513 a language question

I went to visit my daughters school on Monday. All seems well but I was given some food for thought.

The teacher strongly suggested my daughter has some Italian classes to begin to teach her to read in Italian. She is going to given me list of Teacher by the end of the month. My daughter is 7 and is on the cusp of being a year 2 or 3 but because she has only a small amount of Italian is likely to lose a year and go into year 2. No problem for me or her as her friends are in year 2.

I am just wondering she has June, July, August and most of September to intergrate (on the beech) every day we are here her confidence and language develops. Italian reading and writing at 7 can't be so complicated can it?????

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/03/2005 - 03:22

Hi Kirstin,

I think a full summer with other children speaking Italian will help. However, there is a subtle difference between learning how to speak and learning how to read and write. Given that your daughter is only 7 this would probably be the case with her English too!!
If you do not mind her starting from year 2 do not worry about it too much and let her find her way to integrate while enjoying summer in Italy. But consider also that over-all school lasts longer in Italy as you finish high school when you are 18-19.

A solution could come from the Italian version of books and toys that teach children how to write and read. This could fit perfectly with a nice relaxed summer and give her that extra bit of help.

Katia

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/03/2005 - 04:03

our son ... 8 when he arrived has always stayed in his normal year .. the teachers have been patient and after six months his italian was good enough so that he could pretty well hold his own....

as you have suggested they will learn very quickly and more easily common spoken italian with their friends... which he did....

school will provide several homework books for the summer anyway.... our son has always had to do at least an hours homework each day thru any of the holiday periods....

if they dont provide it .... just buy a simple italian grammar book and learn to conjugate the irregular verbs...especially to have and to be.... make sure you learn the name of all the grammatical tenses.... it appears to be quite important here

with maths.... get the teacher if you do not already know to write out a few division sums and multiplications.... they write them down in a different way and you need to get used to doing it that way.....

repeat times tables...but make sure you are told the way to say them....

learn to use commas instead of points and points instead of commas....

and if all that isnt enough try learning the names of italian measurements....

but above all and i stress this you seem to have the right attitude...let her enjoy herself and find her own two feet first and it will all work out....

as reagrds higher education.... a conversation i had with an italian university graduate yesterday was almost depressing..... unless you are recomended it is very hard despite any qualification to get a job here.... he has been at civil service exams where people have just filled in their personal details and the exam sheet is left blank..... the job is already theirs.... they offer professional eaxms of 90 questions in 60 mins.... 40 questions in 20 minutes... ... its so that no one can remember the questions or answers....and think about their results.... but if you have time you might well notice those that get up and leave early or sit with folded arms after five minutes of filling out name address etc.....

it seems to be an accepted fact of life here.... and hopefully it might well change by the time our children are older.... otherwise get to know as many local politicians...and factory owners as possable ...you might well need tham later

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 06/03/2005 - 04:12

Although Italian is a very phonetic language just speaking the language will not necessarily help hugely with reading as your daughter may not connect the sounds with the letters & syllables etc that she reads. Why not buy her some of the childrens story book and tape sets that you can find in larger bookshops, that way she has the text to follow whilst she hears the words spoken correctly? Our daughter's spoken Italian was excellent and she started to read Italian in Grade 1 with the Italian children - they initially learnt the sounds of all the letters and then the syllables before actually putting it all together to read simple texts and books. It is possible to buy Grade 1 level books that go through this process and as long as you are able to help she could always work through one of these at her own pace over the holidays: once she has grasped the phonetics she should have no problems. Italian is a much easier language to read than English and I am sure she will be fine.
Good luck
Anne2

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/06/2005 - 02:45

Thank you everyone for your advice. You have put my mind at rest. I bought a few books yesterday and will go again into town on Wednesday and have another look (when I have time).

We went to visit the school on Friday with a friend her daughter was gradudating (from kindergarden). It was lovely and interesting to see the difference in a UK and Italian School. I think I prefer the more relaxed attitude of the Italian School. Having worked in this environment I could also see how dedicated and hardworking the teachers all were.

The other thing I found interesting was this was the first catholic school I had ever been into and the Nuns were so friendly and approachable and a few quite young. It went against every stereotype I personally held.

My daughter and son are both really looking forward to going.