Italian exchange students roam the halls of LT

LT students learn about Italian culture through exchange students’ visit

Sheridan Spiess, Copy Editor

Since the spring semester of last year, LT students taking part in the Italian exchange program have prepared for the exchange students’ arrival at LT. They have prepared field trips and events for the exchange students after applying to be a part of the program last spring.

On Sept. 20 Italian exchange students arrived at LT and will return to Italy on Oct. 3. Twenty-two students were accepted into the program after applying to have a student stay with them. March 13 to 25, LT students in the program will visit Rome and Follonica, Italy. The Italian exchange students will go on various field trips that host families have planned.

“They get to see the American high school experience which is really unique to us,” LT Italian teacher Elisa Ciaglia said.

She has taught Italian at LT for 11 years and has been a part of the Italian Exchange Student Program for about 10 years.

Parents hosting an Italian exchange student help organize the field trips and events for the students. Some of these events include exploring downtown Chicago and experiencing the homecoming dance to show Italian exchange students the culture in America.

“They’re definitely going to get a sense of the American pop culture,” exchange student host Catherine Everett ’17 said.

With the arrival of the Italian Exchange students comes a new understanding of Italian language and culture.

“As an Italian teacher, it brings Italian to life in everything [LT students] are learning culturally,” Ciaglia said.

The students compare how their lives are different through their visits and experiences they create for each other.

“My student has been here with her family for vacation, so I think [the Italian exchange students] are going to learn a lot more than just touring,” Regan Iffert ’17 said.

Although the students learn about culture on their exchange trips, they also will create friendships with their exchange students.

“I think there are so many things they’re going to get from it,” Ciaglia said. “It’s a bond that they’re going to have, it’s obviously educational, it is cultural, and it is personal.”

LT students who have taken part in this program have visited their exchange students and continued their Italian studies because of their experience through the exchange student program, Ciaglia said.

“There’s a lot of impact,” Ciaglia said. “Big time.”