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The Italian Language Foundation

Promoting and Supporting Italian Language Education

The Journey into Italian Language and Culture as a Science Student

/ / Blog /

By Jessica Morlock, recipient of the Italian Language Foundation’s Enrico Fermi College Fellowship

As a Biology of Global Health major with aspirations of becoming a physician, it is important to me that my college experience is defined by cultural immersion in all aspects. The educational demands of being a pre-med student are intense and rigorous, but my experience studying Italian has proven to be a refreshing, lively addition to my academic ripertoire, exceeding all expectations I had in mind for a diverse education.

Though I was thrilled by the idea of taking an Italian course solely for the purpose of mastering a foreign language, I now know that studying Italian is defined by far more than grammar rules and vocabulary: it involves in-depth immersion into the vibrance of Italian culture. My first Italian course at Georgetown offered a multifaceted style of learning that I had not yet experienced, serving as a counterbalance to the often intense nature of science courses.

In the midst of memorizing chemical terminology and grappling with complex biological concepts, delving into the liveliness of Italian language and culture became a welcome escape that I look forward to continuing.

This journey of cultural exploration was more than just a method of enhancing my language skills—it allowed me to cultivate a holistic understanding of cultural competence, preparing me to become a knowledgeable, empathetic physician prepared to foster a nurturing, deep connection with patients from diverse backgrounds.

Photo by Jessica Morlock
Photo by Jessica Morlock

The Pizza Champions: Serving up Slices of Napoli at the Super Bowl

/ / Blog /

Written by Amy Riolo

Pieces of both Washington, DC and  Naples was part of the 57th Annual Super Bowl, the final match of the playoffs of the US football championship which attracts about a hundred million viewers every year.  At the most watched event on television when it comes to the American and non-American sports world alone, Francesco and Enzo Marra, Neapolitan immigrants and residents of the  Washington, DC area churned out thousands of pizzas for the occasion.

“It is certainly no coincidence that we have come to launch the real Neapolitan pizza at the Super Bowl, the most important sporting event in the world”: said Francesco Marra, a pizza entrepreneur of Neapolitan origin who, together with his brother Enzo, found success in the States thanks to the specialty of Campania cuisine. Present in Phoenix, they found themselves churning out over five thousand pizzas made from custom Marra Forni ovens decorated with Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagle Logos in their beautiful tile mosaics. Today, Marra Forni is the fastest growing brick oven manufacturer in the US. 

The Super Bowl is an event that isn’t limited to the sporting competition between the two teams. At this year’s edition, where the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Phoenix, Arizona, The Super Bowl’s  audience of 113 million people, connected between TV and streaming, was the third most-watched TV show ever and the most-watched ever on the web. 

For those who live outside of the United States, and have never experienced one, it’s hard to believe that the Super Bowl is an all-round party, a real show that reaches its peak with the Halftime Show: the moment in which – halfway through the game – one or more music stars – this year it’s Rihanna’s turn – perform for about 20 minutes, in which the pitch is transformed into a pyrotechnic stage ready for the performance. The show also involves the many spectators in the stands, who gorge themselves on food and drink, just as if they were at a party, two inseparable elements from the American sporting tradition. And the boundless catering that took part in this year’s edition also spoke Italian. Indeed, Neapolitan.

“Our American story begins 27 years ago,” – says Francesco -, “when our family emigrated from Santa Lucia to the capital Washington DC. All for love: our mother, Pina Dubbio, married an Italian-American and chose the land of opportunities, where you can achieve anything you think of, regardless of who you are and where you come from. With many sacrifices we have managed to transform America into our home”.

Today, the Marras represent the main producers of Neapolitan ovens in the world and – in addition to Marra Forni – they own three other companies: Pizza University & Culinary Arts Center, Oro Catering (exclusive managers of the cafeteria and catering of the Italian embassy in Washington DC, the pinnacle of Italian politics and diplomacy abroad), and Oro Pizza.

 

Best-selling author Amy Riolo is also an award-winning chef, television host, and Mediterranean lifestyle ambassador. The author of 16 books (with #17 in the works), was named Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of the Italian Republic. She has also been dubbed “The Ambassador of Italian Cuisine in the US” by The Italian International Agency for Foreign Press, “Ambassador of the Italian Mediterranean Diet 2022-2024” by the International Academy of the Italian Mediterranean Diet in her ancestral homeland of Calabria, Italy, and “Ambassador of Mediterranean Cuisine in the World” by the Rome-based media agency We The Italians.

In 2019, she launched her own private label collection of premium Italian imported culinary ingredients called Amy Riolo Selections which includes extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, organic pasta, and pesto sauce from award-winning artisan companies. Amy is the brand ambassador for Marra Forni and The Pizza University and Culinary Arts Center. She is the co- founder and director of A.N.I.T.A. (Accademia Nazionale Italiana Tradizione Alimentari) and an honorary member of the Associazione Regionale Cuochi Pittagorici.

The ILF’s 2023 Teacher Recognition Awardees!

/ / Blog, Featured, Teachers News /

Each year, the Italian Language Foundation recognizes two outstanding teachers from across the United States for their commitment to excellence in the teaching of Italian. The 2023 Awardees were Enza Antenos from Montclair State University and Steven LaPeruta from Nutley High School. We asked them both to share a bit more about themselves, so we can all be inspired by their passion for teaching Italian and their impressive careers! Check out their stories below. 

Enza Antenos

In everyday life, Italian is present beyond borders, transcending national boundaries. American movies, television, and streaming service programming regularly feature Italy and the Italian language – one needs only to think of the second season of White Lotus, or House of Gucci or even the soon-to-be-released Ferrari. Moreover, Italy remains a top destination for American students studying abroad, and most of all, Made in Italy, the worldwide famous label, speaks the language of timeless elegance, exquisite craftsmanship, and refined taste. 
 
My Italian classes at Montclair State U embrace Made in Italy: from the ABCs (Armani, Barilla, Campari) to Italy’s rank as a world economic leader, to the strong presence of Italian companies in the U.S.A., especially in my home state of New Jersey, which hosts the headquarters of Ferrari, Ferrero, Safilo, and Technogym close to our campus, and adds a practical dimension to our exploration.
 
Introducing Made in Italy right from Elementary 101 sparks my students’ curiosity, inspiring some to pursue a major in Language, Business & Culture with a focus on Italian. We explore the core qualities embedded in Made in Italy products, ranging from aesthetic beauty to technical expertise and excellence. Additionally, students learn how to navigate the intricacies of marketing these products internationally, taking into account the cultural nuances that can impact success.
 
Studying Made in Italy goes beyond mere financial aspects of different brands, delving into the cultural and historical layers that define the business of Made in Italy. It is more than just commerce; it embodies a form of humanistic capitalism. 
 
Many Italian brands invest not only in their products but also in their employees and communities. For example, in 1910, Ermenegildo Zegna (founder of his eponymous brand) planted trees in the area surrounding his business, “igniting a sustainable spirit and reforestation project” long before we recognized the detrimental effects of unsustainable business practices.
 
Consider also Luisa Spagnolo, a chocolatier and candymaker famous for her Bacio Perugina, a pioneer in equality and fair pay for women in the workplace in 1915 when she hired the wives of her male employees who had gone to war. She even established daycare facilities at the factory for mothers who needed to care for their young children. The founders of Made in Italy brands pioneered standards that extended beyond business, embodying values of sustainability, social responsibility, and equality that continue to this day.

Steven LaPeruta

Following the completion of my M.A. at Middlebury’s C.V. Starr School in Florence, I promptly embarked on my teaching career, instructing both intermediate and advanced levels of Italian at Old Bridge High School. Under my guidance, the Italian program flourished, becoming the second-largest language program within the department and ranking among the largest Italian programs in the state of New Jersey, as confirmed by ITANJ statistics at the time.

In 2015, I accepted a position at Everett High School, but it wasn’t long before I  was back at Old Bridge High School, where I dedicated myself to reinvigorating enrollment. In my role as lead Italian teacher, I offered mentorship to my colleagues, introduced new initiatives to increase interest in Italian, and successfully secured grants to fund teaching materials and scholarships. In 2020, I came to Nutley High School, where I currently teach. My primary goal at Nutley is to continue inspiring and providing my students with the linguistic and cultural knowledge they need to thrive in a globalized world. I strive to foster a classroom environment that not only promotes language proficiency but also encourages a deep appreciation for the cultural richness that defines the Italian heritage. Through innovative teaching methods and a continued commitment to the Affective Humanistic Approach to language learning, I aspire to empower my students to become confident, empathetic global citizens, well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of our interconnected world.

Italian Childhood Christmas Traditions

/ / Blog /

Growing up in Napoli and Bari, I celebrated Christmas a little differently from American kids, even though my parents were American. To me, Christmas wasn’t only December 24th and 25th and unwrapping presents. In Italy, Christmas lasts almost a joyful month, beginning on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and lasts until January 6, Epiphany.

Unlike some American kids in the U.S., for me, one of the most exciting things about the run-up to Christmas was being allowed to unpack and display the presepio, the manger scene, on December 8. Composed of figurines bought in Napoli, (the cradle of the most beautiful presepi, as you may know), it was always fun to set up the figures on our tiled coffee table in our Bari living room. My favorite to this day is the zampognaro, the shepherd, playing the bagpipes. I like to imagine that he is playing “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle“—“You Descend from the Stars,”one of my favorite Italian Christmas carols. 

Many of our Italian-American friends here in the U.S. also display their presepe, in tribute to their precious heritage. The presepio is always put in a place of honor in the home, something I always took for granted, until we moved to the U.S., where manger scenes weren’t always displayed in people’s homes at Christmas. I found this surprising!

Another Christmas difference for me in Italy was that Santa usually wore a gold coat, not a red one. When I grew up in Bari, the Barese version of Santa Claus was San Nicola (Saint Nicholas), and he wore a gold coat. I still have a San Nicola ornament, of course, and hanging it on our tree brings back sweet memories. Somehow, Santa Claus seems more regal and imposing in gold; when we moved to the U.S., at first, I couldn’t relate that well to a jolly, ho-ho-ho Santa Claus in a red coat!

Another Italian tradition is one that many of our Italian-American friends also observe: the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Italy is surrounded by water on three sides, as you know, and sailing, the sea, and its harvest are inextricably intertwined in Italian culture. How fitting that, in observance of Christmas, the meatless Christmas Eve dinner is comprised of many varieties of seafood. What fun to imagine one’s ancestors in Italy doing the same, sharing delicious seafood meals together, along with family stories! Opening presents Christmas Eve, not on Christmas Day, is the custom in Italy, and our Italian-American friends do the same, keeping their family tradition alive and well.

Another Italian tradition that speaks to the importance of family and honoring parents is that of children writing gratitude letters to their parents to be opened Christmas Eve. What a lovely way to bring families together!

Remember the tale of kids receiving a lump of coal in their stockings if they had been naughty? In Italy, it’s not Santa who visits the stockings on Christmas Eve, but La Befana, and she comes the night of the Epiphany, January 6. I grew up almost fearing La Befana, the old woman who would visit homes, bringing gifts to good children, but lumps of coal to those who were naughty. Not being the most perfect child (!), I would worry that I’d find a lump of coal in my stocking in the morning! Had La Befana heard how I tugged the mattress off my bed and slid down the stairs on it? Fortunately, my Christmas stocking was always coal-free—I’d guess that she hadn’t heard—yet! Many of our Italian-American friends here in the U.S. love to tease their children and grandchildren about being good so that La Befana doesn’t plunk a lump of coal into their stockings! As far as I know, their stockings have also been coal-free. 😉

Il Natale is a long, precious celebration and a way to stay connected to ancient, meaningful traditions, bonding all of us who love la bella Italia and celebrate Christmas together, in spirit, even though we are kilometers and miles apart. Buon Natale!

 

Author of over thirty traditionally-published books for young readers, Margo Sorenson spent the first seven years of her life in Spain and Italy, devouring books and Italian food and still speaks (or tries!) her childhood languages. Margo’s Christmas picture book, AMBROSE AND THE PRINCESS (Liturgical Press 2005) won the Catholic Press Award in 2006, followed by  AMBROSE AND THE CATHEDRAL DREAM (Liturgical Press,2006), and both were featured in OUR SUNDAY VISITOR. Her most recent Adult/Young Adult novel, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitzroy Books, October 2018), takes place in Positano, with heroine Alessandra, whose being able to speak Italian helps her to feel at home in Italy, once again—and solve a mystery that threatens those she loves. Of course, they would make a great Christmas gift for adults and teens alike! For more information on ordering these and Margo’s other books, please visit www.margosorenson.com 

Il Mio Formaggio Preferito

/ / Blog /

Photo Source: https://www.melroselifestyle.it/en/fior-di-latte-or-mozzarella

By Nicole Fortuna

I don’t remember the first time trying fior di latte mozzarella—it’s always been a delectable fixture in my family’s food traditions. Fior di latte is the guest you quietly hope will already be at the family gathering by the time you get there. It’s reliable but never boring; anticipated but never underwhelming. 

 

Fior di latte mozzarella can please even the most persnickety of palates, bringing dissimilar gustatory factions to the same corner of the table. In its creamy, smooth simplicity, this cheese pairs with a panoply of more complex Italian delicacies—and dynamics: perfectly crunchy pane, aromatic basil from the giardino, or soppressata with just the right amount of kick. It’s also a go-to merendina while listening to a family member tell a juicy story, or getting to meet your relative’s new innamorato for the first time. 

 

An arranged plate of freshly sliced, slightly salted mozzarella, for me, symbolically serves as the precipice of excitement about to unfold: waiting for all of my cousins to arrive at my grandparents’ house for Christmas; chomping at the bit for one of my mom and grandmother Giovanna’s meatballs right out of the hot frying pan; watching my grandfather Cosimo slice the aforementioned soppressata paper thin—making sure I always had the first sliver.  

 

Much of the magic and meaning of growing up Italian are inherent to these ephemeral, seemingly ineffable moments and memories. Amazingly enough, they can all be easily unlocked with just the sight of freshly sliced fior di latte mozzarella. 

Nicole Fortuna is a healthcare copywriter and lifelong Italian learner based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a focus in cultural studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Romance languages from West Chester University’s Honors College.
 
Nicole’s mom and her family emigrated from Salerno, Italy nearly 60 years ago during Thanksgiving, and her paternal great-grandparents were originally from Rome. Every day, Nicole engages with her Italian heritage and language abilities in some way—through tutoring undergraduate students, watching Italian TV shows, and speaking and writing in Italian. In 2024, Nicole will return to Italy to visit family, and in the future, she hopes to be able to pursue translation professionally. 

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Italian Language Foundation, Inc.
8 East 69th Street
New York, New York 10021

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Italian Language Foundation, Inc.
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Word of the Day

  • ricordare: to remember

    Part of speech: verb Example sentence:Ricorderò per sempre questi bei giorni passati insieme. Sentence meaning: I will always remember these beautiful days spent together.