Buondì.
Big news! The Italian government hasn’t forgotten language schools after all!
Though it’s clear we come way, way down their list of priorities, after bars, restaurants, shopping malls and so on.
There’s a new decree out (signed yesterday), detailing the gradual lifting of the anti-Covid restrictions (read more here.)
From today, for example, the curfew has been extended to 11 pm. Party time!
And from next Monday, gyms can open!
If you read through the .pdf very, very carefully, you’ll notice in Article 10 that ‘corsi di formazione’ (training courses) can restart ‘in presenza’ from July 1st.
July 1st? But aren’t Italian schools already open?
They’d certainly like you to think so! And if you scroll through their social media feeds you might see recent photos of small groups of happy students and their teachers, now finally back at the chalkface.
But officially, it’s going to be July 1st.
Rules (and laws) in Italy are often a little distanced from day to day reality, as anyone who has driven in this country, or attempted to pay the correct amount of tax, can tell you. That’s something you just have to get used to…
But there! Language schools like ours in Bologna now have the green light to start organising classes again (with the appropriate social distancing, of course.)
Time to start checking out affordable flights!
A venerdì.
P.S.
Something else that’s been keeping us busy, besides scratching our heads over the logic or lack of it underlying government decrees, has been the editorial decision-making at EasyItalianNews.com.
The war in Israel/Palestine is, quite rightly, a hot issue and we have, I am told, covered it in previous issues – the rockets Hamas are launching at Israel, the air and ground attacks that seem careless of the lives of Palestinian civilians.
So was it appropriate for us on Monday to report on the two fatalities and many injuries resulting from an accident in what was clearly an unsafely-constructed synagogue? While not writing about the deaths and maimings going on not very far away in the Gaza Strip?
Read the comments here, if you’re interested. And/or join the discussion (there, not here).
But bear in mind, please that EasyItalianNews.com is intended as a language-learning resource. It’s written and edited by Italian teachers and young freelancers. We’re not the BBC….