Italian
Undergraduate Success Stories
Karla Albite
Class of 2009
Political Science & Economics / Italian
Miami, Florida
This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Italy for the first time. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The culture, history, music, and literature were all so easy to fall in love with. I have always been fascinated by new cultures--especially those of the Latin tradition--but this particular experience affected me in a very different way. I am a native Spanish speaker, so when I read Spanish literature or participate in Spanish culture, I never feel that I am lacking anything. The language barrier in Italy, however, denied me many cultural experiences, which inspired me to start Italian language courses at Notre Dame. I am so happy that I made that decision.
So far, I have taken only two semesters of classes within the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures--Intensive Italian I and Intermediate Italian I. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Italian language courses were run. After one semester of Italian, I could carry on a simple conversation and understand a lot of new literature. This was due to the organization of the class and how it was taught. The Department of Romance Languages has an incredible array of professors from all over the world, allowing a truly diverse learning experience unlike most other departments. Another great aspect about the program is the outside learning experience. The faculty have been able to foster a tight-knit community amongst the Italian students by creating out-of-class learning experiences, such as coffee hours, trips to Chicago, and student-run theater productions.
The study of Romance languages and literatures is truly a beautiful field with the ability to open many doors. It gives us a new lens with which to look upon all thathas createdour culture and allows us to learn moreof ourselves and of our neighbors--a combination that can only lead to greater goodwill. At Notre Dame, this is a strong department that can have a positive impact on students. I would recommend it to anyone.