Some People like "Sister City" Projects. Others like "Student Exchange Programs"

This "Student to Student Internet Connection" seems to be such a GREAT idea to
build a Giant Italy-USA Bridge, at practically NO Cost!!!!

NIAF. OSIA. UNICO. FIERI. Are you listening???

Read about the "internet" connection between Giles School in Norridge (Chicago, IL),
and Istituto Comprensivo Francesco Jovine in Pozzilli, (Naples, Campania), Italy.
=======================================
GILES SCHOOL STUDENTS WRITE TO 'NET PALS' IN ITALY

Pioneer Press
Norridge and Harwood Heights News
By Wynn Koebel  Foster
Staff Writer
May 27, 2004

Halfway around the world, students in Giuliana Santucci's English classes at Istituto Comprensivo Francesco Jovine in Pozzilli, Italy, are practicing their reading and writing skills. They're making a few new friends, too - net pals in Roberta Marinelli's Italian classes at James Giles School, in Norridge.

On both sides of the Atlantic, the kids are learning it is indeed a small world.

"They're listening to the same music we listen to," said Antonella Accolti, 14, a Giles eighth grader. "They like Eminem, and they play Nintendo and PlayStation games, too."

The Italian students study the same subjects. Their school day is shorter, but they're in school six days a week. Fifteen-year-old Damian Tabor, of Norridge, is curious about their school schedules.

"We move around the building, from class to class," Tabor said. "They stay in the same room all day. I wonder if they get bored."

The net-pal project was suggested by Santucci, who graduated from Giles in 1980 and then moved to Italy with her family. Marinelli, a resident of Deerfield, was excited to have her students participate.

"We've only been doing this for a month," Marinelli explained. "We didn't have much time this year. When the next school year begins, we'll start the project again. I expect it will be especially valuable for my sixth graders, who will have three years to correspond with the Italian students."

Marinelli learned English grammar in school in Milan, Italy. Her skills have improved in the three years she's lived here. Her husband, who works for an international firm, was transferred to the Chicago area.

"There are a lot of Italian Americans in Norridge," Marinelli noted, "but surprisingly, 70 percent of my students are Polish. What's impressive to me is how well they're doing. They're doing absolutely beautifully in Italian."

Pozzilli is 200 kilometers south of Rome and 100 kilometers north of Naples. It's surrounded by beautiful mountains and an expanse of olive trees, Santucci wrote.

To facilitate an easy exchange, Marinelli told her students to write what they could in Italian and resort to English if they had to.

"La nostra favorita musica e rap e hip hop, e voi?" wrote Sam, Carlos and Mark, in Norridge, adding, "We are very popular in our school."

In Italy, Margherita, Federica, Adua and Simone sent a message to Giles.

"Today is sunny and cool," they wrote. "Your names are Italian. Where in Italy are your family from?"

So far, the students have discovered some common likes - pizza, pasta and French fries, among them. The Italian students haven't been to the United States; the Norridge kids haven't been to Italy either.

Usually, the Italian students wrote, their families vacation at the seaside. Some of them have traveled more widely - to England, France and Belgium.

"I'd like to meet Margherita," Accolti said. "She wrote she likes to sing and dance, and so do I."

Sports are a common theme of the students' letters. They swim, skate and play soccer in both countries. The Italians and the Americans all watch "Friends" and "Dawson's Creek." Of course, each country boasts its own local heroes, too.

"Our favorite Italian actor is Alesandro Preziosi," wrote Mara, Serena, Patrizia, Martina and Serena D., from Pozzilli. "He is tall, slim, beautiful with blue eyes, clever and friendly. Who do you like?"

Each exchange has left the students wanting more.

Giles students Danielle Reinicke and Natalie Paliferro, both 14, were curious to know if the Italian students are familiar with Britney Spears and "Lizzie McGuire."

"This is fun," Tabor added. "I've gotten to know a lot about them - so far away.

News - Norridge News
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/
localnews/current/no/05-27-04-302897.html