New Directions in Italian Language and Culture Teaching: North American Perspectives
University of Guelph and Hybrid
CAIS Fall Teaching Symposium
New Directions in Italian Language and Culture Teaching: North American Perspectives
October 25, 2025
University of Guelph and Online
The Canadian Association for Italian Studies invites proposals for a one-day conference, with in-person panels to be held at the University of Guelph and online panels via Zoom, that offers an opportunity to reflect on the current state of the evolving field of Italian language pedagogy in North America.
Recent developments in the teaching and learning environment, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of artificial intelligence tools, the expansion of online instruction, budgetary constraints, and the restructuring of academic programs, among others, have contributed to significant changes in academic platforms and pedagogical practices in North America and elsewhere. Far from seeking conclusive and comprehensive answers, our aim is to create a space for discussion of the current teaching landscape, the challenges and limitations encountered, as well as the new directions and innovative approaches that have emerged in the teaching of Italian language and culture in recent years in the North American context and beyond. This conference builds upon and extends lines of inquiry developed in recent publications such as Italica’s Spring 2024 issue, “Emerging Horizons: New Directions in Italian Culture and Language Pedagogy” (ed. S. Dallavalle), and the volume The Art of Teaching Italian (ed. G. Guarnieri, 2024).
We welcome proposals in English or Italian for individual papers or panel sessions (3 or 4 speakers) that explore Italian language and culture pedagogy, especially within the North American context. We encourage contributions from graduate students, early-career scholars, and educators working in diverse institutional environments (varying for level of instruction, size of institutions/courses, student population and geographical location, to mention a few). Contributions may adopt theoretical perspectives or present practice-based case studies drawn from classroom experience. Proposals should engage with one or more of the following thematic clusters though submissions beyond these areas are also welcome:
-curriculum and program development; decolonizing and diversifying the Italian curriculum; integration of linguistic proficiency with cultural literacy
-reflections on personal development in teaching pedagogy; institutional support/challenges to language teaching development
-inclusive and anti-oppressive pedagogies
-approaches to language acquisition and assessment
-teaching Italian across modalities (in-person, online, and blended formats); multimodal and multimedia approaches to teaching Italian
-critical and creative uses of artificial intelligence in language teaching
-experiential and community-based learning
-heritage learners and multilingual classrooms
-gamification and play-based learning
Proposals should include a title, a 250-word description of the topic, 3–5 keywords, name and affiliation of proponents, and preference for in-person or virtual participation. Please note that panels will be either entirely in person or entirely virtual to avoid disruptions. However, we will be using the HyFlex mode, which allows for active participation and engagement from both in-person and remote attendees. In view of a potential post-conference publication, we kindly ask that proposals consist of original, unpublished work that is not under review elsewhere. Please send submissions through this form: https://forms.office.com/r/kRg2vgpNvt by August 30, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact the conference organizers via email.
Organizers:
Gianmarco Bocchi (gbocchi@uwaterloo.ca)
PhD Candidate Centre for Comparative Literature
Sessional Lecturer SJU University, University of Waterloo & School of Languages and Literature, University of Guelph
Alessia Ursella (aursella@uoguelph.ca)
Sessional Lecturer School of Languages and Literature, University of Guelph & Department of Italian and French Studies, St. Jerome's University.
Alessia Ursella
