Professor Ada Bertini Publishes Article on Role of Phonetics in Teaching Italian

Professor Ada Bertini, who teaches Italian language at JCU, recently published an article called “La Fonetica Nell’insegnamento/Apprendimento dell’italiano L2: ‘Cenerentola o ‘Principessa’? Attività e Materiali per Studenti Anglofoni,” in the Lingua in Azione journal (ILSA). Professor Bertini’s article analyzes the teaching of phonetics in Italian language classes.

Professor Ada Bertini

The title of the article clearly illustrates the role of phonetics in teaching Italian as a second language. According to Professor Bertini, the ability to speak is formed in early childhood, and it becomes difficult to access new sounds in adulthood. When post-adolescent students encounter a new language, the perception and production of sounds plays a fundamental role in oral communication.

However, teaching the system of new sounds is complicated and often remains, for reasons of time, urgency, and focus on other aspects, on the margins of language teaching. Professor Bertini’s text presents reflections and didactic strategies functional to teaching and to facilitate the integration of a grammatical aspect that is perhaps a little neglected.

In addition to teaching Italian language, Professor Bertini teaches the interdisciplinary Italian for Business course in JCU’s Department of Business Administration. She holds a Laurea degree from the University of Rome “La Sapienza, as well as a Master in Didactics of Italian as a Foreign Language, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Phonodidactics from the University of Venice “Ca’ Foscari,” 2011. She has published articles on teaching Italian and the use of multi-media and new technology. Professor Bertini has always tried to include phonetics as an integral part of her courses with particular attention to the problems of English-speaking students.