This not only extends the capacity to communicate but develops understanding of and respect for diversity and difference.
The aim of Language Speaking Competitions is to allow language students to express their ideas, display their language skills and gain confidence in using the language they are studying.
During the month of August 2019, students studying Italian at schools across Queensland had the opportunity to show off their linguistic skills at five regional speaking competitions organised across the state.
Students were judged on their delivery, fluency, pronunciation and grammatical accuracy by judges who are experts in the teaching of Italian to speakers of other languages.
The first of the five regional competitions kicked off in Brisbane with the fourth Italian Speaking Competition organised by the Italian Language Centre (ILC) with the support of the Modern Language Teachers’ Association Queensland (MLTAQ) over the weekend of August 3 and 4, 2019.
Students from Year 2 to Year 6 recited poems and those from Year 7 to Year 12 delivered speeches.
At the end of each session all students received participation certificates and a commemorative gift before judges called up the gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
Judges from the ILC, the Dante Alighieri Society and Griffith University congratulated students on demonstrating exceptional linguistic abilities – reminding them that regardless of whether they had won a place, they were all winners for having participated.
The second regional Italian Speech Competition held in Townsville from August 7 to 8, was hosted by the Townsville Catholic Education Office (TCEO) at the Ryan Community Centre.
Sharyn Bell from TCEO warmly welcomed assembled students, parents and teachers representing primary and secondary schools from Townsville and surrounding districts.
The invited judges, Marzia Mauro and Rosella Dermedgoglou from the ILC, evaluated language accuracy and fluency as students recited poetry or delivered prepared speeches.
The highlight was the presentation of the Junior Championship Trophy by Mrs Di Marzio and her son Donald Di Marzio, who awarded the Maria Di Marzio Memorial Trophy to the primary student in Years 5 to 6 with the highest score.
In the secondary section, the Dante Alighieri Townsville representative presented the Dante Alighieri Champion Speaker Award to the top scorer in Years 9 to 10.
The MLTAQ Gold Coast, Peninsula, and Sunshine Coast branches hosted the third, fourth and fifth regional Language Speaking Competitions at Griffith University Gold Coast on Sunday, August 18; at the Cairns School of Distance Education on August 23; and at the University of the Sunshine Coast on August 25.
At these final three speaking competitions, the Italian judging teams included Marzia Mauro and Rosella Dermedgoglou from the ILC, who judged students in Years 4 to 12 on their fluency, pronunciation and accuracy.
Judges agreed the standard was extremely high, reflecting the effective language teaching and learning taking place in Italian classrooms throughout Queensland.
These events promote the teaching and learning of a foreign language and make a valuable contribution towards students becoming better global citizens.
At all the language competitions there was great excitement amongst the Years 10, 11 and 12 finalists, who all qualified for entry into the Italian Language Queensland State Championship, to take place in Brisbane on October 20, 2019.
This spectacular event, now in its second year, celebrates the 19th Week of the Italian Language in the World.
Dina Ranieri, CEO of the ILC, firmly believes in supporting the promotion and teaching of Italian in Queensland by sponsoring Italian speaking competitions across the State.
In addition to providing a variety of support for Italian programs in Queensland schools, the ILC also offers a wide range of language courses from beginners to advanced; from pre-schoolers to adults.
For further information visit the website or Facebook page, call (07) 3624 6100, or send an email.
