Let's start at the top.
Food and the eating of food. The Italian culture is food\centric. Italians love to grow, buy, cook, eat and offer other people food. And they LOVE to talk about it. If you ever need a small-talk subject to talk about with an Italian, start here. Though, I warn you, it will not stay in the "small-talk" realm. It will become a very important discussion. And you will have to listen and nod enthusiastically, no matter what you are thinking. No matter if you'd rather not hear it. You have to smile and nod as the details of who what when why and how the last meal was consumed emerge.
Food and the eating of food. The Italian culture is food\centric. Italians love to grow, buy, cook, eat and offer other people food. And they LOVE to talk about it. If you ever need a small-talk subject to talk about with an Italian, start here. Though, I warn you, it will not stay in the "small-talk" realm. It will become a very important discussion. And you will have to listen and nod enthusiastically, no matter what you are thinking. No matter if you'd rather not hear it. You have to smile and nod as the details of who what when why and how the last meal was consumed emerge.
Next, we have family, closely linked to #1. Because the only people at the Italian table are family OR very very close friends. But usually family- we're talking blood ties, and the people married to them. Families love and dislike each other. Usually simultaneously. There is a lot of discussing, arguing and talking about other families going on at the Italian table. And of course loving. Italian families are very supportive of their members. They will support/defend anyone who was at the table on Sunday afternoon. So, you see, there really is no way to separate family and food. When family gets together, they eat. When food is served, family comes. My sister-in-law calls every afternoon from work to get an update on what her mother cooked that day. Depending on the response, she will or won't be at the table in a few hours happily eating reheated leftovers. Sometimes, she just cuts to the chase and shows up for lunch with her husband. That way, there's no missing out on her mom's cooking or the hot gossip of the day.
Then there's fashion. Which of course is connected to food. Take the example of going to a big celebration like a wedding or first communion (read FOOD and six hours of eating); you better look fabulous or everyone will be talking about you. Well, even if you look fabulous, they will be talking about you but that's a different story. Fashion is big enough to be its own entity, and it is very important. There's not a lot to say on this except if you've got style and shop at the right stores, you are on the right track. Very few individuals can be thrifty and manage to look like a million. (knock-offs, etc.). Italians don't wear last year's colors this year. And they are always DRESSED. Never seen one of them in sweatpants at the supermarket, walking their dog, or anywhere else in public. By the way, "in public" means any point past the family's front door.
Then there's fashion. Which of course is connected to food. Take the example of going to a big celebration like a wedding or first communion (read FOOD and six hours of eating); you better look fabulous or everyone will be talking about you. Well, even if you look fabulous, they will be talking about you but that's a different story. Fashion is big enough to be its own entity, and it is very important. There's not a lot to say on this except if you've got style and shop at the right stores, you are on the right track. Very few individuals can be thrifty and manage to look like a million. (knock-offs, etc.). Italians don't wear last year's colors this year. And they are always DRESSED. Never seen one of them in sweatpants at the supermarket, walking their dog, or anywhere else in public. By the way, "in public" means any point past the family's front door.
After the fashion priority is the fun priority. And it IS A PRIORITY. Fun MUST be had. Recreation must be recreated. Take a look at any coffee bar or plaza. See all of those people in groups talking, playing cards, smoking cigarettes and "loitering"? Well, they are relaxing and having fun. And it is absolutely necessary. You just won't find many Italians working overtime with no pay or studying past 8 p.m. Nope, not even English. There is a time in the day that is reserved for being social and cutting loose. Of course this links to food, because Italians always have fun when they have food and vice versa....
Now we get to learning English. (It's about as important as working or going to school.) Italians see it as "essential" and often describe it as such, but in the end, it often takes back seat to the big four. How does this translate for teachers? What's the reality of English language teaching in Italy?
It goes like this- let’s say you're an ESL teacher in a smallish town in Campania. You've exhausted yourself preparing the most interesting vocabulary and reading comprehension lesson on food and cultural celebrations. You've even added the fashion aspect by concentrating the lexis on clothes and accessories. AND you've set up a fabulous listening activity on "small talk" dialogue between two friends at the table. You are excited. You are sitting, there waiting for the student, and thinking how great the lesson will be. You barely notice that another five minutes pass- and another ten.
Why? Because Italians have real-life priorities, don't you get it? And that is just the way it is. So, you are waiting for them to show up at the lesson and they are:
Finishing lunch and will be 25 minutes late.
In a heated discussion at the table, and will be 25 minutes late.
Shopping for something to wear to their cousin's baptism tomorrow, and will be 25 minutes late.
Talking to a friend on Facebook, cell or are texting, and will be 25 minutes late.
Having coffee and a cigarette with an acquaintance. and will be 25 minutes late.
You get the idea. As long as learning English doesn't cut in on real priorities, Italians are all for it. And besides, 25 minutes late in Italy is just about right on time.
It goes like this- let’s say you're an ESL teacher in a smallish town in Campania. You've exhausted yourself preparing the most interesting vocabulary and reading comprehension lesson on food and cultural celebrations. You've even added the fashion aspect by concentrating the lexis on clothes and accessories. AND you've set up a fabulous listening activity on "small talk" dialogue between two friends at the table. You are excited. You are sitting, there waiting for the student, and thinking how great the lesson will be. You barely notice that another five minutes pass- and another ten.
Why? Because Italians have real-life priorities, don't you get it? And that is just the way it is. So, you are waiting for them to show up at the lesson and they are:
Finishing lunch and will be 25 minutes late.
In a heated discussion at the table, and will be 25 minutes late.
Shopping for something to wear to their cousin's baptism tomorrow, and will be 25 minutes late.
Talking to a friend on Facebook, cell or are texting, and will be 25 minutes late.
Having coffee and a cigarette with an acquaintance. and will be 25 minutes late.
You get the idea. As long as learning English doesn't cut in on real priorities, Italians are all for it. And besides, 25 minutes late in Italy is just about right on time.
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