My Educational Courses
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I design and teach diverse courses on Croatian language and culture with a focus on fostering an inviting and enjoyable learning environment for my students.
In addition to this, I delve into compelling subjects in literature and linguistics, aiming to impart the same delight and passion I've gained through exploring these areas. Drawing from my expertise in English and Italian language and literature, I aim to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm in my students. Having worked with wonderful audiences in the past, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with individuals eager to expand their intellect and share their own rich experiences and knowledge in our educational exchanges. |
Croatian Courses
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Croatian For TravelersWho wants to visit stunning Croatia?
Who wants to learn the basics of the beautiful language, too? This class has got you fully covered. Connect with locals on a deeper level, easily make your way through everything from bars to boutiques - plus impress your friends and family by flawlessly ordering your favorite dish of Dalmatian black risotto (along with the wine and/or rakija of your choosing, of course. You'll successfully navigate everything from greetings and introductions to sightseeing, dining, and lodging. As an added bonus, you'll also learn the most interesting tidbits about Croatian people, gastronomy, culture, music, and more as you go! All the materials are provided. The groups form every few years.
For more information contact: [email protected] |
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Comprehensive Croatian CourseThe class starts as a beginner course at the European level of A1-A2 and runs at a comfortable pace.
The required books are published by Croaticum (Center for Croatian as Foreign and Second Language) at the University of Zagreb. In addition to the core materials, I incorporate various supplemental materials, fun online games, and tools to make learning enjoyable. New groups are forming annually, in the fall. For more information contact: [email protected] |
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Reading Course in CroatianA Whimsical Journey Through Croatia A Whimsical Journey Through Croatia is not a passive reading experience; it's an interactive journey through Croatia. We explore its natural, cultural, and culinary attractions through selected poems from my children’s poetry book Šaljivo putovanje Hrvatskom (A Whimsical Journey Through Croatia). I provide the texts and assign weekly readings, and together, we practice pronunciation, learn new vocabulary, and gain a deeper understanding of Croatian cases. The poems and short dialogs are in Croatian (the poems' translations are provided), and the accompanying texts on Croatian attractions are in English. All participants receive a free signed copy of the book Šaljivo putovanje Hrvatskom. This book will not only serve as a learning tool but also as a cherished memento of your journey through Croatia. This course is typically offered in the summer. For more information contact: [email protected] |
Lectures/Author Visits
Photo: Dante shown holding a copy of the Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Domenico di Michelino’s 1465 fresco. Source: Wikipedia
A Tale from the Decameron, John William Waterhouse, 1916
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A Decent Into Dante's Inferno: An Allegorical Journey Then and NowDante Alighieri, the father of the Italian language, wrote his masterpiece The Divine Comedy in 1321. This magnificent poem consists of 14,233 hendecasyllabic verses in the form of Dante’s own invention, terza rima (aba, bcb, cdc,…). La Divina Commedia is the last grand work of the Middle Ages and a harbinger of the Renaissance and Humanism. It profoundly influenced not only the Italian language and literature but the entire Western culture. We will examine Dante's “Inferno”, the first canticle of the poem, through the historical and literary perspective. The readings of select passages in Italian and English are enhanced by numerous artistic interpretations.
Recommended for purchase and used in class is Robert M. Torrance’s Dante’s Inferno, A New Translation in Terza Rima, Xlibris, 2011. Age: For more information contact: [email protected] The Good, the Wise, and the Lusty: Women in Boccaccio's DecameronPraised for feminism and condemned for misogyny, Giovanni Boccaccio’s view of women has been interpreted in various shades of gray. Shape your own opinion based on several emblematic novelle from his capital work Decameron (c.1353). The book contains 100 tales told by a group of young women and men sheltering in a secluded villa just outside Florence to escape the plague. Written in the vernacular of the Florentine language, it is considered a masterpiece of classical early Italian prose. After exploring its historical perspective we will discuss plot and characters, focusing on the ambiguity of the adjectives good, wise, and lusty.
Age: For more information contact: [email protected] The Challenges of Literary TranslationLiterary translations are often taken for granted by readers. For translators, they are works of art in their own right. I will use my first-hand experience as a translator to explore the not-frequently-thought-of obstacles translators face in transferring both the linguistic and cultural content from one language to another. The lecture is conducted in English with easy-to-understand Italian examples.
Age: High school and older For more information contact: [email protected] |
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Lady Luna or Mister Moon? How Language Shapes ThoughtDo people who speak different languages see the world differently? To what extent do the conventions of our spoken language affect the way we think? To explore these questions, we will focus on three topics—color terms, grammatical gender, and the concept of time—across several languages.
You might be surprised to learn, for example, that different languages have a different number of basic color terms; some have 12, some 11, and others only two! As a speaker of English—a language that, unlike Spanish, does not assign grammatical gender to inanimate objects—imagine that you needed to portray a book, the Moon, or Death, as a person. Would they be masculine or feminine? Why? Finally, in English, we think of time as a linear concept. But in other languages, time and tense defy linear chronology with their reverse, or even circular, perception of time. Examples abound. Please join us as we challenge our linguistic preconceptions and reveal the patterns contained in a given language. It's about time we broaden our horizons! Age: High school and older, 45 min to 2 hrs For more information contact: [email protected] |
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When Hen Was on Her Way to Market: A Folktale-Inspired Story of Manners and Nursery RhymeWill imperious Hen get the help she demands to clean her muddy foot? Not unless she learns courtesy and respect. This Croatian-based cumulative folktale, in which the local flora, fauna, and villagers respond “No way!” to Hen’s commands, will ring true to young children on their way to understanding cooperation and perhaps a bit of humility.
Age: Preschool - 5th grade - 45 min Visits include: Interactive puppet show performance Sing-along Craft (optional) - add 15 - 30 min depending on age Dob: srednjoškolci i odrasli, 45 min For more information contact: [email protected] |
Past Courses
- Italian For Travelers
- Italian Through Song I
- Italian Through Opera
- Italian in The Kitchen
- Italian I
- Italian for Advanced Beginners
- Intermediate Italian
- Italian Cafe: Conversation and Culture
What my participants say...
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