President: Giampaolo Pioli   |   Editor in Chief: Stefano Vaccara

  • Login
VNY La Voce di New York

The First Italian English Digital Daily Newspaper in the US

  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY
  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY La Voce di New York
No Result
View All Result
in
Arts
November 20, 2017
in
Arts
November 20, 2017
0

Alexandra, from the US to Italy With a Dream: Teaching History of Medieval Art

The story of Alexandra, born in Lawrence Kansas and passionate about medieval art, who studies Italian in Siena

Daniela CundròbyDaniela Cundrò
Time: 4 mins read

“The Italians seem to be very good people; it is enough to see the children and people as simple as I see them—and I can really see them because I’m always around them, and I wish to stay that way. What characters, what faces!”
Johann Wolfgang Goethe, “Journey to Italy”, 1816

 

Name: Alexandra
Surname: Wendt
Born in: Lawrence, Kansas (USA)
Age: 23 years
Enrolled in: Italian language course A2 / B1 at the “Siena School for Liberal Arts”

We continue our “Journey to Italy” with Alexandra, a young American student who studies the Italian language at the Siena School For Liberal Arts. She told us about her experience studying and living in our country. Her path is a particular one: an initial experience studying abroad in Italy birthed a desire to use the Italian language to study the subject that fascinated her the most: Art History. She found a home for her studies in one of the famed medieval cities, the city of Siena. Here is the story of Alexandra’s “Journey to Italy”.

Alexandra, can you tell us about your experience studying the Italian language in our country?

“With pleasure! I am currently attending an Italian language course in Siena. This is my second time studying in Italy, as I was here for four months in 2016. I came here for the first time on a semester abroad with the “Siena School for Liberal Arts”. At that time, I studied mainly two subjects, Art History (in English), and an Italian language course at the A1 / A2 level. The language class consisted of seven American students. I had never studied Italian in the United States, so I designed my semester abroad with both an English-taught course related to my interests (Art History), and a basic course in the Italian language.  Upon my return to the United States I graduated with a degree in Art History from The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. I decided to return to Italy to resume studying the language. The program I am now attending will be my focus until May 2018, when I will return to the United States to complete the pre-enrollment procedure for an Italian university where I will continue my university studies.”

Why did you choose Siena as a place to learn Italian? And what are your projects today?

“I want to study Italian because next year I intend to enroll in a Master’s Degree in Art History—which is offered, in Italian, by the University of Siena. Ultimately, it just seemed fitting to return to Siena to study the language, and in any case, there were not many courses being offered in the city of Wooster. I enrolled in the Siena School for Liberal Arts again, this time to attend an Italian language course at the B1 / B2 level. In addition to studying Italian here, I work in maintaining the school’s social media pages and blog.”

Did you know that the city you live in, Siena, has a twin in the city of Weimar?  This town is the burial site of writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  His is the “Journey to Italy” that we trace in this column, through the experiences of foreign students who come here to study the Italian language and culture.

“No, I did not know that the cities were twins!  I live in the center of Siena, and I find the city extremely interesting. It is rich in culture, history and traditions, and at the same time it is inhabited by many people from different parts of Italy and the world. I feel that Siena’s most beautiful work of art is the “Majesty of the Duomo of Siena” by Duccio di Buoninsegna.  Additionally, I find “Palazzo Pubblico” particularly interesting, with its fresco about the “Good and the Bad Government” by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. In general, I find the artistic works in Siena to be far more remarkable than those in Florence. I want to study Medieval Italian art in depth and detail, and as such, I feel confident that my time here studying the Italian language is both a unique and advantageous opportunity.  I am certain this degree will prove useful in the future by allowing me to teach Art History, work in a museum, or be involved in any field related to medieval art.”

How do you imagine your future?

“My dream would be to work in Italy since I love this country and I find Italians very friendly, kind, and eager to meet new people. The only negative thing I notice in them is the tendency to close themselves in groups. I think this is based on the fact that they always see my presence as temporary—I am a person who will leave sooner or later. Or perhaps it is just that in seeing it this way, I tend to isolate myself a bit in response.  I spend most of my time with my American friends with whom I enjoy taking walks in the city and eating fresh Italian food.  It is the sublime art of this place. For just as Goethe says in his “Journey to Italy”: “If there is a joy in what is good, there is a greater one still: to feel what is best; and in art, only the best is good enough.”

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Daniela Cundrò

Daniela Cundrò

Daniela Cundrò, nata in Sicilia, si è laureata in “Scienze della Comunicazione” all'Università di Siena. Giornalista, ha frequentato la “London School of Journalism”. Dopo un’esperienza annuale come "Italian Language Assistant” presso lo “Scripps College” di Claremont (California), all'Università per Stranieri di Siena ha conseguito la certificazione "Ditals II" per l’insegnamento della lingua italiana agli stranieri. Oggi lavora come assistente degli studenti internazionali iscritti all'Università di Siena, ai quali insegna lingua italiana e cultura dell'Unione europea. È direttrice della newsletter “EDIC Siena” del Centro Europe Direct Siena. Insegna lingua italiana presso scuole private con un approccio didattico che utilizza techiche giornalistiche per migliorare la conoscenza della lingua italiana e per una formazione professionale nel campo della comunicazione e del giornalismo. L’approccio si chiama “Italian Language in the Media”. Nel tempo libero ama cantare (musica leggera italiana) e lavorare su corpo e mente con discipline tra l'aerobica e le arti marziali, come la Fit Boxe.

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Anitya Marlowe, from the US to Italy: How I Learned the Italian Language in Sicily

Anitya Marlowe, from the US to Italy: How I Learned the Italian Language in Sicily

byDaniela Cundrò
Anitya Marlowe, from the US to Italy: How I Learned the Italian Language in Sicily

Anitya Marlowe, dagli USA all’Italia: “Ecco come ho imparato l’italiano in Sicilia”

byDaniela Cundrò

A PROPOSITO DI...

Tags: italian arteItalian ArtsItalian languageSienasiena school for liberal arts
Previous Post

Alexandra, dagli USA con un sogno: insegnare arte medievale in Italia

Next Post

Libia, Guterres senza giri di parole: “Più umanità e vie legali di immigrazione”

Discussion about this post

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Andrew Gatti, il fotografo che lavora a New York e ha studiato a Firenze

Andrew Gatti, il fotografo che lavora a New York e ha studiato a Firenze

byDaniela Cundrò
Andrew Gatti, il fotografo che lavora a New York e ha studiato a Firenze

Andrew Gatti and His Experience Studying Photography in Florence

byDaniela Cundrò

Latest News

Maggio-Luglio 1992, la guerra Mafia-Stato con un solo vincitore: Matteo 

Maggio-Luglio 1992, la guerra Mafia-Stato con un solo vincitore: Matteo 

byStefano Vaccara
On Italian American Identity Without Catholicism

On Italian American Identity Without Catholicism

byDonna Chirico

New York

Dopo de Blasio il diluvio o il rinascimento? Il futuro di New York e la corsa a sindaco

Bill de Blasio indomito: adesso punta al Congresso

byMassimo Jaus
Usa: 16enne uccisa e due feriti da pallottole vaganti a Ny

Staten Island, paziente ubriaco spara a infermiere sull’ambulanza

byLa Voce di New York

Italiany

Design Day: il made in Italy mette al primo posto la sostenibilità

Design Day: il made in Italy mette al primo posto la sostenibilità

byEmma Pistarino
Su Madison Avenue rivive “La Dolce Vita”  con la festa del Made in Italy

Madison Avenue Relives “La Dolce Vita” with a Party for ‘Made in Italy’

byValeria Robecco
Next Post
Libia, Guterres senza giri di parole: “Più umanità e vie legali di immigrazione”

Libia, Guterres senza giri di parole: "Più umanità e vie legali di immigrazione"

La Voce di New York

President: Giampaolo Pioli   |   Editor in Chief: Stefano Vaccara

  • New York
    • Eventi
  • Onu
  • News
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Voto Estero
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • People
    • EXPAT
  • Arts
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
    • Lingua Italiana
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • Mediterraneo
  • English
  • Search/Archive
  • About us
    • Editorial Staff
    • President
    • Administration
    • Advertising

VNY Media La Voce di New York © 2016 - 2022
Main Office: 230 Park Avenue, 21floor, New York, NY 10169 | Editorial Office/Redazione: UN Secretariat Building, International Press Corps S-301, New York, NY 10017

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • New York
  • Onu
  • News
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • Arts
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
  • Lingua Italiana
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
    • Cucina Italiana
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • English

© 2016/2022 VNY Media La Voce di New York

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In