9 - A Priority for Italian Embassy

Alessandro Cortese promises to look into the future of language studies

The list of the problems that teachers of Italian Language and Culture working in Canada and the United States have to put up with every day is quite long.
First, the textbooks. Those available have been conceived and produced in Italy, and this stands out. Occasionally, for instance, one reads "our country" and Canadian students immediately think "Canada". The text, however, refers to Italy. Misunderstandings like these do not help students who are misled by them. The fact is that those books mirror Italy's cultural reality, not Canada's.
Two alternative solutions have been proposed: either financing Canadian scholastic publications in Italian, or establishing close collaborations between Italian and Canadian publishing companies for the production of textbooks reflecting the Canadian cultural reality.
Several institutions have requested a solid collaboration between Canadian and Italian universities; at present this is rather tenuous. In most cases, in fact, the collaboration is limited to personal relations among teachers and is mainly oriented to organizing congresses.
This is certainly useful to the professors, but has little to do with the students, who need assistance when they visit Italy. For instance, regardless of preparation, someone going to Italy for the first time to search archives has to cope with significant academic and bureaucratic difficulties. The three or four weeks would be much more useful if the student could access archives and libraries through the academic and administrative structures of Italian universities, and even more so if an Italian professor was available for an eventual consultation. The collaboration between Canadian and Italian universities would require cultural agreements and organizational structure as yet non-existing.
The problem of professional training for teachers of Italian worries all the Canadian and U.S. teachers we interviewed for this series. Also in this case, the solution lies in a closer collaboration between Italian and Canadian universities. From the operational standpoint, there are two possibilities: the first is to offer study programmes, or rather short-term internships, in Italian universities for teacher candidates who wish to graduate as teachers of Italian in Canadian or U.S. universities.
The second possibility would be for the Italian government, through the Istituti di Cultura and in collaboration with local universities, to sponsor specialization courses on innovations in the teaching of Italian. This, Canadians say, would allow local authorities to recognize those courses within the regular curricula.
More numerous and frequent student exchanges are also proposed. The idea would be to encourage Italian students who wish to refine their English to do so in Canada and Canadian students, wishing to improve their Italian, to do so in Italy.
Finally, people are asking for more Italian cinema, music, theatre, and folklore that could bring on this side of the ocean the cultural patrimony of Italian regions, still a largely unexplored field.
Culture is an issue that the Italian Embassy in Ottawa has entrusted in the hands of Minister-Advisor Alessandro Cortese. He's a young diplomat coming from a family of diplomats. His grandfather, also a diplomat, was the first Ambassador to Manchukuo, the Japanese puppet state that was created in Manchuria between 1932 and 1945.
Alessandro Cortese is kind and attentive, and listens carefully to the list of difficulties compiled by the teachers of Italian Language and Culture, taking quick notes. In the end, he puts down his pen and says: "An impressive list of complaints, and I will pass it on to those who can eliminate these problems and consider these proposals."
This is what we wanted to hear, also because, after the data recently diffused by Statistics Canada on the languages spoken in this country, an action from Italy in support of its language is quite advisable.
"I agree, but you should also consider that Italy is already doing its share and will not reduce its commitment. Concerning Statistics Canada's data, however, I have ideas of my own."
Which are?
"Those data show that Italian, once Canada's third language following English and French, is now ranked fourth after Chinese. The decrease is to the tune of four percent, continuing a trend that was already apparent in the previous survey, in 1996. This looks very natural to me; the wave of Italian emigration ended 20 years ago, while the wave of Chine emigration is under way right now, especially following Hong Kong's return to China. Let's add that Canada is relatively close to China, and closeness of destinations always influenced migratory flows. Finally, do not underestimate demography."
Do you mean to refer to the Chinese being more numerous than the Italians?
"Yes, I do. They are one billion, we do not reach 60 million. Logically, when they move they do so in large numbers. I don't see this as a useful comparison. And then, let's not forget that Statistics Canada records increases and decreases of spoken languages, not of studied languages."
Meaning?
"If from 1996, when Statistics Canada carried out its latest survey, to date Italian only decreased by four percent, this means that it held its position, despite the fact that Chinese immigration increased significantly while ours ceased long ago."
However, this also means that fewer young Italian-Canadians speak Italian at home, which entails an erosion of our language. If you agree with this analysis, you'll also agree that the hole must be plugged before the dam breaks.
"I do agree. In regards to the Italian Embassy I can confirm that supporting our language and our culture is a priority."
Maybe it would be better if the promotion of the Italian language abroad, and not just in Canada, was a priority also for the Italian government.
"Don't underestimate what our government is already doing, and don't forget that if we move in a certain way in Ottawa that's because we have authorization to do so. Actually, we are ordered to do so, and the same goes for all Italian Embassies in the world. In Ottawa we have some resources that we try and employ in the best possible way, even though they are not unlimited. We do not miss any opportunity to intervene."
Can you make an example?
"For instance, from next year secondary schools in Quebec will be compelled to include a third language in their curricula; Italian could take advantage of this situation. In collaboration with the Consulate General in Montreal, we are already trying and preparing lists of teachers of Italian. We notified the Minister of Education of Quebec about our availability for this and other forms of collaboration. In Ontario the situation is different, but we are present with initiatives and funds that amount to no small change."
We must also say that, while in Quebec the third language taught in high school will likely be Italian, in Ontario the school reform reduced the duration of secondary school and tends to reduce the teaching of foreign languages, Italian included. Now the problem is devising a strategy for protecting our language. What could it be?
"As I was saying, our resources are not unlimited, but we do not miss any occasion for stimulating even individual initiatives, clearly helped by the Consulates having specific jurisdiction over the various Provinces. I will only mention the actions of prof. Alberto Di Giovanni, who has breathed life into the teaching of Italian in Ontario. Di Giovanni is not just one of the most highly qualified cultural operators, but a manager as well, as proven by the recent agreement he concluded with the Catholic schools. His Centro Scuola e Cultura receives funds from Italy, and reaches where we would find it difficult to go. I would also like to add that the resistance displayed by our language profits greatly from the role played by our Istituti di Cultura, and the excellent level of the academic structures where Italian is taught."
Speaking of which, Toronto's Istituto di Cultura is exemplary; it has multiplied fourfold the enrolment to its courses of Italian Language.
"Exactly. You reminded me, but I was already aware of the exceptional results achieved by Toronto's Istituto. Finally, I would like to say that in Canadian universities I found teachers of Italian of the highest level."
I know that you recently met with professors of the universities in Toronto.
"And they impressed me very favourably. Like you, they told me that many young Italian-Canadians speak no Italian at home, and that our language runs the risk of being eroded away, but they were motivated and absolutely not resigned. A reaction strategy can be carried out with them. They also told me a very interesting element, that their courses are being attended by increasing numbers of non-Italian students."
Could you summarize for us the actions taken by the Embassy in support of the study of Italian?
"As I said, the Italian government grants financial assistance to those local institutions that support the teaching of Italian. This assistance is part of our action for diffusing our culture, as culture is the main reason why increasing numbers of foreigners are studying our language. We also encourage some initiatives that manage to raise funds locally, thus multiplying the effects of our government's intervention. Making use of local resources in support of our language is very important, not just from the financial standpoint but also as regards involvement of the locals."
Is this strategy working?
"Yes it is, as Toronto's Istituto di Cultura clearly shows. In other periods it survived on Italy's contributions alone, not always sufficient. Finally, thanks to the actions of an expert and enterprising director such as Dr. Coen, enrolment in courses of Italian boomed. A process got under way, you see. Locally collected resources, in addition to those coming from Italy, allowed the Istituto to ensure regular courses both in Toronto and Vaughan, as well as to promote other initiatives. We mentioned local institutions and the Istituti di Cultura; let's now talk about universities. Even in this case, we give funds in support of courses of Italian; where we do not intervene financially, we do so by supplying lecturers for the universities, such as Ottawa and Montreal. Finally, there is the Società Dante Alighieri; it is currently in a sort of difficult period, in Toronto and even more so in Ottawa. The Embassy is studying a plan for its revitalization: this organization can receive contributions and distribute bursaries, so it could play a significant supporting role in Italy's strategy in Canada. In conclusion, let me add a final note."
Please do.
"The Embassy does this not just because it is our institutional duty, but also because we are perfectly aware of the unprecedented interest and attention that our country and language are getting from foreigners. What I mean is that we leave no stone unturned. I will add, even though it could be redundant, that we are very attentive to indications coming from outsiders. Of course we shall consider very carefully the suggestions and complaints coming out of your series and that you underscored for me today. You can count on it."

Publication Date: 2003-03-09
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=2466