"Learning about traditions and culture, as well as learning the language, brought me closer to my maternal family," says Alexander Tsipos (pictured), speaking correctly, and with an excellent Italian accent.
A great curiosity for his family's origins led this brilliant student to continue studying Italian ― which he first took up in primary school ― throughout high school. He even managed to complete VCE Italian in Year 11, obtaining an overall study score of 44/50, and 40/40 for the oral exam.
Immense motivation and the support of his family and teachers are the elements to which Alexander owes this success:
"Robert Trafficante, my Year 9 teacher, played a fundamental role in my decision to continue with the study of the language, also helping me to prepare for VCE, and I thank him for that," the student comments.
Despite being proven wrong by the exam result, Alexander finds the oral part more difficult than reading and writing, which is why he makes an effort to practice a lot, especially with his family members, with whom he spends plenty of time having conversations.
"I also watch films and TV series. Recently, I watched ‘Summertime’, which I liked, because it tells the stories of a group of young people, and it is interesting to hear how young people really talk,” Alexander explains.
Films, TV series, radio and podcasts, but also a number of books in Italian, have helped Tsipos to build up his vocabulary and deepen his knowledge of grammar.
Alexander Tsipos
For the future, he seems to have a clear plan of action:
“I would like to do an exchange with an Italian university and, after graduation, live for a few years in the Bel Paese, maybe in Florence and Rome, which are cities I have already had the opportunity to visit and enjoyed very much,” he adds.
Also among Alexander's plans is the study of Greek, so that he can also get in touch with his father's culture.
