Friday and another week draws to a close. It’s been an unusual week as a contract I
have for teaching two groups of high school kids ends next week. I have one more lesson to do but one group
finished a couple of days ago. I was hired by an Italian Language school to
take these lessons in the state school itself over a period of 20 weeks.
It wasn’t an easy job from a teaching point of view. The
ages in the now ended class ranged from 13 - 17 and so some had obviously been
studying English far longer than others.
Any teacher will tell you it’s a nightmare trying to teach a group with such
a mixed levels of ability. (I had nothing to do with the selection process, unfortunately).
Usually I teach business English in companies so this was
quite a different experience for me. I
found the school system unlike any I knew in the UK. Mind you now I come to
think of it, I’m comparing it to when I was at school over half a century ago.
(EEEEEEKKKK!!!) Umm well maybe things
have changed since, but I certainly remember always being called by my Christian
name at school.
I was quite surprised to find that (in the school where I
worked anyway) everyone refers to everyone else, male, female, pupil or
teacher, by his or her surname. Their
own schoolteacher when discussing a pupil with me would completely flummox me
by mentioning a surname. I only knew the
kids by their first names and it would take me ages to work out which child she
was talking about. My class in their
turn always, at the beginning anyway, called me “Teacher” until I managed to
train them into calling me Nadine. (The
maintenance staff used to call me Professoressa, which always made me giggle
inwardly).
They did this though as its a custom in Italy. Italians use titles as a matter of course. It’s
a natural courtesy. Graduates become Doctors of Letters rather
than our Bachelor of Arts or Science, and are always referred to by their title
of Doctor rather than adding initials to the end of their name when written. I loved
that when I first came here. Always
wanted to be a doctor! Or “Dottoressa” to be precise, being a
woman. A lawyer is referred to Avvocato
+ surname, an engineer, Ingegnere + surname and so on.
Getting back to the kids though when the lesson ended, I
gave them one of my best smiles, thanked them, wished them luck etc., and then
started to clear up my papers as I usually do.
Normally they leave as I do this, calling goodbye to me as they walk out
the door. This time was different
though. I heard one of them say my name and looking up
I found one of the boys standing beside me, his classmates in a queue behind
him. One by one they smiled, leaned
forward and kissed me Italian style, and you know something? I was so touched by their (I really could see
it on their faces) genuine affection.
They drove me to distraction sometimes, but I think I’m honestly going to miss them.
What a sweet goodbye! Lovely kids.
ReplyDeleteThe use of surnames doesn't surprise me - when giving their names Italians often give their surname first. A friend of mine used to sign his letters that way.
Professoressa, eh? I shall have to curtsey to you.
Hello Ms Moggy! Lovely to see you here again :) Something else I found strange when I first came here is how people will refer to their relationship with someone rather than the person by name when talking about them. For example I was always surprised when Vito, even when talking to a close mutual friend like Gabriele or Lorenzo, would say "we're meeting my brother tonight" rather than say “Renato”. Now though I find myself doing it too! Sounds very "my husband and I" now I come to think about it, so perhaps a curtsey would not go amiss lol
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