CONVERSAZIONE IN LINGUA STRANIERA: UN APPORTO FONDAMENTALE PER L’EDUCAZIONE INTERCULTURALE DEGLI STUDENTI

(Intervista al prof. Richard Tommolini)

Nel nostro Istituto l’insegnamento delle lingue straniere si avvale dell’indispensabile contributo dei docenti conversatori madrelingua, in compresenza con i docenti di Lingue, per un’ora settimanale in ciascuna classe del Liceo Linguistico.

When did you discover your passion for Italian?

Well, I’d have to say starting with when I came here to live and began learning the language.

What do you like best about Italian culture?

Really, having travelled extensively around the world, I really don’t think it is an overstatement to say that Italy has so much to offer; from its beaches to its food, from Art to History and from Fashion to Design, but I’d say, what I most appreciate about Italian culture is the warmth of Italian people themselves.

A vice and a virtue of your country and of Italy

Well, let’s start with the US, a virtue I would point out is its simplified bureaucracy, a vice would have to be its formal President.

How long have you been working in our school and why would you recommend it?

Actually, I started working my first year of teaching here while completing my schedule with hours in other schools. In recent years I’ve been fortunate enough to have all my hour in our school.

To begin with, I would recommend our school because high level language skills are a requisite in today’s job market and also because the study of foreign languages teaches and encourages respect for other peoples: it fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature making one more flexible and tolerant.