Languages

Italy - Life in Lockdown

By Italian Language teacher Luisa Allen

The novel coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

Unfortunately, Italy has been the hardest hit country in Europe.

Despite the difficult circumstances in which Italians find themselves, their spirit has not been broken.

Italians are an incredibly social people. Take the tradition of the “passeggiata” for example. The passeggiata is a time-honoured tradition in which the whole town participates on Sunday evenings and holidays, if not most nights of the week. Usually while dressed up in their fanciest designer clothing, and shoes which are not made for walking at all.

As evening falls, wherever you are in Italy, everyone comes out into the main streets of the city or town, usually around the main piazza, through the centro storico (old town) or along the lungomare (seafront).

Passeggiata is a word that’s very much associated with leisure and ease, and the feeling of having plenty of time.

Now that 60 million Italians face a coronavirus country-wide lockdown, they have found a new and heart-warming way to socialise. In true Italian fashion, locals have taken to singing from their balconies as a sign of solidarity. From the southern cities of Salerno and Naples, and the Sicilian capital Palermo to Turin in the north, residents of apartment buildings and tower blocks are continuing to sing or play instruments, or offer DJ sets from their balconies in a trend that is spreading from Italy across Europe to Spain and even to Sweden.

In one district of Rome, neighbours entertained each other with a rendition of the folk song Volare, while in Florence the opera singer, Maurizio Marchini, sang the popular Puccini aria Nessun Dorma from Turandot.

The hashtag "#andra’tuttobene" has been widely used on social media, as a reminder that "Everything will be okay."

View these recent YouTube clips showing that the Italian spirit cannot be broken. 

Fun Facts about France 

Ms Berthie's 7E French class was keen to learn new and interesting facts about France. They share some of their fun discoveries!

Did you know? ...

When mayonnaise was first invented, it was called "mayhonnaise". The name only changed after a spelling mistake was made in an American cookbook.  - Abbey M (7E)

And...

When the first time the hot air balloon was tested, it had a sheep, duck and a chicken as passengers. It fell after 15 minutes of being airborne! - Abbey M (7E)

Who knew that...

The character Spongebob SquarePants is French!  - Lauren S (7E)

More fun facts...

• France is the most visited country with over 80 million visitors each year.
• France is officially known as the French Republic.
• The name France comes from the Latin word Francia. 

• - Candy L (7E)