Angela Ristuccia-Cafarella - Italian Language Leader
Angela has been teaching in primary and secondary schools for more than ten years and has a passion for the teaching of Italian.
She has a great capacity to enthuse and encourage students and she seeks to make her students’ learning experiences relevant and enjoyable.
In 1993, Angela won a scholarship to study at ‘L’Universita` per Stranieri’ in Reggio Calabria. One of her main goals was to increase her knowledge of the Italian language and culture. After the course, Angela spent two and a half years living in Italy.
Upon her return to Australia she immediately began teaching at Sandringham Primary School with COASIT, an Italian organisation that oversees the teaching of Italian in primary schools and organises after school programs for the teaching of Italian also.
In 1996 Angela began teaching at St James Regional College in East Bentleigh where she realised that the LOTE program had to be innovative, interesting and enjoyable. Therefore Angela developed a curriculum that tapped into the students’ desire to use Media and Information Technology processes.
It also allowed engagement with social and cultural issues. She used various teaching methods to ensure that the students extended their language skills in enjoyable activities and tasks.
It proved to be extremely effective and in 1999 Angela was a finalist for the LOTE Teacher Awards in recognition of her excellent work and dedication.
Angela is currently on Maternity Leave and has two sons. During her time at home, Angela translated English nursery rhymes into Italian and she ensured that Italian would be spoken at home. Her six year old son is bilingual and Angela is determined that her baby will also speak two languages.