International Culture Programs

Fred Plotkin, an expert on everything Italian, celebrates the festivities, food, and secular and religious traditions that make Christmas in Italy a magical month-long experience.

More than half of roughly 7,000 languages spoken in the world today are in danger of disappearing by the end of this century. Mary Linn of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage examines the critical importance of maintaining language diversity, the forces that threaten to silence endangered languages, and the efforts to combat them.

A stone’s throw from tourist-magnet landmarks are the places that offer travelers a true taste of life in Europe’s most appealing neighborhoods. Fred Plotkin offers a guide to the lesser-known churches, theaters, specialty shops, cafes, and unusual museums that make three major cities well worth a visit.

Join Darley Newman as she shares insider’s tips on Qatar, which she curated while filming her popular PBS series “Travels with Darley.” From markets and museums to restaurants and beautiful natural locations, she offers plenty of surprising finds and practical strategies for delving deep into the rich culture of this Middle Eastern nation.

Farhana N. Shah of the Muslim Community Center in Silver Spring breaks down myths and misconceptions as she examines the differences between the faith of Islam and the cultures found in the Muslim world.

Machu Picchu, built by the Inca Empire around 1450, is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world. Lecturer George L. Scheper looks through the lenses of geography, history, and culture to uncover new truths about a people and a place that fascinate us still.

From stark Greek temples through dazzling Roman and Arab-Norman mosaics and on to Baroque opulence and charming romantic-era revivals, art historian Janetta Rebold Benton highlights the aesthetic eclecticism and cultural signposts of the island of Sicily. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Join Lisbeth Strimple Fuisz of Georgetown University in spirited lectures and informal discussions about four compelling novels that explore stories set in Spain, India, the Dominican Republic, and the world of classical Greek mythology.