Learn Italian in Bologna

5th of April 2008
Saturday: many people don’t go to the office, most of them just relax or go shopping. Barbara and Elisa work as volunteers in the “Centro Lavoratori Stranieri CGIL” [i.e. Foreign Workers Center of an Italian trade union] and teach their language to people coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Tunisia, Czech Republic, Rumenia, Senegal.
Part of them speaks only French, other understand a little English, and these two energetic and young ladies make lessons in three different languages at the same time.
Since the beginning we are not sure it will be possible to involve somebody in an interview: the teachers do not have the occasion to know them personally, as the classes are crowded and students change often [if they find a weekend job they have to change class and teacher or just stop going to the lessons].
Anyway, most of them were very curious about our project and stopped us for talking at the end of the lesson.
A Tunisian guy explained me the importance of learning Italian, a basic step into full integration. Two men from Pakistan wanted me know how much they do appreciate Barbara and Elisa’s efforts; they added that also the documentary that we are doing is really important: Italian people has to know that many many immigrants have come here to work and to help this country to get better.
And we agree of course!