Programs
The Ottawa Italian School provides both elementary and adult programs.
Besides in-class teaching, each year the school organizes many activities to ensure that Italian culture and traditions continue to be passed on to the younger generation.
The elementary program offers courses from kindergarten to grade 8. [Program descriptions below]
Kindergarten and Grade 1 (A1)
Grade 2 and Grade 3 (A2)
Grade 4 and Grade 5 (B1)
Grade 6 (B2)
Grade 7 (C1)
Grade 8 (C2)
The adult program offers students three levels of instruction in the Italian Language (Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced) and exposes them to aspects the Italian culture such as the arts, the history, geography, cuisine and fashion of Italy.
Adult beginner level (A1 & A2)
Adult intermediate level (B1 & B2)
Adult advanced level (C1 – C2)
Communicative skills
Practical situations are used to teach communicative skills such as greetings, identification of objects, directions whether using a vehicle, public transport or walking, planning a trip to Italy, meals, food and restaurant situations, carrying on a conversation in various situations, expressions of time, simple translations Italian/English or French, common dialogue, poems, numbers etc.
Linguistic content
In the process of learning how to use the language the following structures will be addressed: the use of personal pronouns, irregular and auxiliary verbs structure and use in the simple indicative tenses, reflexive verbs, definite and indefinite articles, adjectives, their forms and agreement, affirmative and negative sentences, and prepositions.
Other components
Pronunciation and formal and informal forms of address are taught throughout the course, in addition to a cultural sketch of Italy, its inhabitants, dialects, names and gestures.
Program descriptions
A1 - Kindergarten and Grade 1
Students can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and formulas very common to meet needs of a concrete type. They know how to present themselves and others and are able to ask questions about personal information and answer simple questions such as: the place where they live, the people they know, things they may own. They can interact in a simple way as long as the person who speaks talks slowly and clearly and is willing to cooperate.
A2 – Grade 2 and Grade 3
Can understand isolated phrases and frequently used expressions related to areas of interest of immediate relevance (e.g. basic information about the person and family, shopping, local geography, work). Students can communicate in simple activities and routines that only require a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and usual topics. Student can describe in simple terms aspects of their own experience and environment and elements that relate to immediate needs.
B1 – Grade 4 and Grade 5
Students are able to understand the essential points of clear messages in standard language on familiar topics that are normally dealt at home, at work, at school, or spare time. At this level students can have a good understanding of many situations that may arise while traveling, at home or other familiar circumstances. Students can articulate simple and coherent texts on topics that are familiar to them or are of interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, ambitions, and expose briefly reasons and give simple explanations on opinions and projects.
B2 - Grade 6
Students are able to understand the fundamental ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract situations, including technical discussions in their field of knowledge. They are able to interact with some relative fluency and spontaneity, as much as possible and the interaction with a native speaker is developed without excessive effort. They can potentially write clear and articulated texts on a wide range of topics and are able to express an opinion on a topical issue, exposing the pros and cons and explaining different options.
C1 - Grade 7
Students are capable of understanding a wide range of complex and rather long texts and know how to derive the implicit meaning. They express themselves somewhat fluently and spontaneously, without excessive effort to search for words. They use the language in a way that is flexible and effective for social, academic and professional purposes. Can write texts clear, well-structured and articulated on complex topics, showing that they know how to control discursive structures, connective and cohesion mechanisms.
C2 – Grade 8
The student can effortlessly understand virtually everything he/she hears or reads. He/she can summarize information from various sources, oral and written, restructuring in a coherent text the arguments and its informative parts. He/she expresses thoughts spontaneously, in a very smooth and precise way and makes distinctly subtle shades of meaning even in rather complex situations.
Our Staff
Students have only one chance of every year in education and their learning should be guided by qualified teachers who are committed to life-long learning themselves. Our teachers are qualified to teach Italian and believe in the power of education and the importance of providing children with good role models and are teaching because of that belief. They are dedicated to the promotion of Italian Language and Culture and they undergo several professional Development Sessions every year. Finally, teachers’ dedication is shown by their ‘round-the-clock work habits. Teachers from our Center don’t stop working when the school bell rings. The promotion of language and culture is an on-going commitment. Every year, at the beginning of the school year, classes, levels and teachers are determined by the number of students enrolled in the program; a list is made available on request. For these reasons Students should register as soon as possible.
Helpful resources
You can learn more about the Italian language and culture from the following list of associated websites:
Italian books can be ordered from this website: https://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/
Italian television programs can be viewed online here: https://www.tv2000.it/
And Live streaming in Italian from the Vatican can be watched from here: https://www.vaticannews.va/it.html