though there are numerous Italian American social, fraternal, linguistic and academic organizations on campuses throughout America, there has never been a unified strategy to their organization and management. In order to address this absence, NIAF has created NIAF on Campus, a NIAF Italian American Leadership Council (IALC) Fellow Program. This initiative aims to support the engagement of future generations of Italian Americans in the leadership of our community by designing a unified, grass roots, and collaborative strategy between NIAF and university Italian groups all over the country. Together with the other fellows, Melissa Marino will lead the discussion and design of a new “NIAF on Campus” strategy and support its the implementation for many years to come.
Congratulazioni Melissa e un grosso ringraziamento per la tua dedizione ed entusiasmo!
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La Serata – Join us this fall
Open to all who want to improve their language skills, learn about the Italian culture, share their talents, speak with native speakers, and socialize with members of the local community and other students!
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A Journey to Sicily: Immersion in Taormina (summer 2017)
Chapman Italian Studies is launching a new travel course in Taormina, Italy, next summer. Students interested in participating can contact Dr. Pacchioni at pacchion@chapman.edu
Sicily presents a prime opportunity to experience cultural hybridization at its best and most beautiful. Due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean basin, the island of Sicily has been invaded over the centuries by many civilizations from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the Byzantines and Arabs and later to the Christian kings of Europe, each leaving a mark on the culture and traditions of the island inhabitants. This cultural and linguistic immersion experience will be based in the archeologically rich and elegant town of Taormina, considered an unmissable stop on the Grand Tours of the 19th centuries and since then visited by many important artists and filmmakers. Students will engage in a rich curriculum integrating daily linguistic coursework, excursions to sites of naturalistic and artistic importance, and cultural activities familiarizing them with traditional and contemporary aspects of Sicilian life.
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