Io so parlare italiano!
Anne Siciliano
Teacher - Italian
Each year, as part of the Italian curriculum, Year 7 students along with interested Year 8 students, participate in the Swinburne University Italian Poetry Competition.
The Competition is open to all students in metropolitan Melbourne and is a unique opportunity for students to recite a poem (in Italian language) in front of a visiting judge from Swinburne University.
Students choose a poem to memorise for recitation. No props or actions are to be used. The recitation must convey the meaning of the poem and is to include the title and author of the poem. Students rehearse the poem in class with great attention given to pronunciation, expression and voice control. Students also use sample recordings of the poem and are encouraged to rehearse outside of class, even recording their own recitations to match the samples.
On the recitation day students individually present their work; they must greet the judge and present their poem using their best Italian. The activity presents an exciting exercise in learning a short text in a second language, as well as presenting to an unfamiliar audience. Although for some it presents a nerve-wracking challenge, most students finish the poem feeling a huge sense of accomplishment and pride.
This year Robert Stagg came FIRST in the Year 7 non-Italian category, receiving a $60 prize voucher. Alongside Robert's achievements, a host of BSC students (see below) received Certificates of Honour and Merit to acknowledge their efforts.
Certificates of Honour:
- Holly Baker
- Jonah Grant
- Abbi Kelly
- Flynn Magrath
- Alistair McQuire
- Lena Dunya Protz
- Madeleine Swearer
Certificates of Merit:
- Zoe Biancofiore
- Stella Summers Dixon
- Matthew McKenzie
- Muhammad Tungga
Ben Sala
Year 7
When I was doing the Italian Poetry competition, I felt it fun but challenging at the same time. Practicing for the competition, I found it helpful to listen to the poem in Italian while doing other stuff - like taking the bus to school or walking home. Overall, I enjoyed doing the Italian Poetry Competition and I challenged myself by doing the hardest poem on the list, even though I don’t have the best skills in Italian speaking or reading. In the end, I think this was a really good experience for the year.
Holly Baker
Year 7
This experience was a really a lot of fun. I enjoyed learning and performing my poem. It was a really good learning experience.
Isaac Sinn
Year 7
The poetry competition was a good way to get us to memorise the Italian words and phrases. It also helped build our pronunciation as we had to read this out loud. On the day of the poetry competition we all read out our poems to the lady who marked us. I think I read my poem well, but I admit that I had to look at the written poem a couple of times!
The Year 7 students proved to be very committed to the competition and really strived to perfect their delivery, expression and interpretation of their chosen poem.