Italian Language Studies

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Study Abroad

Every Spring, the Italian Department offers an Intensive Language course (8 credits): students can subsequently spend one month in June at the Babilonia Italian Language School in Taormina, Sicily. At Babilonia, students can take classes of Italian language and culture while viewing the astonishing beauty of the Sicilian landscape, tasting the finest Italian food, sunbathing on the wonderful seaside or enjoying live music and theatre in the evocative Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina.

Contact: Franco Baldasso ([email protected])  
Website: For more details, visit the Italian Studies Website.
Pre-Trip Requirements: In order to study abroad and receive full credit, students must submit a Petition for Study Abroad, which must be approved by the student’s academic advisor, the Study Abroad Adviser, and the Dean of Studies; full info here: https://www.bard.edu/bardabroad/bard/.
Beginning Italian Intensive  Expand
The Beginning Italian Intensive (12 credits) consists of two integral parts:
1. Bard, Annandale: Spring Intensive (8 credits)
2. Taormina, Sicily—Babilonia Italian Language School: Summer Intensive (4 credits)Every year in June, the Italian Department offers an Intensive program for students at the Babilonia Italian Language School in Taormina,Sicily. The program is designed as an indivisible, one-year sequence and includes a semester of language study in the fall (4 credits); the Intersession Intensive Italian Program in Italy, an accelerated course in the spring, followed by the Intensive Italian Program in Italy in the summer. 

At the Babilonia Italian Language School, students will be studying in a lively program that combines challenging academics with a wealth of extracurricular activities in and around Sicily. A major focus at Babilonia will be an intensive Italian language class, which will meet every day for three hours (Monday through Friday), providing a robust and energetic language training.

Students will also be exposed to the study of Italian art, cinema, and literature. All courses are taught in Italian, by experienced Italian academics based in Taormina.

Pre-Trip Course Requirements:
Spring Semester

ITAL 106: Intensive Italian (12 credits)
This beginning course is designed for the student with little or no prior exposure to Italian. The course will cover the major topics of grammar and give intensive practice in the four skills (speaking, comprehension, reading and writing). The grammar textbook will be supplemented by traditional homework exercises and a variety of multimedia work. Student must also enroll in a required weekly tutorial to practice oral skills with native speaker of Italian. The course is designed as an indivisible sequence and includes a semester of language study on campus (in the Spring), 8 credits, and a 4-week session in Italy, in June, 4 credits. Class size: 22

Contact: Franco Baldasso ([email protected])
Next Program: June 2016

Semester Abroad Expand
For more details, contact Professor Franco Baldasso. 
Università degli Studi di Bologna
In collaboration with the ECCO Program, Bard College also offers the opportunity to study a semester or a year in Italy at the Università degli Studi di Bologna. Students will have the chance to critically improve their language skills as well as be able take courses in their field of specialization in Italian in one of the most thriving and prestigious academic environments of Europe. Università di Bologna is, in fact, the oldest University of the Western World, as it was founded in 1088.