I progetti SPRAR attraverso la lente del Linguistic Landscape Uno studio di casi

This contribution aims to investigate uses and characteristics of the ‘Sprarscape’, defined as the set of linguistic and semiotic objects that contribute to the visual organization of the centres where Sistema di Protezione per Richiedenti Asilo e Rifugiati (SPRAR) projects are active. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, which refers to studies on linguistic landscaping and language policy and planning, we describe these spaces through the use of innovative research tools. We also investigate their linguistic composition and the functions of the signs that structure them from an intercultural perspective. These include visual data and field notes, collected through ‘linguistic walks’, integrated with videos and a tourist-guide technique, analysed by means of a specifically-designed observation scheme.

Aspetti interculturali nella comunicazione medico-paziente Il punto di vista del personale sanitario e dei pazienti

Healthcare institutions are among the contexts which are heavily characterised by interlingual and intercultural contact. In these contexts communicative ‘short circuits’ can occur due to incomprehension resulting from linguistic and cultural difficulties. Such situations can compromise founding principles of medicine, amongst which equal opportunities for patients’ treatment, scrupulous attention and providing accurate information. The study investigates the perception of the effectiveness of mutual doctor-immigrant patient communication, the linguistic-cultural ‘imagery’ that results from it and the nature and/or absence of specific communication strategies.

Le politiche linguistiche nell’Unione africana

This paper illustrates the language policy implemented by the African Union (AU). It highlights the impact of language choices within AU institutions on local populations. Sixty years after the independence of most African countries and despite the fact that over two thousand languages are spoken in this continent, language policy is still highly Eurocentric. Moreover, the exclusive use of these few ex colonial languages, not known by the vast majority of the population, has social and linguistic repercussions on Africans who are unable to participate in the political life of their respective countries. AU has made some interesting proposals for the promotion and diffusion of local African languages, but much remains to be done.

Un percorso di accostamento precoce al bilinguismo in ambito formativo Il modello e gli strumenti utilizzati

The advantages of teaching a foreign language from an early age has been demonstrated in the past years. However, only few schools in Italy offer bilingual programmes. Early bilingual childhood education represents a significant opportunity for the personal development of the child and for the quality of his/her language competence. This paper describes a model used to teach a foreign language to very young learners (aged 0-6) in schools and it presents and discusses some documents which have been devised in order to gather information about this model.

Verso un modello glottogeragogico Lo scaffolding cognitivo-emozionale

Language learning experiences seem to lead to advantages for the elderly in the social, psychological and cognitive spheres. Learning languages is not only useful for the quality of life of the elderly and for their active participation in society, but it also has an important role in stimulating and maintaining cognitive resources, increasing cognitive reserves and countering their decline favouring the development of compensation processes. From this point of view, learning languages for the elderly is not only possible but it is also desirable. This justifies a FL geragogic model, called cognitive-emotional scaffolding, which can become the basis of a project to teach foreign languages to elderly learners.

Ruolo del transfer e strategie di rifiuto in apprendenti ispanofoni di italiano L2 Uno studio esplorativo

This exploratory study examines strategies of refusals in two groups of peninsular and Ecuadorian Spanish learners of Italian, attending university courses in Italy. The aim of the investigation is to explore the type, the order and the frequency of refusals and the role of transfer in situations characterized by different role relationships among interactants. Data was collected using a Discourse Completion Task and a retrospective interview. Results show that Ecuadorian learners sometimes transfer their L1 patterns into the L2. Outcomes are discussed in light of studies on Politeness Theory.

Motivare a motivare: strategie motivazionali per gli alunni di lingua straniera nella secondaria di primo grado

In this study a mixed-methods design is used to investigate the perception of motivational strategies among Italian middle school students (aged 13). 162 participants completed a questionnaire on strengths and weaknesses of their language class and the importance of motivational strategies. Results confirm the cross-cultural relevance of strategies related to teachers’ attitude and the creation of a positive learning environment. Notably, the strategies that entail the use of a living language, as well as of authentic material, appear to play a distinctive role for Italian students. These findings support earlier research and highlight how teachers are in the best position to shape classroom environment, thus suggesting the need to include motivational strategies in their formation, and to strengthen them in cases in which they are present.

Trovare le parole I risultati di un sondaggio online tra studenti delle scuole secondarie italiane

This paper is a brief analysis of the data collected from a survey in 2017 involving 1,500 students, aged between 14-18 years. Our purpose was to discover whether they acted differently when dealing with writing or reading texts in their mother language or in foreign language and if they used dictionaries in order to find a word they needed. Analysing concrete extra-lexicographical situations, the survey showed that teenagers still used printed dictionaries for some school work and – as predictable – Google Search for informal interactions. However, they do not know free online dictionaries and do not take advantage of Google advanced research options.

Insegnare letteratura in prospettiva interculturale nella classe multilingue La proposta di un approccio

For the purpose of fostering the linguistic and cultural diversity that characterizes the current Italian school context, it is essential to promote the teaching of literature from an intercultural perspective. On the basis of this, the article proposes an intercultural approach aimed to teach literature in an increasingly multicultural context. This approach consists of four parts: meeting the ‘other’, meeting ourselves, sharing with ‘others’, and restructuring ourselves. The aim of this article is to show that literature represents a privileged place for intercultural reflections as it provides space for one to move beyond linguistic and cultural limits and to experience freedom with no risks.

Esplorare (con) i Dizionari Digitali e trasferire competenze di consultazione

As Internet became more widespread, the use of printed dictionaries decreased. However, users’ abilities to consult online dictionaries are still not adequately developed. The project Esplorare (con) i Dizionari Digitali – through Moodle platform – allows users to carry out online exercises in order to develop both their linguistic knowledge and their ability to consult online dictionaries of different languages. We present the results of an study that involved around 300 students of Italian secondary schools, showing how the structure of the platform and the exercises, common to all languages, leads to transfer of skills. The exercises were created using Möbius Assessment, an automatic assessment system, already tested for scientific subjects.