Italian Students Launch Pen Pal Partnership with Milan’s Leone XIII
A new international connection is flourishing in our Italian classrooms this year, thanks to an exciting pen pal partnership with Leone XIII, a Catholic school in Milan.
The collaboration began through a shared desire to strengthen global relationships between two schools with strong language programs. Our Italian department reached out to Leone XIII through a student connection, the aunt of Year 10 student Benedetta, who teaches at the Milanese school. Their English department responded with enthusiasm, keen to create an exchange that would give both groups of students the opportunity to practise authentic communication in the language they are learning.
Language Comes Alive
Introducing pen pals into the Year 7 and 8 Italian program has given our girls a real-world opportunity to use Italian with a genuine purpose. Students are now introducing themselves, sharing interests, and communicating with someone their own age living in Italy.
For many, this has been the moment Italian has shifted from classroom learning to something alive—a language connected to real teenagers, real stories, and real culture. Students are discovering how phrases learned in class translate into meaningful communication and gaining insight into how Italian teenagers express themselves, what they enjoy, and what daily life looks like in a different part of the world.
Year 7 student Giulietta shared, “I felt really excited and curious when I received my letter from Italy because it was interesting to hear from someone who lives in a different country.”
More Than Words: Skills for a Global Future
The exchange goes far beyond developing language proficiency. Through writing and receiving letters, students are strengthening:
- Cultural understanding, as they compare lifestyles, school experiences, and interests.
- Intercultural communication skills, learning how to express themselves respectfully and clearly across languages.
- Empathy and global awareness, by connecting with peers they may never have met otherwise.
- Confidence, as they discover they can communicate meaningfully in another language.
- Writing skills, not only in Italian but also in English, as they observe how English is used by Italian learners.
This authentic learning experience nurtures both linguistic and personal growth, developing young people who are curious, open-minded, and globally aware.
What’s Next?
The excitement doesn’t end with the first exchange. Students will write a second round of letters later in the year, building on their knowledge of their Year 8 course, allowing them to build on these new relationships and express themselves with greater confidence and vocabulary.
As the partnership continues, we look forward to seeing how these connections expand students’ perspectives and deepen their appreciation of Italian language and culture.
It brings language learning to life by creating real, human connections between our students and their peers in Italy. Who knows, in the future, if the relationship continues, they may visit each other in Italy or Australia.
- Featured, Global Connections, Intercultural Learning, Italian Language Learning, Italian Pen Pal Program, Language Exchange, Milan School Partnership, Santa Maria College, Year 7 Italian, Year 8 Italian
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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