Lisa Sciortino makes it sound commonplace when she mentions that her children can speak her language.

The fact that two kids, aged 11 and eight, are so motivated to learn not only how to speak Italian, but also how to read and write is quite rare.

“We have always spoken Italian with them,” explained Alessio and Dario's mother, “and the children have always responded to us in the same language”.

“Maybe it's natural for them to think of it as the language of home.”

In order to maintain this habit and nurture their interest in the culture of their origins, Lisa and her husband Andrea have committed to simple but effective rituals such as listening to the radio.

“In the afternoon, when we’re at home, we tune in to Radio Subasio and leave it on in the background,” Sciortino revealed.

“This way, we listen to both Italian and international music, pleasing everyone.”

Dario and Alessio study Italian at the primary school they attend, where their teacher prepares more advanced lessons and activities specifically for them.

This prevents the boys from becoming bored and uninspired.

"The brothers speak Italian amongst themselves and [continually improve] thanks to online lessons that an aunt of my husband - a retired school teacher - organises for them each week,” Sciortino explained.

“We are very grateful to her for the time she devotes because, as they’re at different levels due to the age difference, they take lessons separately.

“They have made great strides since starting.”

Alessio, the oldest child, will move on to high school next year, and the family has chosen a school in the area that offers Italian as a subject.

He is very excited about the possibility of doing an exchange program with an Italian school when he is older.

Bilingualism brings with it the challenge of maintaining traditions and a connection to Italian culture.

Since some customs are not easy to replicate, such as Christmas lunches with the whole family, Sciortino and her husband thought of organising a day dedicated to making sugo.

"We meet every year with other Italian families to prepare the passata,” said Sciortino.

Andrea teaches the kids how to prepare the tomato passata

“We talk in Italian and do something that everyone enjoys, young and old.

"When we hear the children slipping into English, we remind them that they have to try speaking Italian.

“My children find it quite easy; they take great pride in their origins."

Ironically, when they left Rome to move to Brisbane in 2012, she and her husband avoided socialising with Italians in order to improve their English.

In fact, at the time, Sciortino’s English was not what it is now, so she participated in conversation classes organised by her local library.

As a result, Sciortino learnt firsthand the value of immersing oneself in a foreign language and is passing this on to her children.