Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. – Anonymous Last summer my boyfriend and I decided to broaden our horizons and try something new: the city of Zurich. At first I was sceptical, asking myself endless questions like “Why Zurich?” “What are you going to do there?” and I couldn’t really find…
Do bilingual people have advantages in language learning? By Clara Calcagnile
You have probably all heard about this topic before, whether you are a language student or a teacher, since it is a frequent subject of discussion amongst scholars and researchers all over the world. The main reason for this is probably that there are so many people involved, as well as the fact that it…
Below the surface of the Eternal City, by Luce Frisenda
Let’s begin with a little bit of culture and history. Rome is often called the Eternal City and this name has long been a sort of synonym. There is no clear information about when and how exactly the city started to be called this way, but the reason seems obvious: Rome used to be considered…
Spiteful Spinsters and Other Skeptics, by Silvia Chiusi
You might have wondered – this being a place where linguists lie – if anyone has ever conclusively declared what the quintessential virtue of an ideal language learner should be. Is it diligence, or curiosity? Enough money to travel extensively, or perfectionism, or perhaps – an exceptional aural sensitivity? I believe there are good arguments to…
Money Makes the World Go Round, by Carola Castrucci
Starting from 2019, the US will withdraw from UNESCO. What are the causes of this drastic decision? There are of course both political and economic reasons. Before investigating these reasons, let’s take a step back and define more precisely what UNESCO is and what it is trying to accomplish. The Organization, as stated on its…
Are talent shows the end of real music legends? by Fedra Gaudio
“The person in the executive chair may not be the final arbiter of taste for the entire population”, said Frank Zappa during an interview in 1987, announcing the decline of the recording industry. However, the contemporary music situation goes far beyond what Zappa could ever imagine. Nowadays, talent shows are really popular. For example, America’s Got Talent,…
How to survive a strike in Rome: the ultimate guide, by Francesca Forlini
Sciopero. When living in Rome, this will be one of the first Italian words you learn. Trains delayed or cancelled. Streets gridlocked for miles in both directions and no buses to get around. If you’ve never faced this apocalyptic scenario, here are some tips to make sure you come prepared for that moment. So, take…
Sexual Harassment: the Elephant in the Room, by Veronica Fiacco
For a very long time, the concept of sexual harassment, especially in the workplace, was non-existent. Maybe because, as something that happened for the most part to women and young people, it didn’t register as an issue to society as a whole. Think of all those movies in which a powerful male employer is in…
Veganism: a trend or a lifestyle? by Giulia Castrucci, Ilaria Gioffrè and Ylenia Grasso
What does veganism mean to you? Maybe you think of people eating salads and tofu, and you might be right, but it’s not that straightforward to be a vegan. Vegan philosophy implies eating lots of vegetables and fruit not only for health reasons, but mainly because vegans refuse to eat any food of animal origin….
Do Extroverts Have an Advantage in Language Learning? Debate Report by Sonia Aiello
The first debate of the year took place last week during our English Oral Class. The discussion was organized by two teams of students, and the purpose was to explore how personality might affect and influence the process of second language learning. The focus of the discussion was: “Are extroverts at an advantage when it…
Do Italians still write like Dante? by Bogna Kruk and Katerina Kruk
When we think about Italian writing, famous authors of the past such as Petrarca, Dante and D’Annunzio may automatically come to mind. Italy has a long and rich literary tradition and so you may well think of Italians in general as good writers. But how well do Italian students of today manage to write? Incredible…
Two wrongs don’t make a writer, by Brian Antonini
Did you ever think you would need to return to primary school at the age of 20? If your answer is “no way!” you may wish to rethink this, at least if you are attending university in Italy. As widely reported in the Italian press earlier this year, 600 lecturers from various Italian universities signed…
