La Dolce Vita was always more than just a movie about Italian culture but whoever thought it could become a way of learning?
When the students at the Marco Polo Italian school of Sydney needed to immerse themselves in an Italian cultural experience to help master the Italian language, a case of La Dolce Vita was the answer offered by Sydney’s Little Italy in Norton Street, Leichhardt.
Saturday evening at the Italian Film Festival at Palace Cinemas, Leichhardt’s screening of the Three perfect daughters – E’ per il tuo bene showcased stereotypical traditional Italian values with rounds of laughter in its story of three fathers working to hinder the love affairs of their respective daughters.
The movie offered a lesson in traditional values and comedy in Italian. It was an effortless, entertaining and informative experience of the Italian language without an expensive flight or the two weeks of quarantine — the glamour, excitement and stimulation of Italy at our doorstep.
However, an Italian lesson is never complete without a culinary experience, so the doors of Moretti’s ristorante, just downstairs from the Palace Cinema swung open to host the hungry students of the Marco Polo language school. These customers had to sing for their suppers in the Italian language when students were handed their culinary dictionaries listing their favourite dishes to select and order using their language skills with the waiters.
The Italian language danced both ways as students and waiters discussed unique ingredients, cooking techniques, condiments, and complimentary wines. The smooth Sangiovese from Toscana helped with the stress of these demanding exams in the belly of the authentic cuisine indulgences of Moretti’s restaurant.
Mastering the Italian language and putting it to the test on Saturday evening made for a demanding experience for the final lesson in 2021 at Marco Polo.
Learning a new language can be fun and rewarding. While covid and quarantine prohibit us from putting our skills to the test in Italy, we continue the arduous work of preparing for an actual Italian experience when borders open again. (Maria Tripodi)
Be the first to comment