Choosing Italian for Your Future Profession: Student Stories from Italian Open Day 2016
Posted in: Inserra, Italian News and Events
On Wed. September 14, the Italian Program in the Department of Spanish and Italian and the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies organized the first Italian Open Day at Montclair State University. The program consisted of a variety of events, including an information session, a meeting with presentations, and an award ceremony. In focusing on the relevance of studying Italian in our globalized world, the program highlighted the rich offerings of the Italian Program at Montclair State University.
To speak to current Italian majors, minors, and faculty about our program and learn how to add Italian flavor to your major (read flyer about minoring, majoring and double majoring in Italian), students gathered around the informational stand on the university quad. Materials about the Italian Program and the study of the Italian language and culture at large were distributed to interested students, along with a delicious Italian dessert courtesy of Bindi North America, Inc.
“As an accounting major, I didn’t realize how adding an Italian minor or major could help me in that field,” stated Montclair State student Charles Monasterio. “After going to the information session and listening to the presentations, I found that adding some Italian flavor could enhance my career and will be very beneficial later on.”
The evening meeting in Schmitt Hall 104 comprised a series of presentations by faculty and students about both recent and planned projects related to Italian language and culture: special attention was paid to the future directions of the Italian program at Montclair State University in translation and key areas of Italian business (fashion, food, design).
“Thanks to this event, I became more familiar with the opportunities that there are with an Italian major or minor,” said Lisa Fasulo, Accounting Major, Minor in Italian. “I was never aware of all the career opportunities that one can obtain from studying Italian. Besides teaching, there are many places that one can work in with an Italian major and it’s great to know about the Italian culture as well!”
One of these places is the well-known store/company Eataly, the largest Italian food marketplace in the world. An alumna from the Italian program (class 2015), Emilia D’Albero, was able to secure a job as Junior Education and Events Coordinator at La Scuola di Eataly in the New York store (Madison Square) right after earning her degree. At Italian Open Day she shared her successful story with the current students of Italian: they were all impressed by her experience as a promoter of Italian food culture who uses her knowledge of the Italian language, history, values, practices, etc. in her daily work, while enjoying food and drinks! Emilia reminded students that she found her dream job, and that they should pursue theirs with the same determination by taking advantage of the support and guidance of professors in and outside the classroom. She also announced that there are new intern positions available at Eataly and is open to further discuss her path from Montclair State University to Eataly with other students.
The Award Ceremony for the Your Metaphor for Learning Italian student contest closed the evening by celebrating Jhumpa Lahiri’s book, In Altre Parole (In Other Words), a book that represents a must-read for students of Italian while also honoring the creativity that the book inspired in our students. Prizes consisted of books that were generously donated by Rizzoli New York and a free copy of In Other Words with a personal dedication by Lahiri herself.
Dominique Aponte, president of the Amici Italian Club, commented on the award ceremony as follows: “The idea of asking the students to recreate their own metaphors about the process of learning Italian was very creative and insightful: and the winning metaphors were beautiful!” She also had enthusiastic words for the Italian Program: “I really believe that the passion that this program conveys and the encouragement I receive really push me to continue my studies in Italian. After hearing and seeing the Montclair State Italian program alumni, I felt even more secure and happy with my studies.”
Co-organized with the Italian Program in the Department of Spanish and Italian, in collaboration with the Amici Italian Club at Montclair State University, and with the support of Bindi North America, Inc.
Enjoy the photo gallery of the event!