Reading, creating and playing in Italian at the library

MELBOURNE – Every Thursday morning during the school term for about an hour, children five years old and under can join the free ‘Italian Storytime’ at Rowville Library with Laura Mazzatenta.

Reading stories, singing songs, doing simple crafts and playing games is a great way for little ones to be exposed to the Italian language.

An English teacher and theatre enthusiast during her time in Italy, Mazzatenta moved to Melbourne in 2012 at the age of 28.

In Australia, she switched to language teaching, offering Italian lessons to both children and adults as well as organising the Italian Storytime sessions since 2018.

“The person who was running it at the time contacted me to see if I wanted to participate,” Mazzatenta explained.

“Since my first child was very young, I took the opportunity to expose him to the language.”

During story time sessions, kids generally sing and dance to classic Italian songs such as Ci vuole un fiore, Giro giro tondo and La bella lavanderina.

Mazzatenta also translates well-known English songs into Italian, which the children love.

“When possible, I try to incorporate cultural elements into the sessions, sometimes by following the Italian holiday calendar [with events] like Carnevale or Christmas,” she said.

“[From there] I have a way to introduce themes like the Befana.”

While reading to the children, Mazzatenta brings the story to life with objects that relate to the fairytale. She also utilises music, so the children can experience full sensory immersion while surrounded by the language.

Over time, the Italian Storytime sessions have become a regular event for a group of families.

“It’s important to create ongoing social opportunities to nurture bilingualism,” Mazzatenta emphasised.

Many of the group’s parents not only want to expose their children to the Italian language and culture, but they also want them to practice with their peers and other adults.

“[It’s important the kids] realise that the language is also spoken outside their nuclear family,” Mazzatenta explained.

Thanks to the success of the Rowville program, Mazzatenta is considering opening Italian Storytime sessions at other local libraries.

“The hope is to engage new Italian families or those interested in learning our language and culture with their children.”