TI18: Toolkit italiano

The 18th edition of Teaching Italian, to be held in person at Montclair State on Friday, October 17, 2025, invites you to register for workshops for Teaching Italian XVIII, Toolkit italiano: Building Innovative Pathways to Success.

There is a critical gap in language education professional development that addresses program growth and sustainability. Educators need practical toolkits that empower program visibility, enhance student engagement, and forge meaningful connections between the classroom and broader institutional and community contexts. Such tools can help programs expand their reach and establish their role in creating globally competent, culturally aware students.

Workshops

The workshop will introduce a comprehensive plan to promote Italian language learning through strategic program development, partnerships, and targeted advocacy. We aim to create comprehensive resource toolkits, (for example, how to use podcasts in class), facilitate dynamic discussions on enhancing program visibility, and foster connections to industries and companies (internships) and career pathways, while ensuring the long-term impact and relevance of Italian language education and a better understanding of the Italian culture. The participants will also benefit from networking with peers, exchanging best practices, and gaining confidence in delivering engaging, immersive language lessons, keeping in mind the lack of students’ motivation and attention.
By weaving together strategic program development, strong partnerships, targeted advocacy, and career pathway integration, we will position Italian language and culture learning as a dynamic, high-value offering with broad academic, cultural, and professional appeal. We envision a vibrant ecosystem where learning Italian is not only about mastering a language but also about opening doors to global industries and transformative opportunities for students but also individuals outside the classroom.
Presenters: Elda Buonanno Foley & Daniela Bisello Antonucci
Level: From elementary to AP and higher ed

This interactive workshop provides Italian language educators with practical strategies for establishing and expanding successful programs within their school districts. Designed for teachers who offer Italian primarily at the high school level, this session addresses the unique challenges of building AP-ready curricula when students begin their Italian journey in grades 9-12.
Participants will explore proven methods for promoting Italian language programs within their districts and learn how to successfully implement AP Italian courses even when students start at the high school level. The session focuses on strategic program development, including goal-setting, identifying growth opportunities, and creating sustainable curricula that align with both institutional priorities and student interests.
Through collaborative discussion and practical curriculum planning, attendees will gain confidence in their ability to offer AP Italian to high school-entry students. Participants will leave with concrete curricula plans and scope-and-sequence frameworks designed to develop AP-level skills from Level 1, ensuring student success throughout their Italian language journey.
Presenter: Valerie Luppino
Level: Middle School, High School, AP Italian

In this engaging and hands-on workshop, participants will explore innovative strategies to inspire Italian language learners beyond the classroom through real-world connections and digital integration. Grounded in Bob Stein’s vision of participatory literacy in the digital age, this session showcases how Italian teachers can design immersive projects—such as mock trials, cultural fashion shows, and culinary challenges—that align with ACTFL’s 5 Cs and promote authentic communication. Participants will leave with ready-to-use templates, rubrics, and tech tools that foster student engagement, cultural curiosity, and confidence in the target language. Whether you’re looking to enhance classroom interaction or expand learning into the community, this workshop offers practical ideas to energize your Italian program.
Participants will gain practical strategies to enhance student engagement in the Italian classroom through real-world projects, authentic resources, and digital tools aligned with ACTFL’s 5 Cs. They will leave with ready-to-implement activities, assessment tools, and project templates that promote cultural exploration and target language use. Attendees can immediately apply these approaches to design meaningful experiences—such as culinary projects, mock trials, and virtual tours—that connect students to Italian language and culture beyond the textbook, fostering deeper proficiency and global awareness.
Presenters: Diana Zoino & Alessandra Savarese
Levels: Middle School, High School, AP Italian

Biographies

Elda Buonanno Foley holds a PhD in Comparative Literature from The Graduate Center at CUNY, NYC, and an MBA from the Business School (IONA University). She is a college and high school professor and the author of several textbooks for teaching and learning Italian through music, film and art. She has taught in several American universities and colleges, such as New York University, Columbia, Cuny Colleges and she currently teaches at St. John’s University, New York. She lives in Greenwich, CT and continues her activities of promoting and growing the Italian culture and language programs across the board through professional developments to peers and in conjunction with the major Italian Institutions. She is the co-author with Daniela Bisello Antonucci of the textbook In Viaggio per l’Italia, 2025, published by Loescher Editore.

Daniela Bisello Antonucci holds a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Padova, Italy and a PhD in Italian from Rutgers University. She has taught Italian language and literature at Princeton University, Drew and Rutgers. She has been on NeMLA (North East Modern Language Association) Board of Directors as Italian Language Director and as President. She has collaborated with a study abroad organization based in Florence, offering pedagogical training. Her research interests include literature, fashion, art, music and their interactions. She has written and published articles on 20th- and 21st-century Italian writers and cinema. She published a book on the work of Nino Palumbo and authored the preface to the recent reprint of Il Giornale by Nino Palumbo. She resides in New York, where she promotes the Italian language and its culture. She is the co-author with Elda Buonanno Foley of the textbook In Viaggio per l’Italia, 2025, published by Loescher Editore.

Valeria Luppino is an Italian Teacher at Millburn High School and has taught Italian for over 20 years across all levels, from Italian 1 through AP. She developed and introduced the AP Italian curriculum to her district and has designed curricula for all levels of instruction, aligning themes and units to reflect spiraling instruction and proficiency growth. With the expansion of the program, she is currently working to promote the adoption of Italian at the middle school level.

Valeria has served on numerous curriculum and assessment committees, leading her department in rubric development, gradebook allocation, and proficiency alignment across languages. She is also the lead for the Seal of Biliteracy, encouraging proficiency testing for students who may not qualify through AP exam scores.

An experienced AP Reader, Table Leader, and former member of the AP Exam Development Committee, Valeria now serves as an AP Consultant. Throughout her career, she has remained dedicated to developing effective learning strategies for all students, supporting their growth at every proficiency level.

Diana M. Zoino holds a B.A. in Italian (French minor) from Montclair State University, an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University, and a Supervisory Certificate from New Jersey City University. A passionate educator for 15 years at the Cresskill School District, Diana teaches Italian at all levels, as well as introductory Spanish and French at the middle school.

Formerly an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Diana also serves as a trustee of the Coccia Foundation, is a member of the American Association of Teachers (AATI) and the Italian Language Foundation. In February 2024, Diana proudly represented the Cresskill Italian Program at the Annual NECTFL Conference held in NYC, presenting for the AATI roundtable and with her World Language (WL) Colleagues on teaching WL students.

Alessandra Savarese is an accomplished educator currently teaching Italian at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, New Jersey. She began her teaching career in 2002, working for five years at the elementary level before launching the Italian language program at Carl H. Kumpf Middle School, where she taught for a decade. In her current role at the high school, Ms. Savarese teaches all levels of Italian (I–IV), including a Dual Enrollment course in partnership with Seton Hall University.

Throughout her career, Ms. Savarese has been recognized for her dedication and excellence in teaching. She was named Arthur L. Johnson High School’s Governor’s Educator of the Year in 2021, Carl H. Kumpf Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2012, and Clark Public School District Teacher of the Year the same year. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves as advisor for the Italian Honor Society, is a member of the Faculty Council, and acts as Internal Coordinator for the school’s Middle States Accreditation team.

Ms. Savarese graduated magna cum laude from Montclair State University in 1999 with a B.A. in Italian and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. Born in Sorrento, Italy, she maintains a strong connection to her roots and enjoys spending summers there with her two children, visiting family, and embracing the culture she so passionately teaches.