Cosa sta succedendo in Italiano?

What's happening in Italian? 

After a disrupted start to the school year, students have been working extremely hard to catch up on important learning. 

Children in Year 1 are commencing their Italian language journey with Signora Q and learning many of the basics, including introducing themselves, how to greet people, numbers to 10 and colours. 

Children in Year 2 are working toward creating their own birthday invitation in Italian. This involves them learning how to tell the time both on the hour and the half hour. 

The Year 3 curriculum sees a large leap in content from the Year 2 curriculum with the major focus all year on family. Children are working toward being able to introduce their family members and describing them with adjectives. In Term 2, I will hold an interview with each student for them to demonstrate their learning. 

Year 4 students have commenced their learning journey toward being able to describe their daily routine. A highly relevant unit, by the end of this unit they will be able to describe what time they wake up, have breakfast, brush their teeth and hair, get dressed, go to school, etc. 

Year 5 and 6 students work on the same program that differs in alternate years - this is in order to provide two years of preparation for secondary school learning. They are currently learning about their home and incorporating their learning from the last two years to expand their vocabulary and understanding. There is a major focus on grammar in these years and children are extended in this area, again with the goal of supporting their secondary learning. They are working toward a major video assessment next term which will have them describe the different rooms in their home. More information on this assessment will be posted on the Italian Blog, early next term. 

Students wishing to reinforce and/or extend their learning are encouraged to access class content on the Wattle Grove Primary School Blog. 

 Grazie per il tuo tempo. 

 Signora Isaia.

 Welcome parents, family and friends 

to the Italian Program at Wattle Grove Primary School.

Dear Parents and Guardians

My name is Kylie Isaia (or as I am known to the students, Signora Isaia). Together with Signora Queiros who mostly teaches students in Years 1 and 2, we welcome you and your child/children to the Italian program.
This is my sixth year teaching Italian at Wattle Grove, after a tremendously exciting five years getting to know your children. I feel truly blessed teaching at a school with such cultural diversity and high expectations of student learning. Just as I am confident your children have engaged and learned a lot about the Italian language and culture, I too have learned from your children, their culture, their thirst for knowledge, their unique talents and personalities. 

In 2021 all students from years 2 to 6 will revise and extend their vocabulary, knowledge and understanding of the Italian culture. For families with students in year 1, commencing their Italian learning journey, I wish to take this opportunity to introduce myself and provide you a summary of my approach to teaching and learning, as well as a bit about the Italian program for this year.

A little about myself….

I married into an Italian family over 20 years ago and quickly resurrected my love for the Italian language and culture having studied it for several years at school. Over the last 15 years my family have derived immense reward from hosting Italian exchange students, building lifelong relationships with them and their families. I have been fortunate to travel to Italy to absorb myself in the language and the culture and have witnessed firsthand the profound benefits my daughters have gained from their own independent exchange experiences. 

Benefits of learning an additional language

In 2018 the Australian Government recognised the benefits of children learning an additional language, reintroducing a compulsory language curriculum for primary and early secondary students, supporting six languages, including Italian. “Research shows learning languages develops children’s overall literacy, strengthening literacy-related capabilities that are transferable across learning areas” (Australian Government Early Learning Languages Initiative, 2015).  As well as teaching values of acceptance, tolerance and understanding of other cultures, learning an additional language has far reaching advantages including enhanced communication, academic and critical thinking skills and significantly, personal skills including increased self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience (Department of Education, NSW).

Why Italian?

The Italian language is considered to be one of the closest languages to English with a large percentage of both languages derived from Latin origins. For the many students at Wattle Grove that have English as their second language, Italian will assist in enriching their English vocabulary due to many similar and familiar language roots. Phonetically, Italian is one of the easiest foreign languages to read, write and pronounce. Competence in the Italian language may provide future career opportunities particularly in the areas of the arts, music, sciences, film, fashion, cuisine and hospitality.  Knowledge of Italian may be particularly  beneficial for students studying music and is often necessary for tertiary academic, business and social research students (Italian Language Centre).  Of course for families hoping to travel to Italy and the many parts of Europe where Italian is spoken, being able to speak a little of the local language can add immense satisfaction to the travel experience.

Italian at Wattle Grove Primary School

The Italian program for 2021 will incorporate study of both the language and culture. It is designed in accordance with the outcome requirements of the Western Australian Curriculum. Students will be taught in line with a whole school explicit instruction approach, including weekly vocabulary warm-ups designed to aid retention. With my personal background in music and the theatre arts, lessons will be designed to engage students and delivered to meet different learning styles, for example, through the use of technology, drama, music and play-based activities in conjunction with more formal delivery styles.

Homework and how you can help

Learning a new language requires commitment and regular practice.  As the timetable is only able to accommodate a 50 minute period, once per week, parents can assist their children by prompting them to share new words they have learned each week.  Homework will only ever consist of a few words, a phrase, or a sentence that I will encourage and challenge children to find ways of incorporating into daily conversations.

For families and children wanting to extend their knowledge, I recommend the program Duolingo, available free both online at www.duolingo.com and also as an iPad/phone application. The program provides mini lessons that can be completed in as little as 5 minutes, and enables children to set their own learning goals.

If you would like to learn more about the Italian program for 2021, I welcome the opportunity to meet with you. I am available by appointment by phoning the school. 

Apprendimento felice! Happy learning!

Buon Natale e Buon Anno a Tutti

After a unsettling few weeks earlier in the year, children are to be commended on their efforts in dealing with a more intensive Italian program designed to catch children up from the many weeks missed. Myself and Signora Queiros would like to take this opportunity to wish all our wonderful students and their families, a very safe and happy holiday period.

For those students who would like to continue their Italian learning throughout the holidays, we recommend watching a favourite movie and changing the subtitles or the audio into Italian. Both are very effective means of exposing children to new vocabulary, whilst helping them to cement existing knowledge. For families with Netflix, Stan or other streaming services, the option to change the language is available through the settings menu. Most movies on DVD will also have the option of changing the language. Whilst not all movies or television series offer the Italian language, most will. It is helpful to choose a movie that is very familiar to the children, as this will provide context and assist in their understanding.

2021 will see the introduction of the compulsory Year 6 Language Curriculum, and the continued use of more technology across all year groups. Don't forget there will be an Italian assembly, the first Friday back in Term 3. We would ask you put it in your diaries and please attend if you possibly can. The children work so hard at developing their language skills, and they love the opportunity to show them off to an audience.

Have a wonderful holiday break everyone.

Buon Natale e Buon Anno

Signora Isaia and Signora Queiros

Noi siamo il mondo (We are the world)

With all the disruptions to learning this year, it is unfortunate the Italian assembly has not been possible to schedule. Instead, however, Mr. Honey has very kindly offered to include some Italian in the fourth term Music assembly. The Year 3 Choir have been selected to challenge themselves learning the verses for a song I'm sure most parents will be familiar with: Noi siamo il mondo (We are the world). I selected this song due to the poignant and highly relevant lyrics of the chorus. In its original translation, these are: We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who can make a better day, so let's start giving. And of course, our school motto is Give to Receive. Perhaps there has been no more important time in our history where we can ALL be thinking of how we can make the world a better place. Whether it is giving to those less fortunate, giving to the planet through recycling and planting trees, and in general, giving care to those who may need a little extra support from time to time.

Whilst it was only possible to teach the whole song to the Year 3 choir, all children from Years 1 to 6 will join in the chorus.

Festa Della Mamma.

Ciao a tutti.

In Week 1 of Term 2, children from all year levels learned of the origins of the Festa Della Mamma (Mother's Day) in Italy. As in Australia, Mother's Day is a very special day which is celebrated on la seconda domenica del mese (the second Sunday of the month), just as it is in Australia. Children generally will write a poem or complete a craft activity at school to present to their mums and grandmothers. Mum may be treated to a special breakfast (often a sweet pastry and a coffee) and then the family will get together for a picnic or take their mum or grandmother to their favourite cafe` or restaurant. This year, however, as has been the case in Australia, Italian families have had to be creative and celebrate this special day at home. 

Spero che tutte le mamme e le nonne della scuola elementare di Wattle Grove hanno avuto una bella giornata.

Below are some photos of bookmarks some of the children in Years 2 and 3 created.

Buona Pasqua a Tutti

I miei meravigliosi studenti

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter at home and that you found many different ways to be creative and have fun. If you were at school in the last two weeks of Term 1, you may have shared a little about how the people of Italy celebrate Easter. If you weren't at school, please take a little time to read about Easter celebrations in Italy in the PowerPoint below. Remember, however, that just like all of us here in Australia, 2020 has been a very different year and the Italian people have had to use their imaginations to make the Easter period a special one. I have been in contact with one family in Gravellona Toce (a small commune in the North of Italy), who played a game of Tombola with their neighbours, by calling numbers out their windows and throwing small Easter treats to the winners of each round. They had a lot of fun and laughed a lot at a game that is traditionally only played during the Christmas period.
Reflect on how your Easter celebrations were the same or different this year. I look forward to hearing all about it when next I see you.

Fino alla prossima volta.

Signora Isaia

Trimestre Uno, Settimana Dieci

Ciao a tutti

Please see the link below for the Week 10, Italian work package. It contains the learning focus and activities down the right side. Please utilise this resource in conjunction with the ideas that have already been posted on this Blog. Please check at least twice a week for any updates. 

WORK PACKAGES – Term 1, Week 10

The following Work Package has been created to assist children at home with their learning.

Italian Work Package

Grazie mille e buon divertimento!