The initiative was announced by Vice President Antonella Beconi, who emphasised the association’s desire to fill an educational gap for an age group that is often overlooked outside the formal school system.
The course, which will begin on Saturday, May 17, will be held at the Better Read Than Dead bookstore at 256 King Street, Newtown.
“We’ve always offered courses for adults, but we felt the need to create a space for children as well,” said Beconi.
“The idea was born from the desire to give young children an opportunity to immerse themselves in the Italian language in a playful and creative way, while also giving parents a chance to share a meaningful learning experience with their children.”
The course will be led by Mara Panetta, a teacher who specialises in early childhood education and has both academic and practical experience working with young children.
“It’s important to have qualified professionals,” Beconi explained, “because with young children, you can’t just improvise.
“The success of the course and the trust of families greatly depend on the teacher.”
Each class will include animated readings, games, songs and artistic activities that stimulate creativity and curiosity, fostering a natural learning of Italian.
This is not just an educational opportunity, but also a precious moment of connection for bilingual families as well as those interested in the Italian language and culture.
With this initiative, the Dante Alighieri Society of Sydney reaffirms its commitment to promoting Italian heritage in Australia, offering new tools to transmit the language and culture starting from the earliest years of life.
This is a small step with the potential to make a big impact, especially at a time when the Italian language in Australia needs to be promoted as much as possible.
It could make a significant impact on the lives of today’s children, who are growing up with mixed identities and looking for their place in a world where cultures are increasingly interconnected.
