Italian 

Language in the Diploma Programme

by Lenny Robinson-McCarthy, DP Coordinator

In the IB Diploma Programme all students are required to study a second language (Language B). This requirement reflects the IB’s commitment to international-mindedness and to intercultural understanding and respect.

At Preshil we currently provide students with two language choices: French and Spanish, the latter of which is offered as an ab initio language (an option for absolute beginners).

As always, we do try to be responsive to student needs and so we also provide an option for students to pursue a different language, if it is offered on the IB examination schedule and the School is able to provide a suitably qualified tutor to deliver the programme outside of the normal teaching schedule. This year two of our students have elected to study ab initio Italian and we have had the good fortune to secure an excellent tutor, Denis Passalent, with the help of the language school, Language Matters.

Learning a language is always a wonderful journey

by Denis Passalent, Italian tutor

When I started to become fluent in French and English I realised how it is rewarding to explore other worlds. As a matter of fact, there were worlds that my mother tongue would have never been able neither to glimpse nor to imagine. This same adventure is what makes me happy and always curious, glad to meet other people from the four corners of the globe and to make the daily effort to speak their own language.

This year I have the joy to follow Year 11 students Juliet and William in their Italian learning experience. I am strongly convinced that an additional language will make a positive difference in their lives and I honestly hope that other students, in the future, will embrace the opportunity to learn another language and to immerse in other cultures completely.

By way of background… I come from Udine, a city in the north-east of Italy, not far from the border with Austria and Slovenia. I lived and studied in Venice during my university season and enjoyed spending the most important time of my youth living with hundreds of other peers. I then completed my studies in France for the last year of my Masters in Linguistics and Language Teaching. Finally, in 2015 I came to Australia, teaching Italian in a set of different schools. I love discovering the etymology of the words, make surprises to my friends anywhere in the world and riding my bike, even if the price to pay is a broken wrist sometime!

Check out this drone video of the glorious north eastern region of Italy where Denis hails from: