Studying abroad is the dream of many Italian adolescents, but often collides with a harsh reality on the return: months spent recovering untouched programs and heavy supplementary examinations. But if there was a way to live the American dream while maintaining the excellence and continuity of the Italian Liceum?
We talked to Prof. Francesco D’Anna, Director of the Study Abroad Project, and with Prof. Beatrice Innocenti, Coordinator of the Liceum and the IB Diploma Program at the Italian School “G. Marconi” in New York.
Prof. D’Anna, what does your Study Abroad program differ from the classic “year abroad” in an American High School?
I take this project personally from 2022 and, in these years, I have seen the boys make an extraordinary leap, both academically and humanly. The true element of novelty compared to a classic “year abroad” is our total teaching continuity. Usually, those who attend a traditional High School follow a purely American curriculum, completely untied by the Italian school indications; this makes the students find themselves disallined and in a hard time compared to the comrades. Our goal, on the other hand, is to offer an international immersive and high-level experience, but structured so as not to force children to take supplementary examinations or fitness once they return home. The results give us reason: those who participated fondly remember not only the richness of school and extra-school activities, but above all the deep links born between the benches. The best proof of our success? Several students, who arrived with the idea of stopping for only one quadrimestre, fell in love with the path and decided to stay three years, graduating with excellent vows both to the Italian Maturity and to the IB.
Prof. Innocent, from a purely academic point of view, how do you guarantee this alignment and what are the added values of your high school?
From us, children follow the curricular subjects exactly with the same program as the Italian national order. The difference is that they do so in an environment of full bilingualism: the lessons are held in Italian and English, and are enriched by international strengthening routes such as IB Math DP, the TOK course (Theory of Knowledge) and Speech & Debate activities. Moreover, for those who decide to attend the last year from us, there is the double opportunity to obtain the diploma of Italian Maturity and the diploma IB (International Baccalaureate), opening the doors of all American and European universities.
Prof. Innocenti, and regarding specific Italian regulations, such as training credits or school-work alternation?
On this front the alignment is total. At the end of four months or at the end of the year we release the official evaluation document, the classic “pagella”, with the allocation of ratings in tenths and school credit, valid for all legal effects. Civic Education is transversely inserted in the programming of all disciplines. And with regard to cross-responsibility paths and orientation (the School of Work Training ex PCTO), our students have the incredible opportunity to perform these hours at large multinationals in New York, such as Luxottica LensCrafters.
Prof. D’Anna, is there also a novelty linked to Europe in this call, correct?
Yes, this year we have activated an extraordinary Integrated Path. Exclusively for students who currently attend the third scientific high school, we offer the opportunity to attend a quadrimestre in Manhattan and one in Barcelona. A whole school year divided between two of the most challenging cities in the world, developing a real multilingualism without ever interrupting the continuity of the national curriculum.
All this requires an economic investment. Prof. D’Anna, how can the Italian community in New York make a difference to these guys?
The registration fee and the school fees remain, of course, an investment to the families of the students in Italy, but the cost is not excessive. The real economic obstacle, however, is the exorbitant cost of rents in Manhattan. For this launch an appeal from the New York pages to our compatriots: if you have grandchildren or young family members in Italy who attend high school, encourage them to participate in this call. Welcoming them in your homes in New York, you will raise their parents from the most burdensome expenditure, that of accommodation. It is a special occasion to tighten family ties and, at the same time, you will be decisive in allowing a young man dear to you to live an international educational experience of priceless value.
How can you join or have more information?
Pre-adhesions, which are completely non-binding, are open from 1 October 2026 to 15 February 2027. During this period we offer individual interviews about Zoom to show in detail our educational offer, answer the questions of families and listen to the motivations of the boys.
Here is the link to download the call and book your interview: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SdrJnKxII-c4M0mVZv2rsglRa8n-gC/view?usp=sharing
L’articolo You can study in New York without losing the Italian high school program proviene da IlNewyorkese.
