appreciated. For Italian-Americans, it can mean reconnecting with their heritage. For
non-Italians, it adds another dimension to their experiences here and in Italy. Unlike cities with
large and vibrant Italian communities such as New York and Boston, Kansas City has relatively
little to offer in this respect (which this organization hopes to change. Through concerted
efforts, other cities in a similar situation have turned things around. One of the best examples
of a successful campaign is that of WisItalia, a nonprofit organization formed in 2000 in
Milwaukee that has managed to convince grade schools and high schools to begin offering
Italian alongside French, Spanish and German.
For a humour look at the pronounciation of Italian words by Italian-Americans, click here.
high schools that offer Italian classes. There is large enough Italian community in Kansas City
and likely enough additional demand from the non-Italian community to convince schools to
extend their course offerings beyond the traditional French and Spanish classes. Funding,
always the principal obstacle to offering additional courses, is available from Italian-American
organizations and the Italian government. A list of those few offering Italian language classes
is being assembled.
Scuola Vita Nuova. Kansas City's Italian charter school was founded by Charles Strangler, also
Executive Director of the Bisceglia Italian Cultural Center, where the school is located. Its
classical curriculum emphasizes dance, music, Italian language and frequent visits to fine-art
performances. The Italian classes are taught by Gianluca Rossi, who just started his Ph.D
studies in economics at UMKC.
Starting Italian in a school. For those of us who want to start Italian language classes in our
children's school, the Order Sons of Italy in America "Start Italian in Your School" kit provides
step-by-step advice.
folded into the French department. UMKC also offers Italian, although its program is not as
extensive as that of KU. Johnson County Community College offers only beginning courses.
Park Hill Community Education also offers beginning Italian. The Blue Springs School District,
Community and Real Estate Education (5000 NW Valley View Road, Blue Springs, MO) offers
Italian for travelers. Call (816) 224-1364.
will constantly change as the Italian speakers offering these lessons move in and out of town,
or simply stop offering their services.
Dawn Mattera Young. A second-generation Italian-American, Dawn has studied Italian in
Florence, Italy, and in the United States. She started teaching and tutoring beginner and
intermediate Italian in 2005. Dawn travels to Italy at least once a year, visiting family and
friends. These trips and the time spent living there give her first-hand experience with the
Italian culture and language. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Since
1992, Dawn has been teaching in the Health and Fitness industry, and has done TV and
radio spots promoting a healthy lifestyle. Dawn has written numerous articles and
newsletters for major companies. Additionally, she has conducted and emceed motivational
seminars for as many as 2,000 attendees. For more information: DawnAlba@sbcglobal.net
La Causerie Francaise. Offers classes at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels in
Italian. Classes meet at the First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Road, Shawnee Mission,
KS. In addition to classes, lectures on aspects of Italian culture are sometimes offered. La
Causerie Française has been in constant operation since 1913 and loosely translates as
“the chat (room) for French.” Over the years, the original French emphasis was expanded to
include Italian and Spanish. The non-profit organization is run by volunteers, and is not
affiliated with any religious group. www.lacauserie.org. (816) 942-5433.
Nina Young is the Italian teacher for La Causerie and offers private Italian lessons. She
teaches Art History at the Art Institute, attended the University of Venice for one year, earned
her BA in Art History and Italian at University College, London, England and received her MA in
Art History/Italian Renaissance Patronage at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of
London. She has worked as an educational tour guide for high school and college students
and has traveled extensively in Italy. KC Star article.
Tiziano Cherubini is a native Italian speaker and Italian teacher at UMKC. tizianokc@yahoo.
com and cherubinit@umkc.edu. (816) 756-1006.
Julie Sano lived in Siena and Florence, and has a Masters in Italian. Julie.Sano@jocogov.
org. (913) 384-1719.
Emily Wilhite emyw@yahoo.com (913) 492-7759.
Language Link. www.languagelinkcorp.com. 3100 Broadway, Kansas City, MO (816) 753-
3122.
Il Circolo Italiano and the Bisceglia Italian Cultural Center. Offers introductory and
intermediate courses are held at the Bisceglia Center (544 Wabash, Kansas City MO). More
info at www.kcitalianculturalcenter.com/programs.htm.
Il Circolo Italiano. Promotes Italian language and culture in Kansas City. Recent transplants
from Italy and fairly fluent speakers as well as newbies. For more information, visit their
website (http://italian.meetup.com/15/about/)
Il Circolo Italiano - KU. Meets on Friday afternoons from 4:30 p.m. to around 6 p.m. at Teller's
on the corner of 8th and Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. This is an
informal gathering of students, faculty and native Italians who meet for pleasure and small
talk. For more information and other meetings, contact Ratchel Wilson at ratchel@ku.edu.
