Italian Beyond Smith

Studying Italian opens up all kinds of doors. Whatever your interests, there are lots of Italy-focused career opportunities — and it's never too early to start thinking about post-graduation plans. The "Italian Beyond Smith" project will guide you in exploring one of these paths and is a key part of your language-learning journey.

The Italian Beyond Smith project is all about your relationship with Italy, so there's a lot of room for personalization. Some of you are just starting your journey with Italian; others are seniors, just back from Florence and eager to find a way to return post-graduation. And of course, your particular mix of interests, background, and skills will influence which opportunities excite you the most.

STEP 1: Choose a track.

Publish

For this track, you will go through the process of pitching and/or submitting a piece of writing (translation, creative nonfiction, etc.) for publication. This project is about building your portfolio and gaining real-world experience in the publishing industry.

interview

For this track, you will interview someone working in one of the career paths we have talked about (e.g. Fulbright alum, editorial intern, diplomat, etc). This project will give you a better picture of what this job is like and help you strategically position yourself now.

GO TO ITALY

For this track, you will complete the main components of (a) the Fulbright ETA application, OR (b) the Smith in Florence study abroad application.

STEP 2: Submit a proposal + timeline.

Your proposal (400+ words) should include concrete and detailed information about what you plan to do. You should include specific steps, including drafts, scheduling interviews, completing X or Y component, etc. with a clear timeline for when each step should be completed.

Make sure to read the feedback carefully on step 2, which may include key contact information or may ask you to revise or re-imagine certain parts of your project.

The proposal + timeline will be due in mid-October. See Moodle for more detailed instructions and information.

STEP 3: Peer review and workshopping.

During the second half of the semester, you will meet 2-3 times with a small group of classmates who are working on similar projects. These are important opportunities to share your work, receive feedback and suggestions, and ask for help.

STEP 4: Submit your final project!

As your project evolves, keep me posted if there are any significant changes or if you encounter any unexpected roadblocks or issues. And in general, feel free to come to office hours and submit drafts for feedback!

You should submit your completed project in the final weeks of the semester, with a brief reflection (300+ words) on your experience. Check Moodle for specific information regarding formatting, deadlines, etc.

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