SYDNEY - The son of Calabrian parents - his father born there and his mother in Australia to Calabrian parents - Leone grew up speaking dialect at home, believing as a child that it was Italian.

It was only during his first trip to Italy that he discovered the gap between the Calabrian dialect and the official language, an experience that deeply shaped both his linguistic and personal journey.

“I only spoke dialect until I was five,” he said, “and when we returned to Italy in 1999, I realised I couldn’t speak Italian,” he recalled.

“I would say undi instead of dove (where), and I mixed up many words.”

This realisation led him to study Italian formally at university, completing a Diploma of Language alongside a degree in Media and Communications. In 2011, he also took part in a summer program in Bologna and travelled throughout Italy.

“Rome is my favourite city because of its energy and history,” he said, “But the pesto focaccia from Cinque Terre also left its mark,” he joked, showing a deep affection for Italian cuisine as well.

Today, he teaches Italian to students from Grade 6 to Year 12 in an all-boys school. “We have three Italian teachers and great enrolment numbers in all classes,” he shared.

“What struck me from the beginning was how motivated even the students without Italian heritage were. Italian is chosen here by students from very diverse backgrounds.”

His lessons go well beyond grammar. Cooking, art, culture and technology are all integral parts of the program.

“We’ve brought in food experts like Piatto Perfetto, we organise workshops using newspapers, study monuments and listen to Italian music,” he said.

“Students even make videos with subtitles and Italian music,” he added.

Leone says that a key factor in the department’s success is the relationship between teachers and students. “Our approach is very contemporary, human connection is at the heart of everything,” he explained.

“The boys often tell me that Italian is their favourite subject. Sometimes I walk down the halls and they ask me, ‘Sir, do we have Italian today?’” he shared with pride.

His method blends rigor, creativity, formal assessments, an innovative use of technology and an almost artisanal care in crafting teaching materials.

“We use colours, emojis, engaging fonts - anything that can make learning visually stimulating. We want students to be proud of their work and their environment,” he explained.

For Leone, teaching Italian is also a way to give back to the community and keep its heritage alive.

“The Italian language gave me a way to connect with my roots and, more broadly, with the world,” he said.

“Being able to relate to people who, even thousands of kilometres away, are part of who you are and your way of facing life, is priceless. And that’s what I try to convey to my students every day,” he concluded.

Leone’s call to recognise the beauty and value of diversity, especially in a multicultural community like that of New South Wales, must be heeded.