(September 1, 2016) Online training course for teachers of Italian abroad, edited by Icon – Italian cultures on the net, a network of 18 universities that operates under an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation international, are now a reality. After the first two courses, started on August 23 and destined to the teacher of Coasit in Melbourne, on 6 September will start three new courses. On 6 September, 10 teachers from Zurich Casli will begin the course “Teaching Italian and contemporary Italian narrative cues and pathways”; Also 14 teachers belonging to the Chilean schools “Alcide de Gasperi” of La Serena and “Giuseppe Verdi” in Copiapò will start their course on narrative. Finally, is starting the course “Teaching Italian to foreigners, error correction” for 13 teachers of the Dante Alighieri of Buenos Aires, who in 2015 had already chosen Icon to make online training. The courses have been made possible by an extraordinary contribution made available to managing bodies by the Directorate General for Italians Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as part of a memorandum of understanding signed with Icon, with the aim of fostering professional development for teachers on the main aspects of Italian teaching and provide them with digital teaching skills. Until the end of October 31 training courses will be activated for a total of about 600 teachers, who teach Italian in 12 different countries. Each management authority could choose between 5 different courses, each dedicated to an aspect of teaching Italian, designed and manufactured by Icon with a new and an advanced teaching methodology platform. The course structure, of 8-week, is designed to allow teachers to study and carry out activities in a way that is fully compatible with their work commitments. In each virtual classroom an Italian educational expert and a tutor will follow teachers. During the eight weeks the teachers will study on training materials produced by faculty members of partner universities and on videos specifically made by Icon, they’ll perform practical activities within the virtual classroom and they will have the opportunity to compare and share experiences and teaching practices. (Red)
