A review on Siena Italian Studies Semester Program

Other Reviews on Siena Italian Studies Semester Program

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Amazing Semester in Siena, Italy!

  Reviewed by Monsie on February 28, 2012 .

  Siena Italian Studies is an amazing and life-changing study abroad experience! The program is small and very personal. The activities and excursions they plan are really unexpected and show you parts of Italy you wouldn't see otherwise. Host families are phenomenal and the professors and staff are really great and care about what they do and the community service options let you experience the real Italy. I would do it all over again if I could!!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Siena

  Reviewed by creau on February 28, 2012 .

  This was a great experience full of cultural experiences and trips all over Italy!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Solid study abroad program with great people in a beautiful location

  Reviewed by Mitchell Collins on February 28, 2012 .

  Siena Italian Studies is a tremendously successful full immersion program based in Siena, Italy. It stands out from other programs based on its effort to completely immerse its students in Italian culture while boasting an incredible staff of administrators and teachers.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Authentic Italian Experience

  Reviewed by Kaitlyn MacLeod on February 28, 2012 .

  My experience at SIS is one that had a significant impact on me. It was a wonderful experience. The staff is very supportive in helping students learn and immerse themselves in the Italian culture. I returned to Siena after studying abroad to work on a research project and even though I was no longer a student the staff at SIS was extremely helpful to me with my project. If I could do it all over again I would have stayed the full year!
  
  If you want to have an authentic Italian experience and learn Italian then there is no other choice but Siena Italian Studies.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Amazing

  Reviewed by mvisconsi on February 28, 2012 .

  I wish I could go again! SIS was the best program with the best people. It really improved my Italian language skills. Also, the administration was very involved which really enhanced the experience.

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program GREAT Immersion Program!

  Reviewed by MRholl on February 28, 2012 .

  SIS is a great way to be truly immersed in Italian culture. Living with a host family and speaking Italian in class and at volunteer sites means that you are constantly forced to speak and interpret the language and culture. I started the program knowing only the words "ciao" and "spaghetti" and left fairly conversational!
  
  The staff is very friendly and helpful and Siena's a prime location. It's a great program!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program If I could do it again, I'd do it at least 3 more times.

  Reviewed by bekahfaye on February 28, 2012 .

  I went on the SIS program in the Fall of 2010, and loved it so much that I had to stay for the Spring of 2011. I loved everything about it, from the staff, who were more than encouraging and uplifting, to the host families, who were experienced and welcoming, to the food, which was the best I've ever had, to the classes, which taught me more Italian than I thought I'd ever learn. As one would expect, I was nervous leaving the country for the first time alone, and going to live with a host family that didn't speak English. It didn't take long before I got comfortable with everything because of the efforts of the staff, and my host parents had hosted many American students before me, so even when I didn't know what I was doing, they did. And the entire Italian culture is just so laid back, that I couldn't help but feel at ease. The classes were interesting, the teachers knowledgeable and attentive. My favorite part of the entire experience was the evening dinners with my host parents. My first semester host parents were alive during the second world war, and when they took an evening to share with me their memories of that time, I knew I'd made one of the best choices I could have made for the advancement of my college experience by choosing SIS. Where else would I have had that one of a kind conversation? Where else would I have taught English to Italian 3rd graders? Where else could I have learned so much Italian so quickly? See so much Art? Try so many different foods? Surely no other program offers such diverse opportunities all in one program. I would recommend SIS to everyone and that you go with an open mind and a will to try and experience new things. Given the opportunity, I'd choose SIS time and time again. My time with them has really changed me as a person, as well as my life.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program SIS

  Reviewed by KaylaO on February 28, 2012 .

  Loved this program. I am kind of shy but everyone there made me feel welcome. Opportunities there are awesome and the classes are not bad at all! I am really wanting to go back right now!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program SIS

  Reviewed by KaylaO on February 28, 2012 .

  Loved this program. I am kind of shy but everyone there made me feel welcome. Opportunities there are awesome and the classes are not bad at all! I am really wanting to go back right now!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program SIS

  Reviewed by Red1990 on February 28, 2012 .

  If I could do it again I would! They are such a fantastic group of people with a love of their culture and sharing it.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program This programs rocks so much...

  Reviewed by thechrisreid on February 28, 2012 .

  ... that I had it tattooed on my ribcage!
  
  In all seriousness, I had the time of my LIFE studying abroad in Siena a few years ago. Being an Italian major, the program was PERFECTLY suited to my degree requirements and the professors were amazing. Classes are very project-oriented and there were so many cultural immersion activities that they all blur together.
  
  I'll try to paint a picture for you:
  Tuscan hillsides. Medieval palaces. Amazing dinners with host families. Hot-spring spas. Opportunities to volunteer locally. Wine tastings. Vineyard tours.
  
  I could go on and on, but I don't want to lose your attention. I met some of the coolest people in my life doing this program, and I'm certain that I'll stay in touch with them forever.
  
  People always ask if I have any regrets about studying abroad, and unfortunately, I do: I regret only studying abroad for a summer instead of an entire semester! Seriously, if you have the opportunity, DO NOT PASS UP THIS PROGRAM! It will show you a side of Italy that you will not otherwise be able to experience.

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Great Program

  Reviewed by Cosmo on February 28, 2012 .

  Great Program!

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program This program is the one for you.

  Reviewed by gsbaetti on February 28, 2012 .

  Picking Siena Italian Studies was the best decision I could have made. The program was filled with students from universities across the U.S., most of which I am still extremely close with today. The complete cultural immersion was the best way to improve my Italian speaking skills and understanding of this amazing little town in Tuscany.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program SIS is the best Italian program!

  Reviewed by hlear on February 28, 2012 .

  I loved, loved this program. If you want to experience Italy and learn Italian, this is the program you need to go on. Stop looking at the other ones and email Siena Italian Studies right now.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program awesome program

  Reviewed by nb797 on February 29, 2012 .

  If you are looking for a cultural immersion program, awesome food, great teachers, an excellent program director, and to learn another language, SIS cannot be beat. I had the best time and learned so much Italian, about Italy, and about myself. It is one of the things I am most happy I did during college. It can be challenging - immersion is difficult at first, but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this program to everyone I know.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Stand-out program

  Reviewed by camilla on February 29, 2012 .

  Siena Italian Studies was fantastic in all areas. The people make it incredibly fun and constantly hilarious, the academics are in-depth and personalized, and the setting couldn't be better. If you're looking for an authentic experience abroad as well as a great time, this is a stellar choice.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Great Program All Around

  Reviewed by ctragni on February 29, 2012 .

  SIS is a really wonderful experience in Italy. I had never taken Italian, and was in a technical field at school so the language and cultural classes at SIS were something new for me. The teachers were all very knowledgeable and helpful. They go beyond just teaching a subject, and really get to know the students. The host families are amazing - I immediately felt like I had a new family in Italy, and I still keep in touch with them to this day! The activities and travel with the program are great, and I especially liked the volunteering aspect of SIS. Overall, the people at SIS are doing a fantastic job giving students in Siena a memorable experience.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Semestre l'optima

  Reviewed by Nicholas Cicchetti on March 01, 2012 .

  I tell people that my experiences in Siena, facilitated by Siena Italian Studies, was the best time of my life. I was exposed to different places, people, foods, language, and ways of living. All this could have been a daunting experience without Siena Italian Studies. They set me up with a wonderful host family, gave a comprehensive tour of Siena, and taught me the language well enough in all of about 3 weeks so that I could make my way around the Siena and the country. A must for anyone who truly wants the full Italian experience.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Overall wonderful Italian immersion program

  Reviewed by Matthew on March 03, 2012 .

  My study abroad experience was one of the best times of my life.
  
  Living situation:
  I stayed with a host family who lived 10 minutes walking distance from the nearest bus stop in the Tuscan hills. The location and the relationships I built with my host dad (Mauro) and host mom (Lella) were something out of a movie. The house was this big villa overlooking several farms. Lella cooked excellent and authentic Italian meals. I gained 5-7 pounds during my 4 month stay there.
  
  Admin/Faculty
  Every single need was met by the admin. They were responsive and competent. The instructors treated us like family. I got close with each and every one of them.
  
  Siena:
  The town of Siena is a quaint little place with immense personality and character. My study abroad experience would not have been the same if it were in any other city. Siena was just right in terms of size, geography relative to other parts of Italy, and people.
  
  Classes:
  The Italian language portion was quite good. The other courses weren't as serious but who does a study abroad program in Italy for the coursework.
  
  

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program A Fantastc Dream You Don't Want To Wake From

  Reviewed by Jillian Marzigliano on March 19, 2012 .

  Wine Tasting, Cheese Tasting, Skiing in the Alps, Festivals, & Family Dinners... are just part of the great experience SIS offers. The program is small so they are able to tend to your academic needs as well as properly introduce students to the Senese Culture as well as other famous areas of Italy. Siena truely becomes a home away from home and I recommend any who is looking for an amazing experience in Italy to go through this program

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program The most unforgettable experience I have ever had.

  Reviewed by Hayley Samela on May 09, 2012 .

  This program is well structured, the host families are amazing; it really is experiencing Italian culture at its best. I made lifelong friends from across the country, Siena's central location gave me the ability to travel anywhere, and the program coordinators/professors are the friendliest, most helpful, warm people. I really had the best experience studying in Siena, Italy.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Amazing Gap Year Experience

  Reviewed by Spencer on May 09, 2012 .

  Amazing way to spend half of my gap year. I got to learn so much Italian and make some life long friends. All of the staff, professors, and other students were absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough great things about my experience!

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program From a parents view exceeded all expectations!

  Reviewed by bobbyd on May 09, 2012 .

  I sent my daughter to Italy with some trepidation, and all my fears were unfounded. She had a great time, learned so much and was safe the entire 4 months. Thanks SIS for giving my daughter a truly unique experience that she will never forget.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program SIS was the best decision that I ever made.

  Reviewed by Trevin Stahly on May 09, 2012 .

  My time at SIS was incredible. I ate great food, learned about the language and culture, saw awesome places, and made amazing friends. Siena is a gorgeous Tuscan town, and the program gives you a great mix of organized excursions and free time to travel on your own. The professors and staff will become your friends, and they truly care about you and your experience.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Inspirational... an opportunity not to be missed!

  Reviewed by Stephen Sudano on May 09, 2012 .

  Siena Italian Studies was a paramount part of my collegate experience. Fall 2008 was my first time in Europe, and coming from Italian discent, I was very excited. The program exceded every expectation. I got to know my peers very well and traveled a buch with them. My classes were intimate, fun, and valuable. Although immersion may be rigorous at times, in hindsight it was a transformative experience that has made a lasting impression. My time spent living in Siena, Italy while studying with this expert group proved to be an invaluable and irreproducible experience.

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Immersion Opportunities

  Reviewed by sallyw on May 11, 2012 .

  I was looking for a program which allowed me to really see Italy and learn Italian. This program did just that. They offer all courses in Italian (even for beginners!) and ample opportunities to immerse. Through homestays and service opportunities (I taught English in the Elementary Schools), my Italian improved rapidly. Not only that, I felt like I was part of a community. Cannot say enough good things. This program really allows you to step outside your comfort zone, learn a new language, and see the world from a completely different perspective!

• B-

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program All Hype

  Reviewed by Siena Student on May 28, 2012 .

  From all of the students who had gone on this program before me I heard excellent things. I was a little let down though. Not because of Siena, or my host family, or Italy at all but by the administration of some of the people at SIS. They have very little patience with the students throughout. Gianca is an extremely rude person and although he says he's joking all the time, it does not seem like the case. On numerous occasions he was rude and overall had a blatant disregard for the students and their needs. The weekend trips they planned were sincerely lacking also. For a program that has been running for as long as SIS, they should have had better planning and even planned more trips for the students. The classes are ALL IN ITALIAN. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. You need to have some Italian background when you come to this program or you will be throughly confused and learn nothing from your classes.
  
  Side-note: Stay away from Johan too. Another arrogrant, rude person who has no purpose in being with this program. A complete asshole.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Solid program.

  Reviewed by MBL on June 26, 2012 .

  Enjoyed all my experiences with SIS!

• A

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program An amazing experience in Italy

  Reviewed by Anonymous on November 01, 2012 .

  It's an amazing program in which students are able to become part of the Italian culture through a full immersion experience. I'd recommend Sienna b/c you live with a host family and the staff is very helpful. I learned a lot of Italian because of the home stay and because the staff was helpful.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Time of my Life

  Reviewed by Justin Lapidus on January 07, 2013 .

  In short this was my semester ever being in college and I had the absolute time of my life. SIS was not only welcoming and helpful I actually believed they cared about everyone of us. The staff was great and really taught me. Before I did this program I knew no Italian and after 3 and a half months I was not fluent but I could communicate.

• A+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Loved it

  Reviewed by RAK on January 07, 2013 .

  I had the most incredible experience abroad. I came into this program with a background in Spanish and absolutely no knowledge of Italian. By the end of the semester I'd like to think I was at an intermediate level of speaking. I successfully wrote the 10 page papers in Italian and speaking in Italian was just second nature. I was very close with my host family and made many Italian friends. It was a big adjustment being in Italia and I loved every minute of it. You don't really realize it while you're there, but you grow so much as a person. You are put in tons of situations that you never would have been otherwise and you learn a lot. Do not stress the fact that all of the classes are in Italian, do not stress the fact that you can't really understand your host families at first. One day you're going to realize you can speak Italian and communicate, maybe not as well as others, but it happens. I'm so proud of myself and all that I accomplished because of this program. Also, everyone on staff is so great. Mi mancate tutti! Grazie mille.

• A-

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program It Was Interesting For Sure.

  Reviewed by Gibbs on January 08, 2013 .

  I enjoyed this program very much. This program has a major focus on "cultural immersion." Because of this, I was still able to have a good time since I did not grow close to many of the students. I was on my own a lot of the time, so because of the focus on immersing, I was able to go out and meet other Europeans, and act more like a European. I also made friends from the service opportunities the school had. The program did a good job providing ways to become part of the culture, which I think is a major part of being abroad. The program truly helps you to grow as a person, whether or not you are alone.

• B+

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Keep Working

  Reviewed by Student on January 08, 2013 .

  The SIS program, from what it seems, has come very far from humble beginnings. However, I feel that the program has a long way to go still. Yes, they are better than most study abroad programs because of the atmosphere they create, which give family like values in a foreign country. However, they do not treat all of their students consistently, and do play favorites. The staff should not separate themselves further from the students, but maintain the same level of friendship with all students. One large way this can be achieved is by not allowing the student body gossip to influence the teachers perspectives. All teachers should be serious while in class with students, and aim for the goal of ALWAYS speaking Italian in order to help students earn the highest level of language development possible while abroad. The place where the language was LEAST spoken was within the SIS program and this should certainly not be the case. With a little more effort and constant support of the students, SIS can become the idealized goal they aim for.

• B

  Siena Italian Studies Semester Program Let's Be Students

  Reviewed by dkny on January 28, 2013 .

  Past the clichés often used to describe studying abroad, I do genuinely feel like the experiences of this time have genuinely enhanced the scope of how I can understand the world as a result of the change in perspective that I have been fortunate with which to experiment during my time hereFor all my experiences and observations discussed above, my approach throughout the semester has been that of a student. It is a role with which I am familiar, and is the role that I assumed I would be playing when I arrived in Italy. I didn’t expect to be taking a break from my studies – rather, I hoped to use my experience as a traveler as a supplement for continuing study.
  To my surprise, the role of student was not the role emphasized here. Of course, we all took classes, and participated in the routine of study with which we were all familiar, but the all-consuming experience of scholarship that I encounter and love at college in the United States was simply not present or available here. I do understand that the limitations of place and academic institutions in Italy make it impossible for the same level of study to exist for me here. However, I do wish that I had spent this time, an eighth of my college career, in an environment that forced me to formulate my ideas carefully and support my ideas with the constructions that academia has in place to create civilized, intellectual discourse. In order for these constructions to be practiced, both sides of the discourse must recognize their validity and take them seriously, a reality that certainly was rarely the case here. I have had a remarkable experience, and do not wish to diminish everything that I have learned, but I do believe that if one is participating in higher education as a student, teacher, or administrator, he or she should take seriously the responsibility of exchanging ideas.