Italian Program Awarded Grant from Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

For the most part, students taking Italian speak the language from the moment they enter the classroom. The immersion into the language and culture now has the backing of the Italian Consulate in Chicago, to add to the authenticity of the program. 

Just this month, Signora Mirella Rullo and school officials learned they had been awarded a grant of $8,150 (7,639 euro) to be used to compensate future educators dedicated to continuing the Italian language program at the high school. 

The background starts with Signora Rullo, who started Saint Viator’s Italian language program more than 20 years ago. Its numbers of students enrolled continues to grow – making it second only to Spanish – as well as the number of course levels offered. 

Starting in 2015, Saint Viator began offering a dual credit program with Loyola University, since the AP class is equivalent to Italian 104, or what a college student would take during the second semester of sophomore year.

No matter what level, Signora Rullo makes every effort to incorporate an appreciation for the culture of her native Italy into her instruction, and when possible, invites dignitaries to attend the class. That was the case last February, when she invited Marina Lenza, of the Italian Consulate in Chicago, who directs its Education Office, to visit.

Lenza was so impressed with the depth of the program – including its range of courses, from ltalian 1 through AP Italian Language and Culture – that she encouraged Signora Rullo to apply for a grant, from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Officially, the grant is to support professional development opportunities that will attract new educators to the Italian language program at Saint Viator High School. It also is intended to fund community awareness efforts that attract future students to the Italian language program.

But more than the generous award, the grant validates Saint Viator’s Italian language program, Principal Jon Baffico says.

“It is amazing to be recognized globally for the work we are doing within the World Languages Department, but specifically Italian,” he says. “Congratulations to Ms. Rullo and all our students who have and are studying Italian.”