A Fun, Immersive Language Learning Experience
At Pender’s Grove Primary School, all students from Foundation to Year 6 learn Italian. They participate in a 50-minute weekly session in our dedicated Italian classroom. Italian is taught in a fun, interactive, and engaging way that inspires students to love language learning.
Bringing Language to Life
Each session is filled with hands-on and creative activities, including:
– Storytelling and roleplay
– Puppet conversations
– Songs and rhymes
– Dances and games
– Visual art and craft
Units are built around everyday themes such as greetings and introductions, and whenever possible, linked to the classroom’s inquiry units. Digital technologies are also used to support and consolidate learning across the year levels.
Annual Italian Day Celebration
A highlight of the school year is our vibrant Italian Day. This whole-school celebration brings our community together through:
– Cooking demonstrations
– Italian dancing
– Cultural and sports workshops
It’s a day filled with joy, movement, and celebration of all things Italian.
Building Language Confidence and Cultural Awareness
The Italian program at Pender’s Grove focuses on developing students’ confidence and capacity to communicate in Italian. Through language learning, students:
– Understand how languages function
– Reflect on their own language and culture
– Make cross-cultural connections
– Compare life in Australia with life in Italy
Why Learn Italian?
Italian and English share many similarities, including:
– Latin roots and vocabulary
– Use of the Roman alphabet
Italian is mostly phonetic, meaning words are generally pronounced as they are written. This makes it ideal for building strong listening and speaking skills in younger learners.
Exploring Language in the Real World
Italian is widely spoken in Australia, providing students with many real-life opportunities to hear and use the language—whether through community events, media, or online connections with Italian speakers around the world.
At Pender’s Grove, we believe learning a language opens doors to new cultures, new ideas, and a more connected world.
