Seminars & Practicums

SPEAKING IN PUBLIC PRACTICUM
Tour guide for a Florentine museum

Course Structure
Practicum: 6 hours/week; 60 hours total
Seminar: 1 and a half hour/week; 18 hours total
Credits: 3
Course Title: COMM/CEP 300 – Tour Guiding & Multicultural Competence

Most people report that speaking in public is their greatest fear. And yet the ability to give a speech is one of the most cherished skills today. With this practicum, you will learn how to lead a variegated international audience of tourists and introduce them to the art of the main Florentine churches (Duomo, Santa Croce, etc.) or museums (Galileo, De’ Medici, etc.)

Students receive an information packet on the church or museum they choose. They are scheduled to follow a tour, led by an experienced guide, and once they feel comfortable with the material studied, they start giving their own tours. Candidates should be passionate about art history and have a group-leader attitude.


ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PRACTICUM
I Ragazzi di Sipario co-operative

Course Structure
Practicum: 4 hours/week; 40 hours total
Seminar: 1 and a half hour/week; 18 hours total
Credits: 3
Course Title: DIS/CEP 300 – Disabilities Studies: Discovering Abilities, Narratives, and Identities

I Ragazzi di Sipario co-operative is a social company that employs young adults with intellectual disabilities. Workers are employed in two areas: a restaurant that serves the general public located in the heart of Florence and an art lab that produces objects sold in the main Florentine shops. Interaction and support given to these special workers will lead the students to create an incredible cultural and human exchange.

Official website 


TEACHING ASSISTANT PRACTICUM
Local kindergarten & primary schools

Course Structure
Practicum: 4 hours/week teaching; 40 hours total
Seminar: 1 and a half hour/week; 18 hours total
Credits: 3
Course Title: EDUC/CEP 300 – Childhood Education: Teaching & Multicultural Competence

ISI Florence students are placed in local kindergartens and primary schools to assist English-language teachers, enhancing a creative learning environment. The teaching assistants are often asked to create lesson plans, propose activities, and lead class discussions. Also, students with a good level of Italian may give one-to-one tutoring (age 9-14) in the afternoon. This opportunity is designed for students who are interested in interacting with children and teenagers while simultaneously improving their teaching skills and Italian comprehension.


JOURNALISM & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Writing For The Media and Social Media

Course Structure
Practicum: 4 hours/week teaching; 40 hours total
Seminar: 1:20 lecture
Credits: 3
Course Title: JOUR/CEP 300 – Writing For The Media and Social Media: Journalism and Public Relations

In this practicum students can choose between different areas of specialization in journalism including news writing and editing, journalism on social media, photo and/or video journalism, graphic design, and layout. Depending on the area chosen, students will learn the basic theory of news writing and editing, social media reporting, photo-and-video journalism production, and will have the opportunity to convert theory into practice by working with professionals.