The neutral pronoun “IT” and spelling skills

This short video is meant to help those who want to learn English with few essential tips. In this specific case I discuss why the third person singular pronoun “IT”, the neutral pronoun, is so important; why short answers are important too and why (especially for Italians) is it crucial to learn spelling skills.

How to write a professional email

This is an informative video in which I give some tips on writing professional emails, how to distinguish between formal and informal language registers and to introduce yourself in a polite way especially to people you have never met before, or in a professional setting.

Excerpt from “A Passage to India” (1924), E. M. Forster

“Do kindly tell us who these ladies are,” asked Mrs Moore. “You’re superior to them, anyway. Don’t forget that. You’re superior to everyone in India except one of two of … Continue reading Excerpt from “A Passage to India” (1924), E. M. Forster

La “Brexit” a teatro

Il 26 novembre u.s. all’istituto “F. da Collo” di Conegliano (TV) abbiamo avuto il piacere di ospitare la compagnia teatrale Tom Corradini Teatro con il suo spettacolo Brexit, un grande … Continue reading La “Brexit” a teatro

SUI FATTI DEGLI STUDENTI DI PALERMO E IN SOLIDARIETA’ ALLA COLLEGA, LA PROFESSORESSA ROSA MARIA DELL’ARIA

Si tratta di “mancata vigilanza” o abuso di potere? Riflessioni sulla sanzione comminata ad una professoressa per aver fatto il proprio lavoro.

About School

CLIL: SI’ O NO?

Lo scopo di questo articolo è dimostrare che il metodo Content Based Instruction (CBI) per l’insegnamento delle lingue straniere è in effetti un metodo efficace e, come dimostrerò, ciò che bisogna modificare per renderlo ancora più efficace al fine di affrontare le sfide di oggi è, innanzitutto, sviluppare la consapevolezza che di fatto funziona e, in secondo luogo, aumentare i fondi per fornire agli studenti la necessaria esposizione alla lingua e tempi adeguati per l’acquisizione linguistica. Il CBI è da tempo già ampiamente applicato nelle scuole secondarie italiane conseguendo ottimi risultati, come si vedrà in seguito.
I primi dibattiti sul CLIL, risalenti a più di 15 anni fa, si proponevano di affiancare ai docenti di discipline non linguistiche quelli di lingua straniera creando un contesto di lavoro di gruppo principalmente perché lo si intendeva utilizzare come strumento per incoraggiare la mobilità dei docenti europei. Successivamente invece il metodo CLIL è stato veicolato come una pratica didattica che escludeva totalmente il coinvolgimento dei docenti di lingua straniera,introducendo la presenza esclusiva di quelli di discipline non linguistiche; questa è la ragione principale per la quale non sono pienamente d’accordo con l’applicazione di questo metodo didattico e qui tenterò di spiegare le mie perplessità. Trovo particolarmente incomprensibile il motivo per cui l’esperienza di tanti professionisti dediti al loro lavoro debba essere discriminata e penalizzata a dispetto della loro alta competenza e degli ottimi risultati conseguiti.

About School

TO CLIL OR NOT TO CLIL

The aim of this article is to demonstrate that Content Based Instruction (CBI) of foreign languages is indeed effective and, as I will show, what does need to be modified to make it even more efficient and up to date to meet today’s challenges is, first of all wide-spread awareness that it does actually work and secondly, increased funds to allow students to have the necessary opportunities to have access to the right amount of language exposure and the sufficient time to let it seep in. CBI is already fully implemented in Italian Secondary schools and has been practised traditionally for quite a long time giving excellent results, as I will demonstrate.
The initial discourse about CLIL, more than 15 years ago, still meant to involve foreign language teachers alongside the subject specialist teachers in a team work setting, mainly because it was intended as a means to encourage teachers’ mobility around Europe. Afterwards instead CLIL was conveyed as a teaching practice that totally ruled out any involvement of foreign language teachers and introduced the exclusive presence of subject specialist teachers which is one of the main reasons why I don’t fully agree with this didactic method and I will explain my perplexities. It is especially quite puzzling why the expertise of so many dedicated professionals should be discriminated against and penalised despite their high competence and the excellent results achieved.

Comparing Joyce’s and Woolf’s stream of consciouness writing techniques

Before tackling the comparative reading of the two excerpts, published below, a brief introduction to both. Ulysses, is James Joyce‘s most renowned novel. The entire narration takes place in a single … Continue reading Comparing Joyce’s and Woolf’s stream of consciouness writing techniques

Gulliver in Brobdingnag

Gulliver’s Travels (1726) is a peculiar travel novel,  books about journeys were quite popular at the time as they were often used by their authors to convey their philosophical theories, … Continue reading Gulliver in Brobdingnag

“The Just-Created Adam”- “PARADISE LOST” (1667), J. Milton

For Man to tell how human life began Is hard; for who himself beginning Knew Desire with thee still longer to converse Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep … Continue reading “The Just-Created Adam”- “PARADISE LOST” (1667), J. Milton

“Satan’s Speech” – “PARADISE LOST” (1667), J. Milton

“Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,” Said then the lost Arch Angel, “this the seat That we must change for Heav’n, this mournful gloom For that celestial … Continue reading “Satan’s Speech” – “PARADISE LOST” (1667), J. Milton

On the Puritan Age – Homework

Give complete answers to the following open questions: What were the main social changes that took place during this time? Give reasons. How did the Protestant view of life influence … Continue reading On the Puritan Age – Homework