Get out of the classroom and into Western Civ... in Paris and Florence
An interview with Program Director, Professor James Woelfel
By Mark Mc Master
What initially sparked your interest in teaching Western Civilization abroad?
The idea really originated from the Office of Study Abroad staff. As soon as they told me, I thought it was a wonderful idea, so together we developed the program. It's so natural to be
MOLLY DECOURSEY
"It really enriches what students are reading by being able to go see the tomb of Machiavelli, or the place where the French Revolution began."
Students from the Western Civilization program in front of the Four River Fountain In Rome.
James Woolfei
Director, Western Civilization
studying Western Civilization in two of the great cities of Europe. It really enriches what students are reading by being able to go see these works of art, or the tomb of Machiavelli, or the place where the French Revolution began.
What is the advantage in teaching these courses abroad?
You're right there where so many of our authors lived and worked—where so many great works of art studied in art history class are. It's just that living sense of history. The historic center of the city of Florence still looks like a medieval city—the narrow streets, its architecture and character.
How do you feel taking Western Civilization in Europe changed the course for the students?
I think that for just about all of them it was a truly enriching experience. It really brought some of this material alive for them. And of course an important aspect of the program is students' learning that they really can cope with living in another culture, even a culture in which they don't speak the language. I think it contributes to the students' self-confidence.
What was your favorite thing about living in Florence and Paris?
It's hard to reduce it to one thing. We have a
very special love of Florence, and we think both are great cities. My wife and I — she is also connected to the Western Civilization program — we co-led the program and we both found the experience to be a tremendously rich one. You're there with so many historic and artistic sights to visit, you get to live in another country and culture. We loved the shopping for food — there would be these wonderful outdoor markets where you can get every kind of fruit and vegetable in season — we enjoyed that, and just the ambiance of the cities. We're eager to go back whenever we can.
What direction do you see the Western Civilization program headed in the future?
The Study Abroad program will certainly continue, as long as students are interested-and there seems to be no lack of interest in students. We are committed to the Study Abroad program as a regular spring semester offering. As for the program as a whole, we are looking forward to a merger with the Humanities program, so a humanities degree will be available with a concentration in Western Civilization.
The Western Civilization Study Abroad Program at the University of Kansas is a semester program offered each Spring. The first half of the semester is spent in Florence, Italy, and the second half is spent in Paris, France. Students fulfill both semesters of their Western Civilization requirement plus an additional three hours in history and three hours in art history. Applicants must have a 2.75 GPA and permission of the Director to apply.
Western Civilization the European way two returning students' points of view
In spring of 1995, Alison Lusk, Wichita senior, and Patrick Wakeham, Lima, Peru, senior, studied abroad on the Western Civilization program in Florence, Italy and Paris. Here is what they had to say about the program:
Q: What made you decide to study on the Western Civilization program?
Patrick: I went on the Western Civilization program because I wanted a break from my engineering classes and a chance to study other subjects. I really liked that I got to study in two different cities.
Alison: I liked the Western Civilization program because it gave me the chance to study abroad in English and also because of the emphasis that the program places on art history.
Alison: I liked being in such an old city where the streets are still paved with cobble stones, and there is beautiful architecture everywhere.
Q: What were your favorite things about Florence? Patrick: Great food and cheap wine.
Q: What were your favorite things about Paris? Alison: I liked that Paris is so metropolitan. Just a short ride on the subway, and you could be in so many different places: the Louvre, the Paris Opera, the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame.
Q: What were your favorite things about Paris?
Q: Was there a good balance between academics and social time?
Patrick: Definitely, I feel like I really learned a lot, but there was always enough time to go out or to travel on the weekends.
Alison: Yes. For example, on a weekend trip to Rome we toured the Vatican and the Forum during the day, but at night we were free to plan our own activities.
Alison: Yes. The classes were arranged so that Fridays were always free. Having three-day weekends makes it easy to travel on the trains. When we were studying in Paris, we traveled to the South of France, where it was warm enough to lie on the beach in April. The program also provides students with a five-day train pass for spring break. During spring break people on our program went everywhere from skiing in the Swiss Alps to Istanbul to Morocco.
Q: Did you get a chance to travel on your own during the semester?
Q: Did you get to learn about the cultures by interacting with other students and the citizens of the countries you studied in?
Alison: Definitely. In Florence we had the opportunity to take language classes as well as cooking and wine tasting classes, which were all taught by Florentines. In Paris we lived on a university campus where we got to know the other students.
Alison: Yes. The program requires a lot of work, but I learned so much, and I had a wonderful time. I think any student who wants to study abroad on an English-speaking program should look into this one.
Q: Would you recommend this program to other students who are considering studying abroad?
by Sellert and Polly Nelson participate in a boule tournament. Western Civilization program.
AUSON LUSH
Office of Study Abroad
Fall 1996
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