L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 2023 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano T he Istituto Ital- i a n o S c u o l a (IIS) in San Fran- c i s c o t a k e s t h i s i d e a t o h e a r t , offering not just language courses but a wide range of cultural experiences: unlike many language schools, IIS e m p h a s i z e s c o m m u n i t y - building and delves deeply into Italian literature, provid- ing a holistic experience for students. We recently sat down with M a r t i n a D i B i a s e , t h e Executive Director of IIS, to learn more about the school's unique approach. Martina, who took on her role in Octo- ber 2021, brings a rich acade- mic background to the insti- t u t e : s h e c o m p l e t e d h e r undergraduate and Master's degrees at the University of Bologna, majoring in Political Science and Anthropology. During her time there, she started teaching Italian to foreign students, and became a certified DITALS (Italian as a foreign language) teacher in 2007. She furthered her edu- cation by earning a Master's degree in Pedagogy and Pro- motion of the Italian Lan- guage and Culture from the University of Venice, Ca' Fos- cari, in 2017. Over the years, she has taught Italian in a variety of settings, including instructing seminary students in the Vatican, foreign diplo- mats stationed in Italy, study a b r o a d s t u d e n t s , a n d r e f u g e e s . I n R o m e , s h e founded an Italian language school, managing it for over three years. Dr Di Biase now leads IIS in its mission to offer a comprehensive Italian cultural experience. Join us as we explore what makes IIS stand out in the field of lan- guage education. T e l l u s s o m e t h i n g about the Istituto Ital- i a n o S c u o l a ( I I S ) a n d how it came to be. The Istituto Italiano Scuo- la was founded in the mid- '90s and is a non-profit orga- nization with a mission to promote Italian language and culture in the Bay Area and beyond. We are a fully inde- p e n d e n t n o n - p r o f i t a n d finance ourselves through student tuition for Italian courses without receiving any funding from the Italian gov- ernment. Over the years, we h a v e g r o w n s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m b e i n g a m i d - s i z e d school operating solely in San F r a n c i s c o : t h a n k s t o o u r transition to online learning, we now have students from all over the United States. Today, IIS is a multifaceted institution, and categorizing it simply as a "school" can be a challenge. What we aim to offer to our students, and everyone who participates in our events, is a window into Italy and Italian life that goes beyond the usual stereotypes. W e w a n t t o b r i n g p e o p l e closer to the authentic Italian way of life. What I find very inter- esting about the Istituto is how the focus is not only on language but also on culture and literature. Can you tell us more? Literature is undoubtedly one of the distinctive features of the Istituto, and I am per- sonally very proud of it. For example, our courses delve into the works of both classic and contemporary Italian authors. For each novel we read, our instructors provide an in-depth analysis of the social and historical back- ground of the work, unravel- ing aspects of Italian history and culture. This approach a l l o w s o u r s t u d e n t s t o embark on a journey through I t a l y a s t h e y e x p l o r e t h e depth and diversity of Italian life and society through the pages of these novels. Our lit- erature-enthusiast groups are among the longest-standing components of the IIS, with some members having par- ticipated for more than 20 years. Our instructors are highly qualified and guide our readers with great pas- sion and skill. Our literature classes and book clubs set IIS apart from other schools, where advanced-level offer- ings are usually limited. Another aspect of the I s t i t u t o ' s c o u r s e s a n d e v e n t s I r e a l l y l i k e i s their focus on socializ- ing. It really looks like y o u a r e b u i l d i n g u p a true community of peo- p l e s h a r i n g t h e s a m e i n t e r e s t s a n d , s o m e - times, roots: can you tell us more about it? Creating a sense of com- munity is one of the main pillars of our strategy and holds significant importance for us. We aim to build a community of individuals connected to Italy through heritage, family history, or simply a passion for Italian culture. We want to extend this opportunity not only to those living in San Francisco but to everyone. One of our most successful in-person events is our aperitivo, an Italian-style evening hosted by us where people can con- verse in Italian and meet fel- low Italophiles. Additionally, we organize online and in- p e r s o n c i n e f o r u m s , w i n e tastings, cooking classes, c h i l d r e n ' s a c t i v i t i e s , a n d much more. It's worth noting that over the past year, we have started forging partner- ships with numerous Italian or Italian-American business owners, offering them visibil- ity among our approximately 500 students and providing our students and instructors w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o access Italian products at discounted prices. Let's go back to lan- guage learning. You pro- vide a variety of courses, i n c l u d i n g t h e T e s t d i Competenza Linguistica CELI, necessary to apply for Italian citizenship. C a n y o u t e l l u s m o r e a b o u t y o u r l i n g u i s t i c offerings? We take pride in offering one of the most comprehen- sive sets of language courses. We offer nearly 70 courses per term, catering to all lev- e l s , f r o m b e g i n n e r s t o advanced. Our classes cover various aspects, including grammar, conversation, liter- ature, Italian for travelers, and preparation for citizen- ship tests. These classes are available both online and in person, with online courses designed to accommodate learners in different US time zones. Additionally, we pro- vide private lessons, includ- ing group options, allowing families or friends to arrange Italian classes at specific days and times that suit their schedules. One last question: in all the years you've been active as a language and cultural institute, what's t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l thing a student told you about their time at IIS? One memorable instance that truly encapsulates the e s s e n c e o f o u r i n s t i t u t e i n v o l v e d a s t u d e n t w h o shared how their experience at IIS had a profound impact on their language and cultur- a l j o u r n e y . T h i s s t u d e n t emphasized the exceptional learning environment that our instructors had created, where they felt inspired to n o t o n l y e x p e r i m e n t a n d make mistakes but also to explore and fully immerse themselves in the Italian lan- guage and culture. This, in turn, led to the class becom- i n g t h e h i g h l i g h t o f t h e i r w e e k . S u c h t e s t i m o n i a l s remind us of the importance of our mission and drive us to continually provide the best resources and experi- ences to our students, foster- ing a deep appreciation for Italy and its rich heritage. Having students who feel free to make mistakes with- out fear is one of the most r e w a r d i n g a s p e c t s o f o u r w o r k , a s i t e n c o u r a g e s growth and genuine learning. To know more about the Istituto Italiano Scuola a n d t h e i r c o u r s e s , c h e c k t h e i r w e b s i t e a t : h t t p s : //sfiis.org/. More Than Words: a journey into Italian Culture with Istituto Italiano Scuola STAFF Jimmy Hypi, one of the teachers at IIS, during a lesson (Photo courtesy of IIS) LIFE PEOPLE REVIEWS ADVICE TRADITIONS

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