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. 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.