I am introducing myself as the newly-elected President of the National COPILAS, the National Council for the Promotion of Italian Language in American Schools, based in Washington, DC.  It is my honor to accept this important position and challenge by its Board of Directors who have charged me to move forward with exciting new initiatives to make the council truly a national one and to strengthen our ties with other Italian organizations.

 

As I will be attending the ACTFL Convention in San Diego on Friday November 20-22, and I invite you to meet with me, if you are attending the convention, to discuss ways in which we can collaborate to expand and promote Italian language programs in our schools, pre-kindergarten through university.  Feel free to drop by National COPILAS'  booth located in the Expo Center.  Alternatively, you may reach me on my cell at 703 599-6942 or by email at drstabile@verizon.net.

 

There are four initiatives that I would like to share with you:

 

1. Establishment of a state-of-the-art interactive website

Our new website will be unveiled this Friday, November 20, 2009 and will be fully operational by mid-December.  Come visit us at www.nationalcopilas.org.

 

2.  Communication and collaborative linkages nationwide

We are planning to establish a close collaborative relationship with each Italian Consulate in the US through our website and direct communication.  It is essential that we work together to expand our programs in ALL school districts throughout the United States to reinvigorate Italian language programs and to elevate the study of Italian language as a link to one's heritage or a pathway to the study of classical literature, history, arts, cuisine, music, etc. Our collaborative efforts will strengthen the competitive advantage of studying Italian vis a vis the study of newly offered languages like that of Arabic and Chinese.

 

3.  Information Dissemination/Building "language/cultural" bridges nationwide

We can build momentum to reinvigorate the study of Italian by sharing success stories in our elementary, middle, secondary, colleges and universities on the National COPILAS website.  As a service to help you and your organization or institution, we will post curriculum, after-school activities, lesson plans, vertical articulation and differentiated instruction and best practices to underscore the importance of studying Italian and how it can foster global cultural awareness.

 

4.  Our vision, our strategic plan, our future

I embrace wholeheartedly our collaborative efforts to chart a new course to expand and develop Italian language courses in our schools throughout the United States.  National COPILAS has embarked on a strategic planning process that will outline innovative ways that we can work together to develop creative teaching curriculum, support learning in and out of the classroom through exchange programs and studying abroad, teacher certification pathways, and linkages with cultural initiatives nationwide and globally.  We recognize the importance of not only working with educators nationwide, but also leveraging resources with businesses and financial institutions to make our programs a reality. National COPILAS and I look forward to meeting you at ACTFL and to our fruitful collaboration.

 

Sincerely,

Daniel L. Stabile, Ph.D.

President, National COPILAS

430 Great Falls Street

Falls Church, VA 22046