Genoa. The Regional Council has approved the Collaboration Agreement between the Liguria Region and the University of Genoa for the promotion of the acquisition of the English language within the Integrated System from birth to six years.
In this way, to carry out the launch of an experiment in the teaching of the English language starting from early childhood services, the Institution will have the Unige Department of Educational Sciences as scientific support. The objective is to deepen knowledge of the educational, linguistic and sociological implications deriving from this type of activity. The agreement will be signed by the rector of the University of Genoa Federico Delfino and the regional councilor for training Marco Scajola which explains: «A first fundamental step towards experimenting with teaching the English language to Ligurian children aged 0 to 6. An ambitious project in which, as the Regional Council, we strongly believe to give new perspectives to our young people from an early age. Learning English at a very young age represents, in fact, an important tool for encouraging the improvement of the linguistic skills of the entire community. From an educational point of view we are really intervening with initiatives and projects for every age group – continues councilor Scajola -. We want to be help and support for all Ligurians: from children to the elderly, including children and families.”
«In contemporary society, knowledge of English is now of primary importance – explains the councilor for the School and University of the Liguria Region Simona Ferro –. Teaching this language from the first years of life within the Integrated System means giving young Ligurians a precious tool that favors their subsequent university and work placement, as well as encouraging cultural exchange, inclusion and sociability. From today the Liguria Region and the University of Genoa will work in an even more synergistic way for the well-being of our children.”
«A measure that intersects perfectly with those launched by the council in recent months – states the regional councilor for Social Policies Giacomo Giampedrone – learning a second language as a child has a beneficial effect on the development of creativity, the ability to think beyond the rules in an original way, thus improving the ability to deal with difficult situations and solve problems. Furthermore – continues the councilor – learning a foreign language offers benefits in terms of memory and concentration, intervening on both cognitive and emotional-relationship development, a fundamental aspect within modern society”.
The protocol includes: the recognition of the needs of the services and ongoing initiatives regarding language teaching, with particular reference to the teaching of the English language; the sharing of guidelines regarding staff training in the linguistic field, with particular reference to the teaching of the English language; the mutual exchange of data and research on training initiatives aimed at the age group from 0 to 6 years; the promotion of concrete initiatives aimed at language acquisition and the well-being of the child.
