Volunteer for Italy Reads

Volunteer for Italy Reads 2012!

Your international voyage will help others on theirs!

What is Italy Reads?

Italy Reads is John Cabot University’s community-based reading and cultural exchange program that began in 2008 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for The Big Read Rome.

The Big Read Rome was a great success; students from nearly 20 Italian public and international high schools in Rome read Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, viewed the film at JCU’s “Cinema Mockingbird,” attended theater productions by the English Theatre of Rome, and actively participated in book discussions with JCU students.

The success of The Big Read Rome led John Cabot University to expand this American cultural exchange program to a wider Italian high school community and create our own program which we call Italy Reads.

What does a volunteer do?

Teams of JCU student volunteers visit Italian high schools to participate in discussions of the selected novel in English or assist Italian students in producing a short English-language video on the novel as part of our Italy Reads Video Contest. Students can also help in one of the many events such as the adaptation of the novel for the stage by the Rome English Theatre.

The minimum time commitment expected is about 4 hours during the semester for a high school visit – you are always welcome to do more!

By volunteering, you become more integrated into the Italian community, have the opportunity to consider a significant moment in your own country’s history from within an international context, and experience how foreigners interpret American culture. You’ll meet Italians and form friendships that we hope will follow you through your life’s travels. All volunteers receive a certificate of recognition from John Cabot University to include on their international resumes.

Read about a volunteer group’s experience in Anzio!

How do I become an Italy Reads volunteer?

First you need to read an American novel! We are pleased to announce that the book for Italy Reads 2012 is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The official edition of the book is the Oxford University Press edition (ISBN 978-0199536405).

What next? Follow these quick and easy steps:

Step 1: Fill in the registration form below and sign up for the online training course. JCU will send the first 30 volunteers a complimentary copy of the book.

Step 2: Read the book this summer.

Step 3: Complete the required on-line training course, which lasts less than 10 hours, before you arrive in Rome. You can find the link below and you will also receive an email with instructions. Once you have completed the short training course, you’re ready to volunteer! The training course is designed to familiarize you with the novel so that you can participate in cultural exchange activities with Italian high school students and their teachers during which you will discuss the novel and its author.

When you arrive in Rome, JCU will host an orientation reception for all of the Italy Read volunteers! JCU Staff will guide you along your volunteer experience and place you with a local Italian high school. At the end of your service, you will receive an official certificate of participation.

Eligibility: Italy Reads volunteers, who should be fluent in English, must be enrolled as John Cabot University students. Study abroad students: You are ideal volunteers as this provides you with international service learning experience!