New Collaborative Japanese Language Program
The Japanese Studies Program partnered with the College of Engineering to develop a new interdisciplinary study abroad program in Kyoto, combining courses in engineering and Japanese language and culture. The program is now recruiting for Fall semester.
High School Outreach Teachers’ Workshop
In coordination with Gainesville Area High School Outreach and the National Consortium for th Teaching about Asia, a workshop was held by Matthieu Felt for high school teachers on March 8 , 2025.
Japanese Department Lecture Series
A new lecture in the lecture series, “What are your Professors Up To?” was recorded and shared with Florida high school Japanese programs. The lecture given by Dr Smith on April 4 th 2025, was entitled, “Staging Anime: Performance Conventions in Kabuki Adaptions of Anime” .
Italian Department Courses
In Spring 2025, Dr Gabriele Belletti and Dr Deborah Amberson collaborated with colleagues across the Florida State University System to co-teach “Honoring the Ocean. ” This interdisciplinary experiential honors course sponsored by the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), a statewide institute supporting ocean research and education, offers faculty and students from 6 Florida universities the opportunity to explore humankind’s interaction with the ocean in a virtual classroom and on an adventure aboard a research vessel on the Gulf of Mexico. Deborah and Gabriele were delighted to participate in the teaching and the voyage.
Italian Environmental Humanities Course: Belletti developed and taught the Italian Environmental Humanities course, which introduces students to Italian ecopoetry, fostering an understanding of the intersections between literature, nature, and environmental crises. As part of their final project, students created a book that serves as a compilation of their work, with the students acting as the editorial board. This project allowed them to take on a collaborative role in curating, editing, and presenting their ideas on ecopoetry.
Students in Beginning Italian II, taught by Sherrie Nunn, had the opportunity to participate in a linguistic and cultural exchange with their peers at the University of Padova (Italy). Meetings took place virtually and covered such topics as culinary traditions and dining out, vacations (including spring break for Florida students and Easter break for Padova students), university exams, and graduation traditions. Response from both sides of the exchange was overwhelmingly positive. The students were delighted to learn from each other and were inspired to keep the conversation going!
Italian Program in Collaboration with the English for Everybody Program
Italian Program in Collaboration with the English for Everybody Program The English for Everybody program, initiated 17 years ago, is a collaborative effort between a group of state schools in the province of Brescia and surrounding areas in Italy, and universities in the UK and the USA. The program focuses on providing linguistic and cultural immersion experiences for English-speaking university graduates who serve as English language assistants in Italian schools. Participants assist teachers, primarily focusing on pronunciation, workbook exercises, and creating lesson plans in various subjects using CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methodologies. The program also encourages assistants to develop their teaching skills through collaboration with educators, thus enhancing the learning experience for both the students and the assistants. Grace Romano, who recently graduated with a major in Italian, participated in this program, gaining valuable experience in an Italian educational setting. In Spring 2025, several seniors graduating with a minor in Italian applied to join this initiative in the upcoming academic year, offering them further opportunities for professional development and cultural exchange both in Italy and the USA.