Languages

Italian News

Ciao a tutti

Y Nam Phan is a student teacher who has moved to Australia to work as an Italian Teacher's Assistant here at DSC. He will be working at the school until December. Two of our Italian students decided to interview him to find out more about his life in Italy and his opinions about Australia thus far.

 

Y Nam Phan | 25 years old 

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in the north of Italy, 80 km from Venice.  I grew up in a small village in the countryside called Cordovado. There are only 2500 inhabitants and it is 30 minutes from the seaside. I attended university in Venice, so I moved to be closer.

Tell us about your family?

My dad and mum are from Vietnam, but I was born and raised in Italy. I have a younger sister studying architecture named Valentina. My grandfather came to Italy in 1979 and my parents came in 1989. My mum's side is all in Italy, but my dads’ side is in Vietnam and the States.

What is the weather like in Italy?

The weather is colder in Italy. In Italy, in summer it would be around 28-35 degrees. The south of Italy is warmer. In the north, during winter it is 0-5 degrees. Our winter is like Italy’s spring. I don't suffer from cold weather. If it rains, it rains for like three days and is sunny for three days. In Scotland, it was worse than in Melbourne.

What other countries have you visited?

I have visited many countries. Australia is my 29th country!

I’d only been to Europe and Asia beforehand. This is my first time in the southern hemisphere. I’ve lived in Vietnam twice and I studied Chinese and German

What do you miss about Italy?

Nothing (just kidding!). I can still find Italian food here like the Italian food in Carlton and Lygon St. I do miss my friends and family.

Did you have a motorino when you were younger?

Normally students had a motorino, but my parents didn't want me to have one because they think it's dangerous. Normally children would get it at 14-16, but it's okay because 2 years later you can get a license.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In Italy, I liked playing video games and meeting friends. When I was young, I’d play board games and video games with friends and sometimes go bowling at night. When I was in university, I travelled on the weekends and went to other cities, lakes, alps. I’ve never been camping.

What is your favourite food?

I love trying new dishes! Every time I see some new cuisine I always want to try it. Of course, I really love Italian and Vietnamese. I also love Chinese and Japanese food. My favourite type of pizza is mushrooms and hams. Pizzas are really simple in Italy. I’ve been shocked by the number of toppings used in Australia

What is your favourite movie?

I don't watch many movies, but I really enjoy the great world of Amelie.

What is your role at DSC and how long will you be in Australia for?

I am an Italian teacher’s assistant My role is to especially help students with their pronunciation skills. I am staying here until December. Working at the school until December. My visa expires in February, so I’ll travel around Australia. I am amazed at how huge Australia is.

What is the biggest difference between Australia and Italy?

I arrived three weeks ago, so I haven’t seen much.  I have noticed that Australia is quite multicultural, whereas Italy isn’t. Australia has many new things, whereas Italy is quite old. There are also many animals everywhere, especially cockatoos and parrots. In Italy you really only see pigeons. The food is quite different because you have so many cultures in Australia, there are so many types of foods. I’ve tried eating pies, and vegemite, but it's too salty for me! 

School life is completely different. In Italy, school runs from Monday to Saturday. Students start at 8 but finish at 1.  I think the Australian system is way better. There are no breaks in Italy. You can have 5 lessons a day which can last an hour or 55 mins each. There are no school uniforms in Italy. There is also a distance between teachers and students in Italy. In Australia, you're closer to your teachers. It seems much more friendly. In Australia, you're growing up as a person in school.  Australia has clubs and sports in school. In Italy you do not have any clubs, instead, students do sport out of school. I did swimming. The school year in Italy is September - June. June July & August are the holidays (three months) and then you have a 2-week break at Christmas and 4 days for Easter.

How are school subjects in Australia and Italy different?

 In Italy, the school system is a bit different because in Italy at like year 9 students have to choose a type of high school. (business, art, science). All subjects in school are compulsory. I went to a business-language high school. I studied economy, law, English, German. I learnt English starting from the first year of elementary school. In Europe, you have to know a second or third language because all the countries are so small. I learnt English for thirteen years. Other subjects include philosophy, history of art and history of music.