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April 20 - April 27,2003 |
Travelling Boosts Love for Italy
Centro Scuola e Cultura introduces youth to culture while gaining school credits
By Mariella Policheni
Originally Published: 2003-04-06
As soon as they debarked from the plane that carried them back to Toronto, as soon as they rejoined their parents in the hall, the kids started clamouring euphorically that they wanted to return to Italy.
Enthusiasm is very high and it matches a newfound love for Italy. "I loved every place I visited; I feel tempted to pack my things and move to Italy, and this would make my father really happy," says Laura Morreale. "The landscapes looked like paintings. I wanted to take pictures all the time," adds Julian.
These 50 students saw Italy with their own eyes thanks to the close collaboration between Centro Scuola e Cultura Italiana and the York and Toronto Catholic District School Boards that allowed them to enjoy a study-trip in the Land of Beauty during the March Break.
This important initiative, in addition to giving these young fellows a chance to discover the country of origin of their parents, also allows them to obtain recognition of credits for their diplomas. "These young Ontarians had the opportunity to spend a day with Italian students of their same age at Pescara's Istituto Manthonč," explains Alberto Di Giovanni, director of Centro Scuola. "Before taking this trip they had already attended 60 hours of lessons in Italian language and Greek and Roman history, and in Italy they received 60 more hours valid for school credits recognized by the Ministry of Education of Ontario."
However, what made this trip really unforgettable for them was the experience itself, the discovery that Italy is even more beautiful than they had imagined or their elders' tales had conveyed. "The study of Italian language and culture, and of ancient, medieval and Renaissance history," remarks Di Giovanni, "get richly enhanced by the experience in Italy. Both linguistically and culturally, the students enjoy extraordinary learning opportunities, as their motivation leads them to truly outstanding results."
With Di Giovanni, the students were accompanied by Maria Popolo, principal at St. Augustine; Nancy Torresan, teacher at St. Robert; and Maria Fantauzzi, teacher and official of the Toronto Catholic District School Board; their expressions showed, as much as the students', the satisfaction for a job well done.
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