CET Siena: The Limitless Opportunities of Siena

I chose CET’s Study in Siena, Italy Program in order to increase and refine my language skills. The Italian language has an extremely intricate history, and learning Italian is fundamental to get closer to understanding Italy’s history, society, problems, and one of the colorful cultures in the world. However, it is very important to stress that learning a language goes well beyond the concept of ‘usefulness’—I have always viewed Italian language acquisition as an opportunity to understanding Italy, a country that I find enthralling and—even more significantly, the wellspring through which all my knowledge, interests, passions and aspirations are manufactured. CET has made me realize that it is too elemental to think of language acquisition as serving only a “pragmatic” purpose. On the contrary, it is important in, I believe, many more significant ways: language proficiency enables one to learn new research methods and ethics, maintain a penchant for sophisticated ways of learning and intercultural interaction, and discover a country and its people in new ways. Making the distinction between “useful” and “important” is the first step in renewing student’s interest in foreign language acquisition—CET in Siena provides a reputable gateway to full language immersion, in a small-classroom environment.

International experience provides lasting benefits that can shape a student professionally and personally. As an current participant of CET, I believe there are unique opportunities that only this program can offer me—such as an interesting class selections, a chance for language improvement and refinement, an understanding of Italy’s culture and values as well as the chance to stand out amongst other undergraduates with skills that can only be gained through transnational exposure. Specifically, for me, this program can provide the groundwork to proceed with my plans of enrolling in Georgetown University’s Ph.D. program in Italian Studies after in the Fall of 2015.

The prospect of traveling, for an entire semester, abroad to anywhere is a very exciting one, indeed; But Enrolling in CET Siena can not only serve as an extension to the intellectual and personal acculturation started at the applicant’s host university, but also is representative of how true immersion in other cultures can help one recognize and appreciate diversity, and tolerate differences. Studying in Siena, has exposed me to a new world, and within that new world, I can more easily put myself in someone else’s shoes and cultivate a more nuanced understanding of the world.

For example, studying in Siena has given me the opportunity to even teach English at a local Elementary School!

My future goals to contribute to more peaceful relations between cultures were inspired by a very dear professor of mine at Vanderbilt University. Not only did she try her hardest to motivate us students, she also fostered an open, collaborative environment conducive to second language acquisition. Just as significant, her passion and expertise in Italian Studies was so palpable that we students grew not just independently as second language enthusiast, but as community as unique and delightful as Italy itself.

With the small class sizes of CET my interest my interest in Italian language and culture has not only grown, but blossomed from a hobby into a passion!