The study of the Italian language is back on the curricula of the schools of the ‘most Italian city outside of Italy’: Sao Paulo in Brazil. The Italian Consul General in Sao Paulo, Filippo La Rosa and the Municipal Councillor for Education, Alexandre Schneider, signed a Protocol of Understanding to put the teaching of the Italian language back on the curricula of public schools, involving 85,000 teachers and a million students, including 500 students in primary schools.
The City Mayor, Bruno Covas, recently underscored the great demand for the teaching of the Italian language among large population segments and institutions. The protocol kicks off a virtuous process aimed not only at teaching the “language of our grandparents” but also at offering future prospects and cultural and professional opportunities through the teaching of the Italian language and culture. In the Protocol of Understanding signing ceremony, in addition to “romantic” references, focus was also placed on how public administrators aim to offer the teaching of a language that is increasingly seen as an educational asset by younger generations. Moreover, the project includes the opportunity of establishing a direct contact with Italian primary schools to launch mutual exchange programmes. Lastly, the aim is to stimulate other Brazilian municipalities to establish similar curricula and plan similar activities in secondary schools.
