This summer, students went to Italy to learn Italian and do internships.
Bella Thompson was an intern at the Rome Center. She helped a charity called Hummustown that aids Syrian refugees. Bella studied Italian and spoke with locals.
“I adapted to a new culture. Also, I improved my Italian by talking with native speakers,” Bella said.
Chloe Cucina worked at OSC Innovation, a tech company. She developed marketing materials for English-speaking businesses. Chloe liked the mix of tech and creativity.
Leonardo Express handled translation into English for American corporate culture.
“I could make a global impact,” Cucina said. “This internship let me use my international marketing and Italian learning while teaching me about cultures and business. My Italian improved.”
Class of 2025’s Jenna Klewsaat majored in psychology with English, Italian, and communications minors. She spent two months in Taormina, Sicily at School of Babilonia. She managed TikTok for six weeks. Klewsaat shared personal experiences, interviewed friends, and posted about classes and excursions on TikTok.
“It was wonderful to show creativity,” Klewsaat said. “My confidence soared. I’m now bolder in traveling abroad. I speak Italian better too.”
Then Klewsaat went to Rome Center. She took classes for communications minor in four weeks.
Thompson, Cucina, and Klewsaat traveled in Italy and Europe. They connected with their roots. They saw new cultures. They noticed cultural differences in Italy.