Are you curious about Italy? Do you love Italian food, fashion, literature, cinema, and culture? You should check out the new video created by the Society for Italian Studies on the benefits of studying Italian at University level in the UK and Ireland.

For students at the University of Reading, those benefits include the opportunity to meet other Italophiles in the Italian Society. We’ve asked Chloé Saleh and Gabriella Craft to fill us in on what the Italian Society does and how we can join in and share their infectious enthusiasm for all things Italian. Here’s what they have to say:

A degree in Italian studies at the University of Reading will give you an all around knowledge not just of the language but culture, history and art; from the medieval period to modern day.  The amazing Italian department are incredibly supportive every step of the way, guiding you from day one up until you wear that graduation hat.

And there are so many more opportunities for students who love Italy. The Reading University Italian Society (RUIS) brings together Italian students, Erasmus students and those who have a general interest in Italy and Italian culture. Over this coming year we aim to support incoming Erasmus students as well as those already studying here, through a range of trips, socials and language support groups.

The Society is led by six current students, five of whom have already gone on the year abroad. We are ready and waiting to advise and help anyone venturing onto their year abroad with any questions they may have!

Our regular ‘aperitivo’ nights are a great way to catch up with the rest of the society. We meet up every other Wednesday evening on campus and everyone brings along a homemade dish and something to drink. It’s a fun and relaxed way to meet new people.

We have also set up an language exchange programme, which is now up and running! We have paired up native English speakers with native Italian speakers and in their own time they can meet up and help each other out! It’s the perfect way to practice and make new friendships!

Our next trip will be to Winter Wonderland and Somerset House at Christmas and hopefully in the spring of 2015, we will host a trip to Italy as part of our ‘Year Abroad Experience’…watch this space!!

When you sign up for the Italian Society, your one-off membership fee will get you discounts on all of our trips and socials. To find out more about these and other events of the Italian Society, check out our Facebook page.

And for more information about Italian Studies, as well as the other degree programmes in languages at Reading, please visit the website of the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies. To keep up with all of the Department’s students, staff, and alumni, you should also make sure to follow this blog, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our Twitter feed.