Italian is a very popular language in New Zealand, which is curious, because not many people speak Italian outside of Italy. Here we explore the key reasons why you should consider learning Italian.
- Italian is one of Europe's leading languages, with roughly as many mother-tongue speakers on the continent as English and French.
- Young Kiwis can go and work in Italy for one year under a working holiday scheme. A knowledge of the Italian language would obviously make a huge difference to anyone's job prospects.
- Italy is probably the greatest magnet for anyone interested in the history of western art and civilisation; it's like a vast cultural treasure house. Even a limited knowledge of the language helps to introduce some of the works of art.
- Three cities in Italy are of paramount interest: Rome as the capital of the ancient empire and the heart of the Catholic church; Florence as the cradle of the Renaissance; and Venice as a unique and unforgettable link between eastern and western European styles.
- Italy has made huge contributions to scientific progress, with Leonardo and Galileo being just two of the most obvious names.
- Since the time of Boccaccio and Dante, Italian writing has been at the forefront of European literature.
- Italy was the home of opera, and many of the world's greatest works were composed in Italian; even today, Italian is the international language of music.
- Italian food has achieved worldwide fame, and nearly all of us could name a good few Italian dishes and culinary expressions.
- Italy has long been synonymous with fashion, elegance and design; go and see for yourself!
- Italian cinema has long had a worldwide reputation, as have many directors and film stars.
- Italy is not just "culture": the modern country has one of Europe's largest economies. And Italian cities are not just museum pieces: they are full of vitality and energy, which nearly everyone finds infectious.
- The Italian landscape is incredibly varied, ranging from alpine to mediterranean, and the picturesque villages and small towns give it tremendous character.
Kenneth Leong is Director of Euroasia, New Zealand's premier provider of foreign language and cross cultural training programmes. Language courses offered include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Find out more about learning Italian with Euroasia. To enrol for a Italian course, check out the Italian timetable on the Euroasia website at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz |
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