Italian Update
Salve a tutti! (Hello everyone!).
Mamma Mia! How quickly this term has flown, as they say, time flies when you’re having fun! This term was certainly fun filled with many new and exciting opportunities for all! I hope your child/children are coming home each week and informing you of their Italian learning, as well as perhaps even practising with you too!!
Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to give the genitori (parents) an overview of what was covered during this term in italiano with my classes. This is as follows:
Foundation:
- Introductions, Ciao, mi chiamo…(Hi, my name is…)
- Comparing Italia with Australia, (geographical map and flag)
- Introducing / Counting numbers from 0-10. Some children were not only able to count from 0 to 10, but they were also able to read the numbers as well as count past 10! Bravissimi!!
- Learn how to wish someone a Happy Birthday, Buon Compleanno as well as wish them Tanti Auguri!
Year 1
Essential language skills
Ciao, mi chiamo…. (Hi my name is…)
Come ti chiami?.... (What is your name…)
Greetings:
Ciao (Hi/bye) Buon giorno (good morning) Arrivederci (good bye)
Grazie (Thank you) Buon pomeriggio (good afternoon)
Color Terminology:
Revisit and identify colours: rosso (red) blu (blue) giallo (yellow) bianco (white) grigio (grey) viola (violet)
Children were able to identify, read and write all colours.
Exploring an italian story:
Dove’Spotty (Where is spotty)
Identify words dietro (behind) dentro (in) sotto (underneath)
La Colomba: Una storia di pasqua (Easter story)
Language related to following instructions: eg: Tutti seduti, (everyone be seated) tutti in piedi, (everyone stand)
These instructions are clearly explained by showing and demonstrating each step.
Year 2
- Language related to following instructions: eg. Tutti seduti, tutti in piedi, as well as demonstrating these instructions
- Revising / Consolidating l’alfabeto, the Italian alphabet, ie. sequencing in correct order, number of letters, how to pronounce the letters and comparing the Italian alphabet with the English alphabet
- Showing an understanding that the both the letter c and g can make two different sounds, ie. k and ch for the letter c and g and j for the letter g
- Identifying le vocali, (the vowels) and the sounds they make, plus beginning to learn their importance in endings of Italian words
Year 3
- Introductions (revision with partners/groups, through games)
- I Saluti, (Greetings), revising/consolidating everyday greetings such as ciao, buongiorno, buona notte, arrivederci and learning when throughout the day they are used
- Consolidating understanding of greetings by making posters
- Describing themselves: Questo/a sono io… including physical appearances as well as personalities
- Identifying/revising the gender of nouns and adjectives
- Also revising language related to the following instructions (this is ongoing), eg, Tutti insieme, Tutti in fila…
Year 4
- Revising/consolidating introductions through games
- Revising/consolidating I Saluti, (greetings), as well as introducing new greetings such as Buona Fortuna, Buon Viaggio and Arrivederla and demonstrating an understanding of what they mean and when they can be used, by making posters
- Revising/consolidating gender of nouns and adjectives
- Continuing to revise language related to the following instructions (this is ongoing), eg, Tutti in fila, Tutti in silenzio.
Year 5/6
- Revision of language essentials (what I call non-negotiables), eg. Introductions, Greetings, greetings, days of the week, eg, Che giorno è oggi? Ieri? Domani?
- Learnt about Le Olimpiadi Invernali, the 2026 Winter Olympics, that were held in Milano & Cortina in Italia, earlier this year. Here the students learnt about the various winter sports that the athletes were going to compete in
- Research and then present their findings on either an Italian Winter Olympic city or an Italian Winter Olympian (s). Fantastico, ragazzi!
At the beginning of each session, throughout the term, the children have also been learning to do and say il segno della croce, the Sign of the Cross, including Foundation! Grades 3-6 are also learning, or consolidating, how to say la preghiera della Ave Maria (the Hail Mary prayer) in italiano. Bravissimi ragazzi!!! ✝️
GIORNATA ITALIANA 2026
Next term, towards the end of giugno (June), we will be having our biennial, (once every two years), Giornata Italiana! (Italian Day). This means it’s time to start thinking about an Italian costume that you might like to make and wear for our traditional Italian parade. So what better time to do this than to start in your vacanze, (holidays), including me!! 😀 I’m not exactly sure what I will dress up as yet but I’m sure I will have fun thinking of something! More information on the Italian Day next term.
I would now like to finish off this article by wishing all the St Fidelis community a happy and Holy Easter, and look forward to teaching your children more Italiano next term.
Buona Pasqua a tutti!
Signora Rosa 🌹
