Who and Where and Why and Watch Out!

I have to say – I love the opening song to Johnny English – it sticks in my head. Ok – why the blog? To act as a forum for the University of Urbino’s English Language and Culture for Business students. I teach the 1st and 2cnd year language listening in this course, and am always looking for new ways to provide services (cheap) for students. The classroom format has limits, so I thought I’d try this out.

As well, I try to apply a methodology of teaching the language based on experiential learning – so I encourage all students to get out there and try things. This seems like a good place for them to interact with me, and perhaps the outside world. I try (am trying) to use the subject matter from their other exam-oriented courses as topic material for the classroom teaching – subjects that they would otherwise only get in Italian. This seems to be working for them, and they seem interested. It is limited, however, because I only get 3 weeks per subject to discuss things like “business communication”, “comparative legal cultures”, “linguistics”, etc. The blog, therefore, should allow students – those willing – to continue their interaction in English outside of class. Urbino is a small town in central Italy, so there aren’t tonnes of opportunities for the students to use the foreign languages they’re learning. Anyway – that’s the blog. (and it’s a place for me to load my ppt slides)

About me. I came to Italy in 1997 – to Urbino – to do my PhD on smuggling and tax-fraud in the Duchy of Urbino at the end of the sixteenth century. At that time, the project didn’t work out and I went back to Canada for a couple of years. However, having been properly spoiled by the quality of life in Urbino, I decided to move back in 2000 – bringing my new wife and her two boys with me. Although the PhD had gone south, I was convinced that I could get the project back on the road as a book, and decided to do anything it took to make that happen.  I finally finished the project as a PhD thesis at the University of Bari. This was great. Of course, being a native English speaker, the most natural job here was to teach English. I started out teaching in companies – which was really interesting. A few years ago (after a brief period working at the local dog pound and as an assistant to the town chimney sweep) I got called to teach in this course at the university. Fantastic. I love it! As a history student I was never very interested in business, but the topics these students have to face for their exams are really interesting, and it’s simply a lot of fun to go through this with them. As a foreigner in Italy it’s really fantastic to feel that you can make a positive contribution. Anyway – I’m running on. One thing though, as true here as it is in business – you’ve got to have a vision. After that, you’ve got to keep your “eyes on the prize”!

I turn 37 in January, and will have been in Urbino for the better part of 11 years. I don’t get tired of it.