L'Italo-Americano

Un Buon Affare: Italian for Business The innovative publication of the Italian pedagogy "L'italiano è più di una lin- gua, è un modo di vivere e di pensare. Riuscite ad immaginare un mondo senza l'italiano? Noi no." When I read this powerful quote by Dante Alighieri, my thoughts were drawn to the numerous disciplines reflected in the Italian language. Italian is more than a language; it is a way of living and of thinking. Can you imagine a world without the Italian language? According to the newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, Italian is preceded by English, French, and Spanish as the forth most studied language in the world. Studying Italian opens the door to art, history, literature, food, music, fashion, design, cinema, diplomacy, and international business. In the history of Italian pedagogy in North America, stu- dents and instructors can be overwhelmed by the breadth of information. What about text- books that focus on Italy's econ- omy and business? Un Buon Affare: Italian for Business, by Giuseppe Tassone is the publication students of business have long desired. Published by Focus Publishing /R. Pullins Co., Un Buon Affare is a communicative and a versa- tile textbook designed for inter- mediate to advanced Italian courses that prepare American students to speak and participate in the world of Italian business. Un Buon Affare innovatively walks its audience through the world of Italian business, putting information into context, and challenging students to discover little known aspects of Italian culture. Tassone ded- icates a por- tion of the book to the political and administrative nature of Italy, while focusing on its' relationship with the European Union and the euro. Tassone discusses the Italian brand as a synonym of glamour, elegance, and style all over the world. He explores factors such as design, products, companies, and inter- national trade. Tassone also tackles a diffi- cult subject for Italians, employ- ment. Students learn that in Italy, a resume is called a curriculum vitae and how a job interview is approached. The purpose is for the student to discover the con- trast between American and Italian culture in the workplace. The final chapter is dedicated to a story of Italian success: Luxottica, one of the most important worldwide companies in fine eyewear. A cinephile at heart, Tassone includes a relevant film at the conclusion of each chapter. When asked what inspired him to write Un Buon Affare he said that being the recipient of the Business Language Grant in 2009 from the UW - Global Business Center was the begin- ning. After he created a module, which was presented at the 2010 ACFTL conference in Boston, his desire was to establish some- thing innovative and available in the Italian pedagogy. Originally from Gioiosa Ionica, Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Tassone is an academ- ic sincerely involved and devot- ed to his profession. In addition to being a lecturer at the University of Washington and Seattle University, he is current- ly the director of the Italian Language Program of the Dante Alighieri Society of Washington, a society that promotes Italian culture and language around the world since 1998. His passion to spread the lan- guage of Belpaese is evident in the coordination of the language classes of the Dante Alighieri Society. Open to the community from October to June, the school is located on the campus of Seattle University. In addi- tion, Tassone is the coordinator for the language proficiency test Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri (PLIDA) issued by the Società Dante Alighieri in Rome and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, and the University La Sapienza. Tassone is a member of ACFTL and the A m e r i c a n Association of Teachers of Italian. F o r I t a l i a n Instructors and students who are studying Italian, Un Buon Affare: Italian for Business is the text- book for the next quarter: a challenging and engaging man- ual of Italian practice, a true "good bargain," and if you study Italian, you already understand the double mean- ing! MICHElA TArTAGlIA July 27, Sun. - Black Diamond Lodge #1809 Annual Picnic Mud Mountain Dam. For more info, check http://www.glnw.org/ Aug. 3, Sun. - American Italian Lodge #2172 Annual Picnic. Mission Park, Spokane. For more info, check http://www.glnw.org/ Aug. 3, Sun.- Italian Day at the Races. Emerald Downs. For me info check http://www.emeralddowns.com/ Aug. 9th, Sat. -Bella Vita Lodge #2285, Annual Wine Tasting. Vino Aquino, 6th Ave in Tacoma, 6-8pm. For more info, check http://www.glnw.org/ Aug. 12, Tues.- Patio Porchetta Feast at La Spiga Restaurant "A Traditional Italian Pig Roast!" from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. For more info call 206-323-8881. Aug. 17, Sun.- Italian Community Picnic - Royal Arch Park. Maple Valley. For more info, check http://www.italiancom- munitypicnic.com/ Aug. 23, Sat.- Alta Monte Lodge #2513 Annual Bocce Tournament & Lodge Picnic. For more info, check http://www.glnw.org Aug. 23, Sat.- Workshop "Beyond Garlic Bread - Authentic Italian Cuisine" , at Bellevue College. Cost 39$. For more info call 425-564-2263. Aug. 24, Sun.- Cataldo Lodge #2280 Picnic, 12:00 till 4:00. Elks Lodge Shelter on Pine Road in Bremerton. For more info, check http://www.glnw.org/ Giuseppe Tassone L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 www.italoamericano.com 10

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