Today my Italian class did a language exchange day with some classes in an Italian high school. Instead of going to class we met at the metro stop Loretto (and I went to the wrong one, then got horribly lost once I managed to get myself to the right place…), and then walked to the school.
There is something about walking into a high school, no matter where you are it feels like walking into a high school. As we walked into this one, though, we were gently informed that we would not be allowed to speak in English, we were supposed to speak in Italian the entire time on school property, and the Italian students would speak in English. That’s just a little bit overwhelming to hear at nine in the morning, and makes the whole high school thing just a bit more intimidating than it should be for a 21 year old woman.
The students were amazing. The first class we went to we just sat and spoke with the students, them in English, and us in Italian, back and forth, asking questions, and learning about Italian slang. The sixteen year olds in that class were great, and while they might have been a bit embarrassed, it was way better than my Italian.
The next class split the American students into small groups that would be led on a tour by slightly larger groups of Italian students. That was fun too, and that was the point at which most of us shifted back into English, because it’s easier. I toured with one other classmate, shown around by three Italian seniors who were happy to show us around, but didn’t know what would be interesting to see. Just like in the States, four years of living in a school will definitely blind you to the cool parts about it.
On tour!
This tour had an interesting moment, when we found the Italian student’s English teacher with her class. Apparently, instead of students switching classrooms to go to teachers, in Italy the teachers will go to the classrooms, except for specialized classes like lab science and PE. So we found these students’ English teacher with a class of sophomores, and I’m pretty sure I know now what it feels like to be a tween pop idol. The excitement in the room when James and I stepped in and were introduced as “Americans” was palpable, as well as deafening. They wanted to know so much about us, and, as expected, I said I was from “Seattle, in Washington State in the Pacific Northwest” twenty girls start twittering about Twilight. Nivana, Jimi Hendrix, Microsoft, Nintendo, Amazon, and Gray’s Anatomy are what the people my age and older usually think of, but teen girls? Twilight…Go figure. But the most surprising thing about the class? There was a box of cigarettes out on the desk of one of the students, all casual. That would never fly back home, but here, “va bene.”
This said “Provinca di Milano” (the province of Milan) at one point. Now it says “Rovina di Milano” which means the ruin of Milan. Our tour guides’ favorite part of the school.
One of my tour guides was also a piano player, so we had discussed music earlier, and she happened to let the teacher know that I was a singer…and the teacher brought it up to the class…that wanted a song. So out comes Sankta Lucia because it’s in Sweedish, and it’s relatively limited in range, and it’s generally a crowd pleaser. Apparently they heard me three classrooms down…oops…
Once our tour finished, we were led to the “Meeting Room” for an address by the principal, and some refreshments, as well as some social time with Italian students of all ages, until classes switched, and most of the IES students had to return to Cattolica for class. I didn’t yet, so one of my friends and I stuck around, and went to yet another Italian class to talk to the students in English. I discussed Universities, American cities, and driving with the girls I spoke to. Apparently in Italy, at the age of 18 you are allowed to purchase alcohol and to drive. Driving is the big deal, and they were all excited to inform me that they had passed their examination, and had their licenses to drive.
The principal letting us know how important foreign relations and languages are.
Part of the crowd of Americans and Italians.
More students
And, he’s on his phone…
With that class, it would have been over, but the girls were so charming that they charmed me into going with them to their PE class and seeing if I could play volleyball with them. Their teacher said no, like he should have (liability reasons and all that), but I did get to stick around and watch, chatting with other students.
All too soon it was time to go, but hopefully our class will return before the end of the semester. It was a really fun way to start the day!
It's a New Old World to Me 