Studying Italian: Why and Why Not
The death knell is sounding for the Italian AP Program--it will almost certainly be pulled from U.S. high schools at the end of this year. It's really a crying shame. So what's anyone's take on learning Italian? Did you have it passed on or did you study it? If you believe that it's necessary to keep the Italian language alive in this country, what's the best way to go about it? If only the AP Program hadn't been so mismanaged...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Giulia Prestia on
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I was fortunate enough to grow up speaking an Italian dialect (Calabrese) at home, and I actually learned English when I attended kindergarten. At some point my ability in English surpassed my ability in Calabrese and it became easier to speak to my parents in English even though they continued to speak to me in dialect. I learned standard Italian in college and it was indeed learning another language. I recall an Italian professor telling me outright to "forget" Calabrese and to approach studying standard Italian as a foreign language; there was no simple way to "fill in" Calabrese words when my memory of standard Italian failed me.
While I think that it is very important to study the language of one's native country, we must not forget that the language of our ancestors is not the standard Italian spoken in Italy today, or even the language spoken by Garibaldi or Mussolini. Most of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on spoke a regional dialect that varied greatly from town to town. It would be great if everyone would have the opportunity to learn both standard Italian and the language/dialect of their ancestors if they chose to.
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Permalink Reply by Letizia on -
The thread that you started is a very important one, in order to understand not only the history of immigration and the steps of assimilation in the US, but also to think about the relationship that the younger generation of Italian Americans has with the language of its ancestors. I am very curious about how young Italian Americans feel about the Italian language -- whether or not they know standard Italian or a dialect, whether they had the opportunity to learn it and regret not having learned it, or if they even think about it at all. As an Italian, I am very interested to know other people's life histories - how they communicate between generations - between grandparents and grandchildren, and parents and children.
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Permalink Reply by Renata on -
I feel most young italian americans that do "speak" Italian; speak some type of dialect they picked up from older relatives. Let us remember; the only way to become fluent in a language is to experience it in the live mode; not through textbooks. It is extremely hard for our young students to do this. As I have said, I have to send my daughter to Italy this summer to begin her learning experience. Our school district just now incorporated Italian into its curriculum, through much effort by just a few people. There are no clubs in our area that push the language, culture and customs yes, but the language is just too hard. Check out the program on the Alliance Francaise website for young people, that's what we need!
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Permalink Reply by Rosemary Petracca Cappello on -
I think Italian should be offered in high schools, as well as other languages -- to give students an idea not just of the language, but of the culture. I studied Latin and French in high school -- most of the high schools in Philadelphia and vicinity didn't offer Italian -- and then Italian in college. However, I was never able to truly master the language; I seem to have a mental bloc. Our major setback was that, when my older siblings started school, they (though born here) couldn't speak English, and the teachers called on my parents, telling them to stop speaking Italian in the home, or else we wouldn't do well in school. My father was anxious to assimilate, and of course wanted us to excel in school, so English became the dominant language. There's also talk that the study of Latin should be discontinued in high schools, and I think that would be terrible. I cherish the two years of Lain that I had; not only was it a basis for my love of language in general, but it's a great way to study Roman culture. My growing up years were in an entirely different era than today, and we didn't live in a "little Italy." But I'll not go into a long history of that era. Two of my three children have been interested in learning Italian. My son has studied it a little on his own, and my daughter has learned it quite well through various ways. Most of my own Italian that springs easily to mind comes from opera. That might be one approach a teacher might take in an attempt to get the language across to students! As is the case with so many things, it is probably best to reach kids at the earliest possible age. As my Italian professor used to say, you need to be immersed in the language. A few weeks in Italy, he'd say, and you'll be speaking like a native. Ah, but we have to come back, and then the language falls by the wayside again. "Cena" seems to be a good way to learn; this is where people get together for dinner and speak only Italian. To sum it up, during my growing up years, I wasn't in an Italian neighborhood or even in an extended family where Italian would have been spoken. Outside of a few Italian neighbors, we were kind of isolated. But my father did teach us to love Italian culture and to be proud of being Italian, while he was struggling to master the English language in order to survive and in order to become the writer he hoped to be. Getting back to my Italian professor, while he was particular that we adhere to the rules of the Italian language in class, he had a great deal of respect for the so-called dialects, and was concerned that they might be dying out. From the little research that I've done, I've learned that Neapolitan is not a dialect, but comes directly from Latin, the same as Italian. The wonderful songs from the area are sung in Neapolitan, and it would be a crime to hear them sung otherwise, and the other offshoots of Latin, such as Calabrese and Sicilian, should likewise be nurtured and appreciated. I hope this isn't too long and drawn out, and that it answers the questions. To be honest, my inability to speak Italian well is a sore point with me.
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Permalink Reply by Carmen on -
Hi Rosemaria,
I am an Italian translator and interpreter, who has 2 girls who can speak but not write. The love and the affection of my original family (it is all in Italy) motivated my girls to keep trying in using the language. I absolutely agree in studing Latin, Italian but, like you say offer the study of the culture of that country in schools. We need more of humanities installs in our young minds. I, for me to learn English was to learn and acquire how to nurture another soul. It improved the communications with my family, myself, the others....It is sooooo important to acquire another language. The dialects too! I adore Sicilian dialect and I can speak it, my older daughter loves it and the Sicilian dialect is the affectionate and happy memory bridge to that culture and her heritage. Plus teens feel special when can communicate in another language, is a form of getting to know yourself because you can reach out to more people.
I am not retired yet, so I can't get active to this important cause. What I can do is offer my availability to my children and close friends and encourage and promote the wonderful, rich, creative, italian culture and language.
Carmen Mustile
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Permalink Reply by Madelaine Torchia on -
I had the good fortune to grow up in a town in NJ with a strong Italian population, and italian taught at the highschool level.
As an adult learner, I see Italian classes are very popular in Seattle, with hundreds of people enrolled this quarter. That doesn't include the U of W Italian program! If I could have taken the AP for Italian when I was finishing my degree, it would have been very handy.
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Permalink Reply by Carmen on
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Hi Mary Ann,
your message made me smile and brought back painful memories. I came from Rome and Sicily to US, 24 yrs. ago, at that time my husband was living and working in FLA. I too craved a crusty loaf of bread and DeCecco pasta, espresso and biscotti! That is why I live in NJ for the past 18 yrs. I wish we were close, I would love to read to you your mom's Commedia! I learned how to love here and the multitude of cultures, but I miss Italy and its art! I love my husband too much to give up. If you are in NJ, let me know maybe we can meet. Lastly, find a retired Italian teacher and take classes, lessons....now with the internet a lot of things are possible.
Carmen Mustile
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Permalink Reply by RACHEL CITRINO on -
Ciao Carmen,
I am living in NJ. A small historical village in Cumberland County. Where are you?
Rachel Citrino
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Permalink Reply by Carmen on
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Hi Rachel,
I live in preatty Red Bank, central Jersey. I love to visit historic sites and villages. I am greatful for the 500 series county roads in NJ . However I never been in Cumberland County. One of the things that I most like about my job is that I can use my language and Italian culture to connect with past generations Italians American. I am an interpreter and a translator for the Italian language. With my profession I was able to get to know part of NJ and the tristate area that otherwise I would not take the time to know! What is the name of your village?
Regards,
Carmen
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Permalink Reply by RACHEL CITRINO on
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Hello Carmen,
We are in Roadstown. It is a few miles west of Bridgeton. We are about 20 min. from Vineland which boasted the largest population of Italians outside of Italy during the 40s and 50s. A nearby town,Rosenhayn, interestingly, has one of the first synagogues in the U.S. and grew to be a sizable Italian Jewish community during WWII.
There is very early American history here. Our house was built in 1769...before the Revolutionary War. That is old for this country.
We are about an hour from Red Bank. Not a quick stop for a coffee! But I hope you will think about visiting the area and when you do, perhaps you will stop for un cappucci' da noi.
Rachel
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Permalink Reply by RACHEL CITRINO on
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The Italian culture has been the source of modern Western Cilvization. It's language and history enlighten us immeasureably to our own origins of thought process. When one studies the language and culture in depth, one is exposed to truths about religion and society that are best kept from the masses.
I am truly saddened by the idea that Italian will not be available in public schools. It is another symptom of what is ailing the United States. A further impoverishment of intellect and imagination.
An 18th century Calabrian dialect was my first language, although I was born in the U.S. . I often regret that Italian was never available to me in high school. I studied French and Spanish then.
Now and for some years, I study the language alternately on my own and in classroom settings. Presently I am in a formal study group with two of my sisters. One of my granddaughters is at The New School in NYC and considering Italian language and culture as her major. She and her sister will travle to Veneto this summer as part of an immersion course.
So, in a nutshell, that is my love affair with the language.
Thanks for starting this discussion.
Rachel Citrino
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Permalink Reply by Tara on
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When I was in middle school, in Providence RI, Italian was the only language (foreign) that one could take in the nineties. When I moved to a suburb for high school, Italian was not offered, just French, Spanish and Portuguese. It is too bad because I did well in middle school, and even won an award upon graduation.
After taking up Spanish in high school, I continued to study it on my own and in classes, because I felt it was more lucrative.
However, over the past year or so, I have been feeling that it is very important to learn Italian. I do not have much discipline to study on my own, but I am going to an immersion program this summer in Perugia.
While Italian may not be offered in all schools, I think the Italian-American community, along with the help of the Italians, need to start taking responsibilities within the communities. We need to start setting up community centers, or use church and any other existing spaces to set up language programs for adults and children. Language is one of the elements that can create a strong bond among the community, and we need to start instilling that in the children before it is too late.
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