In Bologna, Italy, an enriching seminar titled "Teaching Methods in Bilingual Settings" (Alb: Metodat e mësimdhënies në kushtet e dygjuhësisë) took place recently. The event was organized by the Diaspora Publishing Center in collaboration with the Albanian Schools Association in Italy.
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| In Bologna in the seminar "Teaching Methods in Bilingual Settings" (Alb: Metodat e mësimdhënies në kushtet e dygjuhësisë), April 7, 2024 |
Approximately 90 teachers, association leaders, and representatives from Albanian schools in Italy participated in this insightful session. The event was graced by the presence of Her Excellency Anila Bitri, the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Italy, Mr. Diamant Kastrati, the General Consul of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Mimoza Hysa, the Director of the Diaspora Publishing Center, Mr. Dritan Mashi, the director of the Albanian Schools Association in Italy, and Mrs. Mahije Bujupi Berisha, the director of the Albanian Teachers Association in Italy.
Her Excellency Anila Bitri emphasized the importance of preserving the Albanian language among second and third-generation children in Italy. She highlighted the deeper understanding and connection with the Arbëresh community as a model for preserving ancestral culture, as well as the dissemination of Albanian culture and history.
Mr. Diamant Kastrati, the General Consul of the Republic of Kosovo, appreciated the collaboration between Albania and Kosovo in preserving the language heritage in the diaspora.
Mrs. Hysa, acknowledging the close cooperation between the Diaspora Publishing Center and the teaching community in Italy over the years, highlighted some of the center's key projects supporting education in the diaspora. These include the development of supplementary texts, bilingual programs, support for seminars and continuous training, as well as the implementation of the summer school project. Mrs. Hysa emphasized that besides being the language of the heart, the mother tongue should also be the heart of all languages, underlining its paramount role in building comprehension, communication agility, and family relations.
During the seminar, supplementary materials from the Diaspora Publishing Center, such as "I am Albanian" and guidebooks for cities like Gjirokastra, Berat, Shkodra, and Prizren, were presented by the author, Mrs. Milena Selimi.
Aligned with the seminar theme, "Teaching Methods in Bilingual Settings," a training session on "The Curriculum of Supplementary Teaching of the Albanian Language and Culture in the Diaspora" was conducted by Mrs. Erida Koleci from the Pre-University Education Quality Assurance Agency.
For nearly two hours, the attending teachers enthusiastically followed the training led by Mrs. Linda Mëniku, a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Tirana, on "Teaching Methods in Bilingual Settings."
In conclusion, the representatives from the Consulate of the Republic of Albania in Milan, Mrs. Luljeta Çobanaj, and the director of the Diaspora Publishing Center, Mrs. Mimoza Hysa, extended their gratitude. The event concluded with recitations and performances by two children from Albanian schools in Bologna, adding a heartwarming touch to the seminar's closure.
This seminar underscored the collective commitment to nurturing bilingual education and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Albanian community in Italy, ensuring that future generations maintain a strong connection with their language and roots.