International Tyrolean Trentino Organization of North America (ITTONA)
(Beginners Level)
Overview:
Online beginner-level courses may be taken, supplied by ICoN (Italian Culture on the Net), by either paying your own tuition or by applying for a limited number of scholarships. Please note that the deadline for scholarships for 2006 has already passed, however, will most likely be repeated in 2007. Below is a excerpt from the 2006 program:
AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO
NOTICE OF COMPETITION
For the allocation of 40 annual awards, with related tutoring and on-line community activities, reserved for Trentino emigrants abroad and their descendants, for participation, through the Internet, in Italian language courses – beginner level, delivered by the ICoN Consortium (Italian Culture on the Net).
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For 2006 – 2007 a competition will be held for the allocation of 40 annual awards, with related tutoring and on-line community activities, reserved for Trentino emigrants and their descendants, resident abroad, for participation in Italian language courses – beginner level, promoted by the Consortium between Italian Universities - ICoN Consortium (Italian Culture on the Net).
Each course will take place over a period of 12 months exclusively through the Internet, and will make available an on-line tutor qualified to teach Italian as a second language.
The students on each course will be grouped into a virtual class organised within the context of the IcoN educational programme, through the site www.italicon.it and equipped with asynchronous forum and chat services and opportunities for simultaneous interaction between students and tutors, using audio-visual techniques.
In order to use the on-line services for the course it is necessary for students to be equipped with: Windows 95 or subsequent operating system, the opportunity to connect to the Internet at a minimum of 56K, browser, audio card and microphone.
Tutors will give students preliminary information on how to approach study of the language. They will guide them constantly, providing and correcting exercises and tests during the course. They will answer questions asked in the class forum within 24 hours, in so far as this is compatible with differences in time zones, 5 days out of 7 and will constantly check progress in terms of learning.
At the end of the course the tutors will give students a final test and will issue a certificate on behalf of the ICoN Consortium. The final test will correspond with level A2, elementary, of the Common European Framework.
Passing of the final test will lead to renewal of the award to go on to the intermediate and advanced level annual courses.
The above mentioned renewal is possible only if the Autonomous Province of Trento’s Budget has the financial means to cover these expenses.
After having passed the final test, students who so request will be assisted by their tutor in preparing the corresponding official examination, certified by the Universities for Foreigners in Perugia and Siena and by the University of Rome 3.
Each grant will cover, the costs being borne directly by the Autonomous Province of Trento, expenses related to:
- the cost of the annual award;
- the use of all tutoring and other on-line services as described above.
The costs related to Internet connection are the responsibility of each student.
Trentino emigrants and their descendants, resident abroad, who have reached at least the age of 15 on October 3, 2006 may apply.
The application to the competition, as per enclosure A which can be found as well on the site www.mondotrentino.net, must be received, together with the required documentation, before 4:30 p.m. on October 3, 2006 at: Autonomous Province of Trento – Servizio Emigrazione e Solidarietà Internazionale- Via Jacopo Aconcio, 5 - 38100 Trento - Italy.
The application might be even faxed to +39 0461 493155. Still, to make it easier for the Administration to check them, the application sent by fax has to be received before 12:00 a.m. on October 2, 2006, local time of the place from where the fax has been sent, otherwise it will not be admitted to the competition. It is up to the candidate to keep the fax receipt proving the time of the correct mailing.
The applications by mail must be sent only by registered mail with return notification; and in this case, the date considered valid will be the one stamped by the post office. The candidate should keep the receipt confirming the mailing.
As per the applications presented directly or sent by courier, the valid arrival date will be the one written on the receipt issued by the Province staff, that is, the date-stamp by the Province Office.
On the application (enclosure A)* the candidate must declare to be of Trentin origin as per art. 2 of the Provincial Law 3.11.2000 #12, and to meet the other requirements necessary to be admitted to the competition. Furthermore, it is required that a photocopy of a current valid document (passport or identity card) be enclosed with the application. *To download the form as a Word document, click here. In PDF format, click here.
All applications meeting the requirements will be classified, giving precedence to younger candidates and ensuring each of the countries listed below the number of awards indicated:
Argentina 7
Australia 3
Benelux 1
Bolivia 1
Bosnia - Herzegovina 1
Brazil 7
Canada 2
Chile 1
Colombia 1
France 1
Germany 1
Great Britain 1
Mexico 1
Paraguay 1
Peru 1
Romania 1
U.S.A 3
Switzerland 1
Uruguay 1
Venezuela 1
Other Countries 3
Any awards not allocated according to the criteria given above will be allocated exclusively on the basis of classification by age.
The awards may be revoked at any time in the event that it is ascertained that the course is not being followed in a continuous manner. If the cancellation happens within six months of the beginning of the courses, the licence will be re-assigned, based only on age classification, to the first of the excluded candidates. Should the cancellation be after the above mentioned time, no re-assignment will take place.