
AVIANO AIR Foundation, Italy (AFNS) —
U.S. Air Power Airmen from Aviano Air Foundation and other customers of the Wyvern community voluntereed to instruct English to Italian kids in communities close to the base by means of the Vicini Americani English Teaching Program.


This summer months, volunteers taught English to Italian little ones in community middle and large educational facilities, as effectively as two summer camps.


The summer camps took spot July 4-29 in Polcenigo, and Aug. 29 by Sept. 9 in Aviano. Youngsters ranging from 6-14 a long time previous attended the summer months camp classes.


In the course of the summer time camps, more than 45 volunteers interacted with the young children by unique functions and workshops that targeted on society, traditions and lifestyles. These actions aided increase the children’s English and communicative expertise in a way that was created to be organic and expectation-free.


The small children established crafts, played sporting activities, participated in nature walks and far more even though they have been understanding. Through casual discussions, young children were being taught English pronunciation, listening, spelling and speaking expertise.




“The summertime camp had less of a classroom ambiance and the kids ended up a lot more receptive to studying English in different ways than in a university ambiance,” explained Retired Army Master Sgt. Leandro Rocha, English Teaching Application volunteer. “Currently we are hoping to re-make a audio video wherever the youngsters have to not only translate the lyrics but the which means powering the song.” 

Throughout the 2021-2022 faculty calendar year, extra than 49 volunteers taught 226 hours of English and some Spanish to 700 high university and center school learners over the study course of 61 courses in a local metropolis. The application is scheduled to go on into the 2022-2023 university yr with ideas to also reach elementary educational institutions.


The volunteers shared information and facts about them selves, their routines, travels, get the job done encounters, anticipations and additional all through their visits to every single university.


“I really feel incredibly grateful to the group of volunteers who arrived to our educational facilities,” mentioned Nicoletta Caine, a local Significant School for Tourism and Overall economy Spanish and English instructor. “The volunteers could pick out a uncomplicated matter and converse about that or have a conversation with different teams of students in the same course or even play game titles with them. It has been an interesting and stimulating knowledge.”


The college students were content to fulfill the volunteers and appreciated the pursuits, according to Caine.


“They were very eager to be in a position to discuss to native speakers and exchange their sights with them and study about their behavior, tastes, pursuits and work roles,” Caine mentioned. “They certainly improved their functionality to use the languages, obtaining much more courage and self-assurance.”


Rocha also volunteered three occasions in high college lecture rooms in spring 2022. Rocha defined that the learners ended up intrigued in why Americans use conjunctions as properly the use of diverse dialects spoken across regions of the states.


“My practical experience was fantastic,” Rocha claimed. “They enjoy demonstrates and marvel why New Yorkers discuss in a different way than those exhibits with men and women from Texas. They acknowledge that Italians have a distinct dialect dependent on wherever another person comes from but the pupils are just astonished more by the U.S. way of talking English. You can explain to they want to study far more when compared to finding out standard Oxford English taught in their educational institutions.”


On Sept. 13, 2022, Daniele Basso, the vice mayor of Aviano, Mario Della Toffola, Polcenigo mayor, and Col. Timothy Maxwell, 31st Mission Aid Group commander, recognized much more than 30 users that volunteered or assisted coordinate for the nearby faculty visits and the summer camps.


All through the ceremony, Della Tofolla reiterated the powerful friendships involving the communities and emphasized a single of Aviano AB’s mission statements: we are stronger jointly.


“I see distinct ranks in this home but we are all the same rank when it arrives to volunteering,” Maxwell mentioned.


The Vicini Americani English Instructing Software helps foster sturdy interactions in the regional community and allows Aviano AB to give back again to its host nation.


“I imagine the plan is essential to both of those the young pupils of the area Italian local community and the U.S. provider member similarly,” Rocha said. “It breaks down an invisible wall and it permits the provider member to comprehend that they have a responsibility like that of an ambassador to teach youthful Italian youngsters.”



