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When ACU student Callum Seaye was accepted into the Semester in Rome program, he couldn't quite believe it. Living on the ACU Rome campus, immersing himself in Italian life and culture AND getting credit towards his degree? It sounded too good to be true.
But it wasn't. With Semester in Rome, students from all seven ACU Australian campuses can spend up to 15 weeks in Rome. Eating gelato, exploring the winding back streets of the Trastevere district and throwing coins in the Trevi Fountain are all part of the learning experience.
So too is studying Italian - students complete an intensive language course at the Società Dante Alighieri when they first arrive, surrounded by other learners from across the globe. For Callum, who had previously studied Italian in Australia, it was the perfect opportunity to take his learning to the next level.
"It was a complete immersion. I had to constantly speak and think in Italian - my teacher didn't speak any English, and my classmates didn't speak any English either," he says.
"It's the best way to learn a language."
Callum also studied a range of other subjects that were specific to his ACU degree. These were taught on the ACU Rome campus and are delivered in block mode, with students spending three weeks on each topic before moving on to the next.
When he wasn't hitting the books, Callum spent his time hanging out at the ACU Rome residence which he shared with other ACU students. Being on a shared adventure meant that meeting new people was easy - with classes over at 2pm each day, Callum and his newfound friends would head out for daily adventures and soak up the sights and sounds of Italian life.
"It's quite an amazing opportunity to live in an ancient city. Everything is thousands of years old. You'd walk past the Pantheon and the Colosseum every day. It's breathtaking," he says.
"We'd also walk with no destination and stop at cafes and bars that were very Italian to see what it was like to live there. We drank espresso and ate the pastries they have - you can people watch and see what everyday life is like."
The networks he made included more than just new friends, too. As an archaeology student, Callum was thrilled to meet an archaeology lecturer at ACU Rome who has since put him touch with one of her European colleagues. That chance meeting means that Callum might be poised to go on an archaeological dig in Greece later this year - an opportunity that would never have come his way if he hadn't left Australia.
It's why he doesn't hesitate to recommend ACU Rome to anyone and everyone studying at ACU.
"Not only have I learned about the culture and history, but I've learnt about myself by being in another country and being out of my comfort zone. My advice would be to say yes to everything, take every opportunity because it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he says.
Dreaming of living the Roman life, just like Callum? Explore ACU's study opportunities in Rome: Study in Rome with ACU.
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