Accademia dei Ragazzi is one of the best Italian schools for children and youth in Toronto. We stand out for our language programs that reflect the curriculum taught in Italy, the adoption of the best teaching practices offered in the Ontario school system and the use of modern technology. Our students take our courses to improve their oral linguistic-communicative skills (listening and speaking), their reading and writing skills, as well to learn about the historical and artistic beauties of Italy.
Accademia dei Ragazzi are aware of the effects of the current global pandemic. We want to offer Italian courses in a safe learning environment because our priority is your child's health. In-person and hybrid lessons may transition to online learning in full compliance with local guidelines for COVID-19. Classes will not be disrupted if a transition to online learning occurs.
We will follow all the provincial and local recommendations (social distancing, the use of masks, small class size, ventilation, etc.) however our goal is to maintain a strong sense of community, and organize cultural and social events (both in person and virtually).
The plans you see on our website are based on current local and provincial guidelines, but Accademia recognizes these guidelines may change at any time. Therefore, it is important to regularly check the Toronto Public Health website for up-to-date information.
Accademia dei Ragazzi promotes Italian culture and language among children and youth living in Canada.
In 2012, at the request of many friends, I started teaching Italian classes to their children out of my home. There was a need in the community to offer Italian language instruction to the children of Italian background who were living in bilingual homes but because they live in Canada, had no easy access to formal Italian education. I was able to fulfil this need because of my Italian academic background and my formal training as an educator in Ontario. Over time, more and more children came and the project outgrew the informal environment in which it had been born.
As one of the parents whose child was attending Luca's classes, I recognized that the classes were a great service not just to us and our group of friends, but to the Italian community in Toronto as a whole. The increasing burden of running the school was being borne solely by Luca and I thought that it would be a good idea to formalize the project as a not-for-profit organization. As parents and professionals of various backgrounds, we could pool our skills in order to continue the project and facilitate its growth.
What we aim to share with the community is not only the academic components of an Italian education but also the joy of the Italian lifestyle and the celebration of our culture.
As the new Executive Director of Accademia dei Ragazzi, my role is to make our school grow and help our teaching staff offer the best possible Italian courses in the GTA. I have worked in the Italian community for many years. It is my goal to increase student enrolment by offering our Italian courses to all students that have a passion for Italian language and culture, no matter their language proficiency. In addition, I will use my experience as a certified teacher in Ontario (OCT) to develop programs, share teaching practices and resources with our teaching staff.
Una lingua diversa è una diversa visione della vita.
I limiti del mio linguaggio sono i limiti del mio mondo.
Non si vive in un Paese, si vive in una lingua.
La poesia non è una questione di sentimenti, è una questione di linguaggio. È il linguaggio che crea i sentimenti.
The Accademia dei Ragazzi seeks to promote Italian language and culture among the new generations now living in Ontario. Through support for a robust bilingualism, Accademia seeks to enhance children’s cognitive skills, strengthen their relation with their family and culture of origin and complement the education they receive in Canada. Accademia fosters the development of language skills among children and youth, via offering courses and activities focused on Italian culture at large. Language, history, geography, literature, theatre, art, cinema, architecture, music and gastronomy are the cultural ingredients the Accademia wants to share, in a productive dialogue with Canadian multiculturalism.