This year the book for the common reading program is:

Why do we have a common reading program?
A common reading program helps you get ready for being back in a classroom. It is also something that you have in common with your classmates from day one! Your ideas about the book might not be the same but you will all have read something that we can discuss together.

Why was this book chosen?
When you arrive at AUR you’re not only adjusting to the start of your university career, you’re also adjusting to a new culture – whether that is the Italian culture, the American culture or the culture of higher education! – and AUR is a truly international community of professors, students and staff from all over the world. Sometimes the steps involved in adjusting to a new culture can take people by surprise. In her book ‘Laughing Without an Accent’ Firoozeh Dumas offers a humorous look at her experiences of more than one culture which will hopefully give you some interesting perspectives as you work your way through your own transition to AUR.

Some pointers when reading the book:
• We will begin our discussion of the book during the first week of the semester so allow yourself plenty of time to complete your reading – you don’t want to be left behind!
• Try to be an ‘active’ reader. By that I mean you should consider what the author is saying and whether you agree with her or not. Question anything that doesn’t seem to add up to you. Feel free to write in the book. It is your copy to keep and use. I suggest you make notes as you read as you will be writing a response paper on this book during the fall semester.
• Please bring your ‘QQTT’ with you the first week of class. If you haven’t come across this term before don’t worry, it is simple. You should select one QUESTION, one QUOTE, and two TALKING POINTS that you get from the book. Please remember to add your name to the paper as I will be collecting all the QQTTs in the first week.

General text floating around somewhere…
I hope you enjoy reading the book and that it is a help in your preparations for joining us here in Rome. If you don’t like the book that is OK, I still look forward to hearing your reasons why! Either way, please remember that it is an important part of the course, so get reading!