Year 12 IB Italian – A Most Rewarding Opportunity

Over the last 16 months, I have had the rewarding opportunity to study Italian with Ms Pieri and my fellow classmates, where I not only learnt to communicate in another language but also developed a greater appreciation for Italy’s rich culture and traditions. Through the course, I gained the ability to both communicate confidently in Italian and understand cultural references using a variety of grammatical tenses. More specifically, I developed skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, whilst gaining valuable insights into Italian traditions, customs, and everyday life. Rather than simply memorising vocabulary and grammar, the course provided a well-rounded and authentic learning experience that developed my understanding of the language from knowing basic linguistic principles to a complete immersion into Italian culture. 

Every lesson, our class was motivated by Ms Pieri’s enthusiasm and unwavering encouragement, which created an engaging environment where learning was both enjoyable and rewarding, even when navigating challenging grammatical concepts. This helped to create a supportive learning environment where everyone was encouraged to participate, ask questions, and build confidence in another language. Looking ahead, I hope to continue developing my Italian beyond school and one day study in Italy, where I can apply everything that I have learnt while experiencing the language and culture firsthand. 

– Genevieve Beattie (Year 12)

The Italian ab initio course was a challenging yet rewarding experience. After beginning the course at the start of 2025, it’s hard to believe that only a year and a half later, in May of this year, we sat our final IB examination. Even though this meant having to attend extra lessons both after school and during the holidays to finish content, I found that this made us closer as a class, which made the demanding aspects of the course not just bearable but enjoyable. Our teacher Ms Pieri also greatly helped with both our learning and our engagement in the course. She ensured we were prepared for the final examination in May by dedicating time both during the holidays and school days to help us practise for our orals. Our class time was made engaging in a way which allowed us to learn more about the Italian culture, and work together with each other when practicing new topics, helping to alleviate the stress accompanying such an early final exam. 

After completing the course, it’s hard to believe how far we have come in our conversational and writing skills in a language that only a year and a half ago was completely foreign to us. Overall, I enjoyed my experience learning Italian and am grateful that I have been able to complete a subject in the IB alongside such a great class and teacher.

– Stephanie Bombotas (Year 12)