Tutto Italiano - November 2010

Enjoy another installment from Tutto Italiano crafted and researched by Janice Mancuso 

There is so much to learn about the Italian Culture! 

 

 

Tutto ItalianoBenvenuto a Tutto Italiano

In America, the season of feasts and celebrations has begun, but in Italy, numerous festivals are held throughout the year. Almost every town – from the smallest village to the largest city – has a Patron Saint, and with festivities commemorating history, people, culture, wine, food, and folklore, it’s possible that somewhere in Italy, a festival happens every day.

 

Festivals in Italy (Some popular festivals listed by month. Scroll down for links to Italy by the month.)

 

More Festivals in Italy (Listed by region. Click on “Festivals in Italy” or scroll down for regional list.)

 

Patrons of Italy (Scroll down for list of cities.)

 

Calendar of Saints

 

Contemporary Art in Ancient Rome
In 1998, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, headed by Minster Sandro Bondi, developed a plan to build the first museum in Italy dedicated to contemporary art. MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Art, designed by the London-based architect firm of Zaha Hadid, opened in Rome this past May.

 

The building curves along the L-shape piece of property, looking like several pieces of intersecting and overlapping concrete ribbons, and has earned Hadid four awards this year. The interior of the Museum features sleek walls that twist and turn, floating staircases, large plate-glass windows, and skylights with metal beams. Separate areas have been designated for exhibits, conferences, workshops, and shows about modern art and architecture.

 

Designing MAXXI (Paintings, Floor Plans and Pictures by the Architect.)

 

Italian Studies in AmericaLast January, the College Board cancelled the Advanced Placement Italian Language and Culture Course because not enough students were participating in the program. Supported by Italian American organizations and individuals, and the Italian government, the program was added to the College Board in 2005.

 

Through the concentrated efforts of numerous Italian American organizations and individuals, the Italian Language Foundation “dedicated to promoting and sustaining Italian language education in the United States,” and the Italian government, the AP Italian program will be reinstated in September 2011, with the first exam scheduled for May 2012.

 

To increase enrollment in the program, and in addition to expanding existing school courses, the major task is to generate interest in schools throughout America to start Italian language programs. Although there has been much written about Italian language programs being cut in schools and colleges, it’s possible that schools with significant Italian American populations may be able to add Italian language programs. However, schools with smaller amounts of Italian Americans may have difficulties, especially in light of state budget cuts projected for 2011.

 

When I wrote about the AP Italian program and how to generate more participation in the September 2008 issue of Tutto Italiano, I asked, “If students have little knowledge of Italian culture, heritage, or history, how will they develop an interest in its language?”

 

The problem is not just with the schools, colleges, universities, and teachers or professors of Italian. It starts at home. Italian American children must be taught about their Italian heritage.

 

AP Italian Regains Spot (NY Times, November 10,2010)

 

Learn Italian in ItalyOne of the best ways to learn any language is by visiting the country, and schools that offer language along with culture are abundant in Italy. Il Faro, Center for Italian Language and Culture, located in Caorle (near Venice), provides an assortment of programs and is now offering a scholarship to American students for its 2011 Italian immersion program.

 

Caorle (In Italian)

 

Inside Venice and Veneto (Click on side navigation bar for more about Venice.)

 

Study Abroad in Italy

 

Articles of Interest
Read “A Brief History of Italian Food in America” (excerpt from Con Amore) in the November issue of La Gazzetta Italiana.

 

Buon anno, buon tutto, buona vita,
Janice Therese Mancuso
Author of Con Amore

 

Thirty-One Days of Italians

Support Italian American History in America's Schools
Make a donation for Italian American Education

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©2010 by Janice Therese Mancuso. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission except when quoted for promotional purposes. Publish with this credit: Excerpted from Tutto Italiano ©2010 by Janice Therese Mancuso. www.jtmancuso.com