The SJHS provides children the opportunity of learning the Italian language at a mother-tongue level or as a second language (lingua due).
The aim of the Italian Lingua Due Department is to help children feel at ease in their new social environment and stimulate them to communicate in the host language. This challenging learning experience gives our young students the possibility to integrate with the local community.
Children are channelled into the Lingua Due groups after an oral and written assessment. Many other aspects that have to do with the global background of each student are also taken into careful consideration (linguistic background, exposure to the Italian language, motivation, etc).
Classes have been divided into two main groups: a beginners group and an intermediate to advanced group. We have grouped them this way because some of our students have such a good knowledge of the Italian language that, often, part of the L2 advanced group programme is similar to the Italian for nationals.
Groups are by no means fixed or permanent. The L2 Department may decide, after close observation of the pupil’s scholastic performance, to move any child from the beginners group to the advanced group and vice versa. It is policy of the Italian Lingua Due department to differentiate class work when necessary and to give students the possibility to learn at their individual pace. This is especially done for those children who are having learning difficulties with the Italian language and, indeed, for students with special educational needs. In the latter case, cooperation is vital between Italian teachers, class teachers and parents.
The Italian Lingua Due programme is flexible but teachers follow guidelines set out by the British National Curriculum for language teaching and guidelines given by the European Union directives. Teachers work closely within these guidelines but obviously adapt programmes according to the individual class levels.
Ombretta Zanellotti
Coordinator Lingua Due
Lower School
Lesson Timetable
In the Lower School the SJHS provides two periods of Italian Lingua Due from Year 2 to Year 6. The lessons are divided as shown in the following timetable.| Day | 9.40-10.20 | 1.20-2.00 | 2.00-2.40 | 2.40-3.20 |
| Monday | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 5 | |
| Tuesday | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 6 | Year 6 |
| Thursday | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
Although year 5 and year 6 have Italian only once a week, the double periods are ideal for enriching knowledge in all four language skills at this specific stage.
We believe it is very important that also young learners in year 2 have the possibility of two Italian periods, therefore, from this academic year, the SJHS has decided to dedicate an extra morning for year 2.
Italian Lingua Due Clubs
In order to meet the increasing demand for more Italian teaching, the department offers three Italian Lingua Due clubs, from 3.30 to 4.30 p.m.The clubs are run by the same teachers who teach the lessons in the curriculum.
Starting from this academic year, clubs are not only for beginners but also for those students who have been in Italy for some years but are still lacking in areas such as speaking confidently, comprehension of oral and/or written texts...
The main purpose of each club is to create a pleasant after-school atmosphere where students are able to feel at ease and concentrate on specific difficulties.
This year SJHS offers the following Italian clubs:
Mondays: Reception, year 1, year 2 (beginners)
Mondays: year 2, year 3 (intermediate/advanced)
Tuesdays: year 4, year 5, year 6 (intermediate/advanced)
Clubs usually continue for a ten week session per term.