I really mean it when I say that no tutorial could have prepared me for the way Italian instructors structure their lectures! Allow me to briefly explain the backdrop. Regardless of the course material, lecturers in the majority of the classes I’ve taken in the past rely a lot on student conversations. Different points of view are encouraged in both lab and more hands-on sessions, and the day is frequently divided into sections to aid in maintaining focus, particularly in lengthier classes.

Exclusive

But it’s been a whole different experience here in Italy. The adjustment has been surprising, but I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult. All of my lecturers have so far spent the entire two or two and a half hours giving lectures, without pause. It could be difficult to maintain concentration on the subject! Furthermore, because the teaching approach favors a specific viewpoint, I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss other points of view during lectures. Open debate is challenging because teachers like to reaffirm their stance as “better” if you raise your hand to criticize an idea or present an alternative viewpoint.

Performance

There is also a difference in the pressure to grade assignments. Although attendance is required, depending on the course, your mark is typically determined by a midterm, final, and maybe a project. This may appear to be a lot of weight based on a small number of evaluations.

Personally

I’ve discovered that when I wish to further question anything or correcting someone feels like going somewhere you really shouldn’t in Italian schools. Even if it’s not your aim, voicing a different viewpoint can come across as impolite. Since the test will ultimately be dependent on what you are learning, you often just wind up sitting there, taking in the information as it is, and working with it. Finally, keep in mind that instructors have the power to make or break a course, so when forming your class schedule look into course content and expectations and choose subjects that you are actually interested in. Alternatively, if you’re up for an adventure, enroll in a class that’s exclusive to your program!

To summarize, I strongly advise getting to know a minimum of two students in each class. Having classmates to study together really helps manage the more difficult subjects and lightens the workload. In addition to having more fruitfully weekends, below I have shared my favorite art from Prague castle located in Czech Republic, breath taking pieces that my friends and I got to witness together before coming back to class.

Ciao!

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