(December 6, 2016) It has come to an end the 2016 edition of the virtual classrooms of Cosortium ICoN – a network of 18 universities that operates under an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – for the study of Italian, aimed at the descendants of emigrants from Trentino, living abroad. The Italian online courses and virtual classroom services are provided by the Autonomous Province of Trento. Since 2003 the Province allocates 50 annual licenses for the online Italian course, A1 level, produced by ICoN; the thirty students of Trentino Origin who have benefited from this opportunity are in total about 800, from various countries (especially Brazil, Argentina, United States). The winners of the licenses are placed in virtual classes, run by ICoN guardians experts in e-learning for foreigners, where they follow a progressive study path. They exercise, interacting in written mode with classmates and with the tutor and also have available synchronous classroom, where they can communicate orally in Italian with the tutor and with other students. Students who pass the level A1 follow the A2 level in the following year and during the third year, if worthy, the B1 level. Even the next level courses are made available by the Province, which then allows students interested and motivated to complete a three-year study program of Italian language. “We are very proud of our collaboration with the Consortium ICoN – says Lorenza Fracalossi, contact person at the Emigration Office of the Autonomous Province of Trento -. Among the descendants of the Trentino emigrants abroad there is a strong interest in Italian language and culture, which is transmitted from generation to generation. With the online Italian courses we give the opportunity for all to get closer to our beautiful language, through high-quality teaching. Our students have no age … there are 15 yo kids and gentlemen who are over 80. The added value is the virtual classes that allow participants to get to know each other, creating new relationships and so strengthening the network of “MondoTrentino “. For the year 2017, the province has made available 50 new licenses for the beginners course with a notice in August. The new classes A1, A2, B1 will start in early February 2017. (Red)
