Immigration, Education & Identity in Italy
2008 Exploration Seminar in Rome, Italy

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Program Director: Manka Varghese ~ Education
Dates of Instruction: August 25 – September 19, 2008

Historically, Italy was one of the leading countries of emigrants – their citizens created homes in a number of other countries, especially the United States - now it is a major destination for immigrants from countries as varied as Romania, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Morocco. In this seminar, we will investigate immigration and identity at several levels through the lens of schooling, which is a central institution in the formation of identities and the lives of its citizens and residents. We will mainly explore how immigrant youth and their families are making sense of schooling and how this influences who they are. We will look at how immigrant youth and their families change the identity of the country while they navigate its diverse institutional contexts, especially the context of schooling. We will also look at how the institution of schooling is making programmatic and instructional decisions around their immigrant student population, thereby crafting identities for them.

Specifically, we will attempt to understand the lives of different immigrant communities and families by visiting classrooms, schools and possibly other educational institutions that the children attend. In these bi-weekly visits, we will talk to and interview the families about their educational experiences as well as their professional and social lives. We will also talk to and interview the personnel in the school, such as the teachers and principals.

In order to understand more deeply the lives of immigrant youth and families, we will also visit ethnic centers, and interact with immigrant community organizations and other professional and social settings that the families are involved with. We will also gather background and contextual information in relation to the students and families by visiting organizations (and having guest lectures from these organizations) that work with immigrants, such as the International Migration Organization and CARITAS as well as the Department of Education which makes institutional decisions about the services and programs the students and families receive.

Throughout the class, students will be asked to reflect on how the immigrant lives and the intersection of immigration and schooling can be compared to what is happening in the United States, especially in Seattle, WA. The instructor for this course specializes on immigration and schooling in the College of Education at the University of Washington and is also a Southasian immigrant who grew up in Rome, Italy and is fluent in Italian.

At the UW Rome Center, the students who are taking this course will be specifically involved in the following activities:

1. Visiting classrooms and schools
2. Visiting ethnic centers as well as research and professional organizations
3. Interviewing and observing immigrant youth and families
4. Interacting with immigrant community organizations and groups
5. Readings and classroom discussions on immigration trends and history in Europe, with a specific focus on Italy.
6. Listening to and participating in lectures by local experts, including staff at organizations and faculty at the University of Rome and the University of Milan (through video-conferences)
7. Watching and discussing Italian films on the topic of immigration
8. Reflecting and comparing evolving thoughts with how immigration and schooling play out in the United States and Seattle.

CREDITS: The 5 credits for this seminar can be either for CHID 471 Europe Study Abroad (I&S), or in EDC&I 496 "Workshop in Instructional Improvement". Students who have started or are considering the new Education, Learning and Society minor should seriously consider taking this seminar. Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.

Students who choose to sign up for this course will be encouraged
(optional) to take a class either in Spring 2008 or in Summer Term A in the College of Education that focuses on Immigration and Schooling in the United States. The Spring class is EDC&I 496, "Workshop in Instructional Improvement" and it is 5 credits. The summer class is EDC&I 453, "Teaching the bilingual bicultural student" and it is 3 credits.

By taking the class here and the exploration seminar, students can become familiar with the content of immigration and schooling in the two countries, thus developing a comparative perspective, as well as the ethics and skills needed for interviewing and observing in communities different from their own. Either way (if students decide to take the class before this exploration seminar or if they do not), we will have a series of pre-departure meetings in Spring 2008.

Both classes and the 5 credit exploration seminar can be used for the newly initiated Education minor (Education, Learning and Society - ELS)

Student Costs:
$ 3,450 Program fee
$ 200 IPE Fee

This program fee includes: student housing, Rome center fees (availability of on-site resources e.g. access to technology) - see http://depts.washington.edu/roma/ for more information), city transportation to various sites, weekly group meals, course materials. Additional costs include round trip travel to Rome, health insurance, most meals, and personal expenses.

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