We Made the Paper!

The first day of the study abroad preparation class, we were thrilled to have a reporter and a photographer from The Inquirer, the DVC student newspaper, show up to write a feature story about the class. Because the paper doesn't yet place its articles online, I'll place it here. I should note that the reporter spelled my first name wrong (not to mention Raychel Cooke's first and last name and John Bologni's last name), but I think it's a pretty good article anyway!

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The Inquirer
Volume 69, Number 4
Friday, October 27, 2006
By Damascus Triola
Staff Writer

It's a student's dream class.

No tests, grading solely on attendance, class snacks of Italian sodas, biscotti's, wafers and other treats.

And the best part?

You board a plane for Florence after the semester ends.

"Florence: Preparing for Your Study Abroad Trip" is the latest addition to DVC's roster of classes. And it's geared towards students traveling to Italy with American Institute for Foreign Study at the end of the winter break.

"I didn't want to feel stupid when I got over there," said Rachel Cook of her upcoming semester abroad. "So this is a good experience to learn about the culture."

At the first meeting of BUS-150P last week, instructor Caroline Seefer explained why she offered the class.

"Students didn't feel prepared enough for the experience," she said, "and when they came back many thought they could have gotten more from their trips had they been better prepared."

The preparatory course is more like a "pre-trip" than academic class.

It meets once a week, and students spend each three-hour session listening to guest speakers, watching art slides and documentaries or enjoying general videos on Florence and Italy as a whole.

"I wanted to take the class to prepare the best I could and to meet people," said Meaghan Gates.

Seefer will also be a teacher in Florence next semester. "This is a great way for faculty to meet students who will be going on the trip," she said.

The class encourages student-to-student and student-to-teacher bonding, but its central focus is Italian culture.

Before the semester ends, the class will travel to San Francisco's North Beach and dine at an authentic Italian restaurant.

Some BUS-150P students aren't even going to Florence next semester. They are taking the class just because they're interested in Italy or want to travel there sometime in the future.

One student even signed up by mistake. "I thought it was required," Jon Bologno said.

Courses similar to this may be offered in the future for other study abroad trips, depending on faculty and student interest.

The semester-length study abroad trips cost around $6,000 and include locations in London, Paris, and Florence. The shorter summer trips to Spain and China cost around $4,000.

Faculty from Bay Area community colleges generally teach the academic classes, while AIFS coordinates the study abroad trips.

Classes taken abroad are both CSU and UC transferable and include courses like Shakespeare, critical thinking, Italian or French, international business and many more.

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