HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Good Morning,

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the people around you start speaking in a language you do not understand? This can be frustrating, especially in international environments where different cultures and languages are present. Sometimes, individuals from the same country may begin conversing in their native language, not considering that others in the group may not understand. While it is important to speak your mother tongue, it is equally important to be mindful of others’ feelings. I have been in situations where people were speaking in Polish or Chinese, and I could not understand a word, which made me feel left out.

Let us strive to be more inclusive when sharing our native languages in international settings. Thank you!

I must admit, I have made that mistake myself. I have spoken my own language in front of people who did not understand it and realized how uncomfortable it can be. It is awkward for the person who does not speak your language or the predominant language in that setting. They might think you are talking about them, even if you are not, which can make them feel excluded.

What I am trying to convey is that if you are in an international group (such as a mix of French, Italian, Colombian, etc.) and there is a common language that everyone understands, like English or Norwegian here in Norway, use that language. Do not wait for your Italian friend and start speaking Italian when no one else understands. It is simply not polite. However, if you are alone with someone from your own country, feel free to speak your language.

Speaking your language in front of others who do not understand it is not the way to gain positive attention. It does not make you look cool; it just makes you appear as a showoff.

Therefore, whenever you are in a group of people who speak different languages, if there is any doubt about being understood, just switch to a common language.

It is all about respect and consideration.

What do you think about this? Has it ever happened to you? How did you feel?

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ITALIAN AS A SECOND/THIRD LANGUAGE

Today, I am going to comment on a very interesting article I came across that discusses how children learn Italian as a second or third language.

Allow me to elaborate further: here in Oslo, there is an Italian association where teachers and academic professionals teach Italian to children. These children either have Italian parents or are of half Italian and half Norwegian origin. It is fascinating to observe how these children learn a second or third language in addition to their native Norwegian.

While some of these children can accelerate their learning at home with the support of their Italian parents, others may need to put in a bit more effort due to their practice being limited to a classroom environment. However, regardless of their family background, it is said that children find it easier to learn a new language because they do not have as much information in their brains as adults. This means they are able to absorb and memorize new information more quickly.

Some of you may be wondering why I have selected this particular topic today. Well, it is because I have been hired by this Italian Association to work as a teacher for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Yippee!

What excites me the most about this role is the idea of becoming part of a system where I can witness these children’s progress while exploring new ways to support them throughout this journey. It will also be interesting to see how they use their imagination and creativity in a non-native language. I believe that people, particularly children, can learn faster while having a bit of fun. Therefore, I will be experimenting with game-like tasks to support their learning. In addition, I am planning to let them watch cartoons, read fairy tales to them, do some origami, etc. For the primary teachers out there, any other suggestions?

My first aim will be to understand how much Italian they know so far in order to determine the best class for them and the most effective way to teach them this beautiful language. This is a new and exciting challenge for me, as it is my first time teaching Italian as a second or third language to children. Currently, the lessons will be held online, but I am eager to teach in person soon, as I believe it is easier to learn a language face-to-face rather than through a computer.

Let’s see how it goes, wish me good luck!

And you, do you have any children who are learning a second or third language?

Feel free to share your insights and experiences.

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LA BELLA MA SBAGLIATA ITALIA

Dear Readers,

After some delightful and relaxing holidays, I am back! How are you all? I can say that I am doing well, back to study and work… I could use a holiday after the holidays, hehe!

Now, let’s focus on the topic I would like to discuss today: the frequent errors we encounter on Italian menus in Italian restaurants around the world. There are so many! I believe that the presentation of a menu and culinary culture are crucial when you sit at the table of a restaurant representing your country.

The first thought that comes to mind when I read these mistakes is: the author is not Italian. However, this is not always the case, unfortunately. Even Italians themselves sometimes make errors when writing in their language.

But what are the mistakes commonly made by those who own Italian restaurants?

Orthographic and grammatical mistakes.

How often do we read: “Spagheti, Spagetti, Veggetariana, Capriciosa, Coze,” etc., when it should be: “Spaghetti, Vegetariana, Capricciosa, Cozze,” etc.?

Or how frequently do we come across: “Buoni sapori ce puoi assagiare sul nostro tavola,” which should be: “Buoni sapori che puoi assaggiare sulla nostra tavola!” or “I nostri clienti sono benvenuto,” when it should be “benvenuti,” the plural form?

I don’t know about you, but I go crazy every time I encounter such experiences, which unfortunately happens quite often!

However, let’s hope that now, with Google at our fingertips, these errors can be checked before being written… hehe!

For those who have been following my blog from the beginning, you already know how curious and particular I become when it comes to “language”! Mistakes should not be made, especially when they appear on a menu that hundreds of people can see!

Anyway, let’s try to stay positive and hope for fewer experiences like these in the future!

Have a wonderful day and a pleasant end of summer!

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I miss being a tourist…

Greetings Everyone,

What a time we are living in! First and foremost, I hope that all of you are safe and well.

The topic of this article revolves around one of my greatest passions: traveling.

I truly and deeply love to travel! Believe me, I have had the opportunity to visit many different countries, and I would love to explore even more. The world is vast and filled with incredible sights… but who can possibly see it all?

But what type of tourism do I engage in? And what about others? What purpose does tourism serve?

I recently read an article about tourism that classified three different types of tourism: artistic tourism (museums, buildings, art galleries, religious temples, skyscrapers, monuments, etc.); event tourism (conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, etc.); and nightlife tourism (parties, parties, parties…hehehe). To these, I would like to add “self-discovery tourism” or journeys that help one find themselves. Although, I believe that we do not need to seek external experiences to fulfill our souls, as fulfillment is already within us (a bit of philosophy here!). You can feel the same wherever you go unless you work on your inner self. Thus, travel is not always necessary.

Personally, I engage in a mix of the first three types of tourism. I think being a tourist is akin to being a student in a classroom: you learn and observe the daily life of a place; you taste wonderful foods; you experience things that may be unfamiliar in your own country, like different music or shows; and you learn about new cultures and their traditions. Traveling enriches your soul and makes you feel free to feel, think, see, do, and even buy. What a discovery, right? Haha. I know many of you share my thoughts on traveling, but I write this because I miss buying a flight ticket and dreaming about my next adventure. When I finally have the chance to travel again, believe me, I will savor every moment. After this stressful period and the constant fear for ourselves and our families, we all deserve to go back to where we belong or simply hug each other tightly until we find it hard to breathe! How amazing would that feel?

It is true that we appreciate or miss something much more once it is no longer available, rather than taking it for granted. This situation, caused by Covid-19, has forced us to change our habits and lifestyles: something as simple as a hug or a handshake may have held little importance before because it was taken for granted… but now? Now that we can no longer do these things, how does it feel? Bad, right?

For those who love tourism, I affirm that tourism is beneficial for everyone, not just for consumerism, which benefits society, but for enriching our knowledge, minds, and souls. You can meet people, compare your story to theirs, learn tips to improve your lifestyle or diet, visit new places, and so on. There is an infinite number of benefits we can gain from traveling. The most important thing is to appreciate our own country or home after visiting a place we may not have liked.

So, my friends, I truly hope that this lockdown will end soon and we can return to our routines, traveling once again to discover more of this wonderful world! I know it will take some time, but never lose hope!

What are your thoughts on this?

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Latin still lives!

Hello Everyone,

As time progresses, everything around us evolves, and our language is no exception. In our daily routine, we use English words, and our vocabulary is continuously updating. However, today I would like to focus on how we Italians still keep our linguistic roots alive!

Despite the prevalence of modern language, we continue to use Latin words and expressions such as: carpe diem, curriculum vitae, alias, Deo gratias, etc., which have Italian equivalents. But why do we do this if Latin is no longer spoken in our daily lives?

Is it to showcase our intellectual prowess? Or do these specific Latin words and expressions convey our intended meaning more accurately?

To help unravel this little mystery of mine, driven by curiosity, I had an interesting conversation with one of my dearest friends. We have known each other for many years. He is an Italian, Latin, History, and Geography professor, also qualified to teach Greek. He resides in a small and beautiful town in Southern Italy named Mesoraca. I sought his opinion to compare our perspectives and to learn more from an expert. His name is Francesco Grano, and here I share his explanation:

He explained that we use these Latin words and expressions because they are “linguistic fossils,” some of which, over time, have permeated our daily speech due to their cultured origin. Many are common sayings embedded in our historical and linguistic memory, such as sic et simpliciter (thus and simply) and ex abrupto (without preparation). Others originate from literary traditions, like famous Latinisms still used in literature today. These belong to the refined lexicon of poets and prose writers. Additionally, some are cultured quotes memorized and repeated over time, present in the works of those who preceded us (for example, carpe diem by Horace and alea iacta est by Caesar). They have various levels of continuity.

Reading his messages was enlightening! The wealth of knowledge he shared was fascinating. What I cherished most was his quote, “If you think well, Italian is Latin!” This statement made me realize that we have a vast cultural and linguistic heritage that we will always carry with us.

A special thanks to my wonderful friend Francesco Grano, who is not only a learned professor but also a beautiful and warm-hearted human being!

I hope you enjoyed this article!

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