It must have been a rewarding week for Chiara Mauri, the Italian Consul General in Melbourne, and Valentina Biguzzi, Head of Education and Culture at the Italian Embassy in Canberra, as they celebrated Italian Language Week by visiting bilingual schools around Melbourne.
On October 17 and 18, primary school students from Brunswick South and Footscray welcomed the delegation with an assembly.
The children performed songs in Italian, including pieces from the classic Zecchino d’Oro repertoire.
Kristie Satilmis, Principal of Brunswick South, said that learning a language is “more than just a form of communication; it’s a bridge to other worlds, ideas and diverse perspectives”.
Consul Mauri addressed the students, emphasising that their school is a “wonderful example of how languages and cultural diversity enrich everyone’s lives”.
She added that language is a powerful tool that helps us interpret and understand information, emotions and stories.
Finally, Valentina Biguzzi engaged the children with her enthusiasm, discussing the importance of books and reading.
Footscray Principal Jenny Briggs, along with Learning Specialist Jacqueline Robertson, guided Consul Mauri and Valentina Biguzzi through the school’s classrooms to showcase the outstanding results achieved through their bilingual program.
