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Cultural Diplomacy

I Solisti Veneti in concert at the Embassy (April 25, 2018)
I Solisti Veneti in concert at the Embassy (April 25, 2018)

 

A network for promoting Italian culture in the U.S.

Cultural cooperation activities coordinated by the Embassy in Washington draw support from the network of Italian consulates in the U.S. and the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Starting points for a trip to discover Italy are:

Language: cultivating heritage and enjoying the Italian lifestyle

Data on the promotion of Italian language and culture collected by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 2019 confirmed that the United States is, globally, the fourth largest country in terms of number of students of Italian – after Australia, Germany and France. Indeed, the U.S. counts 186,894 students, 71,165 of whom are university-level students of Italian. In 2016 the Modern Language Association (MLA) reported 56,743 students of Italian at U.S. universities, which means there has been a 20% increase in student numbers. The latest “open doors” report by the International Education Institute showed that in the 2018-2019 academic year Italy – with 39,043 American students – was the second largest destination country for student tourism, following only Great Britain. This marks the seventh year in a row Italy has held that position.

Among the reasons for this success are the presence in the United States of a large community of Italian descendants who wish to learn more about their heritage and the recognized link between the Italian language and culture and its function as a gateway to the “Italian lifestyle.”

Useful Information

  • Scholarships: Below is a partial listing of associations that promote Italian language and culture through scholarships:
    • AATI – American Association of Teachers of Italian
    • ILF – Italian Language Foundation
    • NIAF – National Italian American Foundation
    • OSDIA – Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America
    • UNICO National
    • NOIAW National Organization of Italian American Women
    • LIDO CLUB Lido Civic Club of Washington DC
    • The Italian Cultural Society of Washington DC
  • Schools offering Italian as part of the curriculum:  click here.
  • Universities with Italian programs and/or courses: more information is available at the website of the Modern Language Association – MLA.
  • Advanced Placement Program Italian (AP-Italian): high school students can earn university credits through the AP-Italian program. For more information, click here.

School Offices and the Enti Gestori:

  • A School Office is present at the Embassy and at each Consulate. They are supported in their work by the Enti Gestori, local non-profits that receive funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to establish Italian programs in schools. For contact information, click here.
  • Language Observatory: agency the purpose of which is to establish and monitor strategies to promote the teaching and learning of Italian (including AP Italian) in the USA. For more information, click here.
  • FAQs: would you like to teach Italian in the USA? Are you looking for a school where your children can learn Italian? Are your educational credentials valid in the USA and viceversa? Click here.

Contact information for the School Office at the Embassy of Italy. Click here.