Amid the snow, Seton Hall students may be looking forward to the summer 2010 study abroad programs.
This summer the university is offering programs to study abroad in Rome, Italy, Paris, France and Alicante, Spain. The Department of Modern Languages has announced they are offering four-week study abroad programs led by Seton Hall faculty members.
This summer, Modern Languages is offering three different sessions in each location.
In Paris the session is being offered for June 30 to July 31. In Alicante, the session is being offered June 18 to July 20. In Rome the session is being offered May 28 to June 26. The programs allow the students to receive six credits in French, Italian or Spanish.
"This summer will be the fifth year that Seton Hall offers a month-long summer study abroad program in Rome," Dr. Gabriella Romani, assistant professor of Italian said."Students live with local families and take daily classes in Italian language and culture."
The SHU faculty led study tours give the students a better academic learning experience because the students find a better outlook of the culture they are learning about.
"It has been a very successful program in the sense that students get the chance to truly live the Roman way of life for a month," said Romani. Not only they experience the Italian life style but their knowledge of the Italian language improves by leaps and bounds."
Seton Hall also offers exchange agreement opportunities, which give students the chance to spend time in a foreign country and live with the local families or international students of that country.
The countries that are offered in the agreement include China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, United King, Austria and Puerto Rico.
Study abroad programs are also available through other colleges and universities. Senior Allie Marron chose to study in Paris last summer through the Boston University Paris Internship Program.
"My program consisted of an internship and a course," Marron said. I chose the program over Seton Hall's because I really wanted the internship experience, and the opportunity to stay in Paris for an extra month."
Marron interned full-time at Secours Populaire, a nonprofit agency that provides relief to disadvantaged populations like immigrants and the homeless in Paris.
Marron encourages students to study abroad.
"I would say for anyone who wants to go abroad, do it. It is such a valuable experience and it will open your eyes so much," Marron said. "Also, don't let the cost discourage you from applying, because I feel like that happens for some students. If you don't apply, you're guaranteed you won't be going."
Jacqueline DeBendetto can be reached at jacqueline.debendetto@student.shu.edu.
