Come sta l’italiano: Future Directions for the Growth of Italian Studies

On Tue. November 15, the Inserra Chair hosted an engaging event entitled “Come sta l’italiano? The Present and Future of Italian Language and Culture Studies.” Presented with the support of the Consulate General of Italy in New York, and right after the conclusion of the 2016 Stati Generali della Lingua Italiana which addressed the status of the Italian language all over the world, this round table offered an overview of the current situation in the field of Italian Studies in the U.S.

By bringing together a diverse group of experts ranging from professors to representatives of academic organizations and government institutions, the program effectively illustrated the new directions that this field has taken and continues to take in order to foster interest in the Italian language and culture in a structured and sustainable way. “Italian has traditionally been la bella lingua, a language associated with love, passion and beauty, but it also needs to become lingua utile, a useful language, that can be seen as part of professional goals for young people. That is why this panel focused specifically on the state of Italian Studies as a degree program in higher education,” declared Dr. Teresa Fiore, Inserra Chair.

The Consul General of Italy in New York, Francesco Genuardi, welcomed the audience with warm opening remarks, and took the opportunity to reinforce his determination to support the study of Italian in the NY/NJ area and to commend Montclair State for its Italian Program and the engaging initiatives connected to it. “We have a wonderful Italian and Italian American community in New Jersey, a true gold mine. We know that here in New Jersey half of the population is Italian and the other half wants to be Italian, – he joked – We can assure you that we want to work with the two halves to strengthen our language and cultural programs.”

The first guest speaker to address the audience was Dennis Looney, director of the Office of Programs and of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages at the Modern Language Association of America. Looney emphasized the dramatic growth of Italian students in the last few decades. “Italy is the most popular study abroad location for Americans, “ he explained “and Italian the fifth most studied language in the United States. But advanced classes have registered a downward trend. What we need is more courses and degrees that focus on the applicability of that kind of learning to professional situations.”

Lucia Pasqualini of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation explained how the government is subsidizing Italian departments and programs that are spreading innovative projects to expand the study of the Italian language abroad, while Dr. David Ward highlighted the importance of online study to reach the same goal. He shared his experience as a professor at Wellesley College where most Italian students pursue a combined major or a double major, a choice Dr. Ward recommends to all young people in the current era of globalization.

The Italian Program at Montclair State is invested in creating opportunities for students to experience the application of Italian in real-life cultural and business environments. With summer internships, programs in Translation and Titling, Italy and Business (with a focus on the Made in Italy), and planned dedicated courses in Italian for Spanish speakers, the way is being paved to attract an increasing number of young people to take an interest in Italy, its language, and its culture.

Watch the entire Consul’s address to the audience.