Footscray Primary, which offers the International Baccalaureate (IB), inaugurated its bilingual program last year.

Despite the lockdown, bilingual learning specialist Jackie Robertson concluded that it was a satisfying start to the initiative.

“The students were all present and happy to participate in the sessions remotely,” she said.

“It gave families the opportunity to understand how the lessons are structured and see how easily their children understood both languages.”

Feedback from families has been positive and though no students of Italian origin are enrolled in the school, Robertson has been overwhelmed by the support from the community.

Robertson herself first came into contact with Italian during a three-month school exchange in Carbonia, Sardinia.

She is well-aware of the benefit of bilingual learning for children.

Students also learn Vietnamese at school, taught via the ELLA method.

On a visit to the school, principal Jen Briggs explains that the premises are expanding and renovations are under way.

Briggs aims to increase enrolments and the overall number of students at the school.

“We’ll be able to welcome up to 675 children and for each year we’ll have two adjacent classes – one in English and one in Italian,” she said.

“The goal is to widen our enrolments, to offer places to students outside of our area.”

Mathematics, literature, writing and music classes are held in Italian.

“We begin by teaching the students the directions in Italian, often accompanying them with images,” Roberston continued.

“We move on to repetition of the words, with the aim that the children memorise them.

“Finally, we encourage students to speak and converse with one another in Italian.”

Jackie Robertson, the bilingual learning specialist, with Federica Mancusi, one of the Italian language assistants

Sarah Mildner, the school’s music teacher, is housed in one of the older parts of the school, characterised by a small wooden stage, exposed ceiling beams and an antique feel.

There are neatly arranged instruments around the room and colourful pictures on the walls.

Mildner has combined her two great passions: music and languages.

The music teacher speaks English, German and Italian, which she learned through a private college in Melbourne, before spending three months in San Giovanni Valdarno, in Tuscany.

Mildner studied at the Conservatory of Music, where she played the flute, and obtained a double degree with honours in Music and Teaching.

“I’ve always loved the musicality of Italian,” she said.

“During my studies, I played in orchestras, sang in different choirs and staged musicals.”

When the bell rings, students file in and sing Ciao, come stai? together, an exercise that Mildner uses to greet them and mark the roll.

The students participate in a call-and-response manner, saying their name and performing gestures.

Overall, Footscray Primary has created an immersive Italian experience, replete with teachers and assistants, so that students are supported on their journey to learning new languages.