Country Report – ITALY
ITALY
Complete Name Official Name Official Language Principal city Form of government President of Republic Chairman of the Board Proclamation Access to ONU
Italian Republic Italian Republic Italian(Bilingualism) Rome (2 796 102 ab. / 2012) POLICY Parliamentary republic Giorgio Napolitano Enrico Letta State of Italy: 17 march 1861 Date of Italian Republic:18 June 1946 14 december 1955
Country Report – ITALY
1957 (founding member) 301 340 km² 2,4 % POPULATION 60 870 745 ab. (2012) (23º) Total 202,00 ab./km² (39º) Density 0,38% (2012) Growth Rate Austria, City of Vaticano ,France, San Marino, Slovenia, Boundaries Switzerland UTC+1 (CET) Time zone Euro Currency 1 834 000 millions of $ (2012) PIL (PPA) PIL pro capite (PPA) 30.136 $ (2012) OTHER INFORMATIONS Access to UE Total Surface % of water
Internat. Dial Code
+39
Acronym National Anthem National Festivity
I Italy’s brothers 2nd June
Language The Italian is the main language of our country and one of the official languages of the European Union. It belongs to the group of Indo-European family of Eastern Romance languages, derived from the Florentine dialect of the fourteenth century, the idiom prevalent among the educated classes throughout Italy thanks to the great Tuscan writers of the time such as Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. The modern Italian, born in the nineteenth century thanks to the work of Alessandro Manzoni, and talked over the years since the unit only 2.5% of the population, it is then spread gradually before thanks to primary education, to the phenomenon of 'population growth and the creation of a bureaucracy and a national army, and after the Second World War, with the arrival of radio and television. Despite this, the country is still a large number of spoken languages and dialects, the latter are born from Tuscan, but have evolved from Latin.
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Other languages At the local level are recognized the following languages: • • • •
French: Valle d'Aosta Slovenian: provinces of Trieste and Gorizia Deutsch: province of Bolzano Ladin: municipalities of Trentino-Alto Adige
In these regions, public offices and road signs are bilingual or trilingual, such as in the municipalities of South Tyrol Ladin, where official documents can be written in Italian or another language.
The historical linguistic minorities present and recognized within the borders of the country are described by the law n. 482 drafted 15 December 1999 that protects Albanian, Catalan, German, Greek, Slovenian and Croatian and those speaking French, Franco-Provençal, Friulian, Ladin, Occitan and Sardinian. There are also several regional spoken, although they are surveyed by UNESCO as minority languages and the international linguistic community as not related to Italian language, do not enjoy any recognition or protection by the Italian State.
The level of protection of certain minorities is established both by the Italian law and international treaties: the case of the German-speaking minority in South Tyrol and bilingual municipalities of the province of Trento, whose status is governed by the De Gasperi-Gruber, and a part of the Slovene minority in Venezia Giulia, included in the "Memorandum of London" with which Italy and Yugoslavia respectively took the civil administration of zones A and B of the Free Territory of Trieste.
The Italian Sign Language (LIS), which is the visual language of deaf citizens, is recognized by the Valle d'Aosta region since 2006.
Country Report – ITALY
PROVINCE OF PISA
Chief town
Pisa
Coordinates of chief town
Coordinate: 43°43′0″N 10°24′0″E43.71667°N 10.4°E
Surface
2 444 km²
Habitants
411 376
Density
168,32 ab./km²
Number of townships
39
Neighbouring Provinces
Lucca, Pistoia, Florence, Siena, Grosseto, Leghorn
postcodes
56121-56128 Pisa, 56010-56048 province
telephone area codes
050, 0565, 0571, 0583, 0586, 0587, 0588
time zone
UTC+1
ISTAT code
050
Country Report – ITALY The province of Pisa is an Italian province of Tuscany of 411 000 inhabitants. It extends from the flood plain of the Arno River, in western Tuscany, to the Ligurian Sea and has the shape of a gun upside down. It is bordered to the north by the province of Lucca, on the east by the provinces of Florence and Siena, in the south with the province of Grosseto, on the west by the province of Livorno and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The current comes from the Province of Pisa compartment, Grand Ducal administrative division, most of which included the territories that had been part of the Maritime Republic of Pisa. In 1925 they were transferred to the municipalities of the Province of Livorno Bibbona, Campiglia Marittima, Castagneto Carducci, Cecina, Collesalvetti, Piombino, Rosignano Maritime, Sassetta Suvereto and at the same time and were acquired by the Province of Florence the towns of Castelfranco di Sotto, Montopoli in Val d 'Arno, San Miniato, Santa Croce and Santa Maria a Monte. In 1938, the town of Castellina Marittima bought a small slice of the territory of the municipality of Cecina, part of the Province of Livorno, to whom it was attributed to an administrative error. The province includes, besides the capital, thirtyeight municipalities. The northern area is crossed by the anti-Apennine mountain range of Monte Pisano, adjacent to the extreme edge of the Alps, that separates the province of Pisa from Lucca. The landlocked, the Pisan coast, extends for about 15 km, and includes the following locations: • Calambrone Tirrenia and Marina di Pisa in the Municipality of Pisa, the most part of the beach park of St. Flushing; • a stretch of coast about 1 km, protected from the park administered by the City of San Giuliano Terme; • Vecchiano Marina, in the municipality of Vecchiano, which is also located in the park;
The area of Pisa is flat, but down a few miles south, in the southern part of the province, you are immersed in the most classic Tuscan landscape made of hills, forests and ancient villages, which includes the following areas: • The Era, which includes large portions of the historical region called Pisan Hills.
Country Report – ITALY • The Val di Cecina, which has its main center in the ancient city of Volterra and follows the course of the river Cecina. The western part of the Val di Cecina is historically known as the Maremma Pisa. • The metalliferous hills, hilly and mountainous system of the Anti-Apennines Tuscan affecting the southern part of the province of Pisa. The Monte Serra, with its 917 meters above sea level, is the highest peak of the whole province, while the Monte Hague Devils is more prominent in the south of the province.
Square of Miracles Among the most important monuments of the city to be named the famous Piazza del Duomo, known as Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage. In it you will find the Cathedral, built between 1063 and 1118 in white and colored marbles, with the bronze door of St. Ranieri by Bonanno Pisano and the pulpit by Giovanni Pisano. In the square stands the characteristic leaning tower, or the tower of the twelfth century, 56 meter high which acquired its characteristic tilt ten years after the start of its construction, is now one of the most famous Italian monuments in the world.
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The Square of Cathedral: also known by the poetic expression the "Square of Miracles" is the most important artistic and tourist center of Pisa. Ranked among the World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1987, you can admire some masterpieces of European Romanesque architecture, ie the monuments that form the center of religious life: the cathedral, the baptistery, the cemetery, and the bell tower.
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Cathedral: the heart of the complex of "Square of Miracles" is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the medieval cathedral. The building, like the bell tower, collapsed perceptibly in the soil, and some instability in the building are clearly visible. The Pisan Romanesque style was created precisely from this church and then exported to the rest of Tuscany, but also in Corsica and Sardinia, formerly under the control of the Republic of Pisa.
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The bell tower of Saint Mariè: known as "The Leaning Tower" or "Tower of Pisa", is precisely, the bell tower of the Cathedral. Below it the land has yielded slightly, making it tilt a few degrees. The inclination has lasted for many years, coming to a halt after the restoration work ended in the early twenty-first century. Because of the difficulties of building, its construction lasted over two centuries (in three different stages of work) from the end of the twelfth century.
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The Baptistery: dedicated to St. John the Baptist, stands opposite the west front of the Cathedral. The building was started in the middle of the twelfth century, the interior is surprisingly simple and devoid of decoration, also an exceptional acoustics. It is the largest baptistery in Italy: its circumference measures 107.25 m. The Campo Santo: the Monumental Cemetery is located at the northern edge of the square. It is structured in the form of a cemetery cloister, with earthy graves., And the earth in the courtyard is actually a relic, in the case of land from Mount Golgotha in the Holy Land, delivered with several ships from the Pisani after the Fourth Crusade. Since 1945 are still ongoing restoration work, which among other things led to the recovery of precious sinopie.
Lungarno Medici: There is the Palazzo Medici and the church of St. Matthew, in which former monastery houses the National Museum of San Matteo. Among the important works are a group of paintings from the twelfth to the eighteenth century and a rich collection of sculptures from the Pisano School. Borgo Stretto: is an area where you can walk to the covered medieval arcades. Along the way, who along with Italian Corso is the "living room" of the city, stands the Romanesque-Gothic church of San Michele in Borgo, built from a core attested as early as 990.
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The Walls: the city is still surrounded by the old city walls, still intact except for some stretches to the south and west. Of particular interest along the way, are the numerous doors, the square of Gondolas and so-called "Nero's baths", to which afferiva once the ancient Roman aqueduct of Caldaccoli from San Giuliano Terme, known in antiquity as Aquae Pisanae and then as Bagni di Pisa. Roman near Fabriano). In Pisa is worth noting the presence of at least three towers pitched: one, the best known, precisely in Piazza del Duomo, and the second is the bell tower of the church of St. Nicholas located near Lungarno Pacinotti, the third, which is about halfway through the avenue of Piagge (riverside in the east of the city), is the bell tower of the church of San Michele degli Scalzi.
Pisa hosts the most important airport in the region, "Galileo Galilei" which has domestic connections and direct intercontinental.
The city is home to three of the most important universities in Italy and Europe: the University of Pisa, the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, as well as the National Research Council and several research institutes .
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PONSACCO
HISTORY: Ponsacco (Pons Sacci in Latino) is a town of 15,574 habitants in the province of Pisa, is one of the most populated countries with its 19.9 km ² in area, also one of the largest municipalities in the province. The country has had since its source of great strategic importance as it lay on the border of the republics of Pisa and Florence. The oldest document that mentions the area is a signing of the deed preserved in the archives of the Archbishop of Lucca dated 17 February 1197 written "apud Pontem Sacci" (at Pontem Sacci). In 1341 the Florentines, in order to deter the siege of Pisa, Lucca, occupied the area of Pontedera and Cascina an attack in the castles of Ponte di Sacco, Appiano (big castle near Ponsacco) and Petriolo. After the sacking of the parish was annexed to the church of Appiano Ponsacca, where they moved too appianesi who survived the defeat made by the Florentines. After this event, in the days of Rogation tradition that became the rector of Ponsacco bring in procession to bless the site of the cemetery of the destroyed church of Appiano.
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During this period the birth of the settlement on the site of the old town. In the years 1356-66 as a result of a 1366 parchment preserved in the archive Archbishop of Lucca, Pisa, the Doge John Lamb built a fort surrounded by ramparts and surrounded by a moat fed by the waters of the River House. This fortification coincides with the current center of the country. In the following years the castle was subject to constant attacks by the Florentines until the latter succeeded in 1406 to take control, they will keep for almost 90 years until 1494.
The strife between the two republics continued until 1509, when the Florentines, on the verge of losing the castle again, broke down the walls and almost all the towers. From 1637 to 1781, by order the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando II de 'Medici, the country, administered by the Marquis of Ponsacco and Camugliano, was the seat of feudal Commissioner. The city administration that will be the model for the current one was established in the years 1808 1814 under the French occupation resulting from the Napoleonic wars.
In the second half of the 800 until the first half of the land had a good 900 prosperity even though the economy was based on agriculture. After World War II developed a large number of small craft businesses dedicated especially to the production of furniture and home furnishings, a tradition that continues today. Also the proximity to the large factories present in Pontedera, first of all, the Piaggio contributed a lot to economic development.
In our day Ponsacco has a high building development is linked to the economic activities, or residential.
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ORIGIN OF THE NAME Historians who over the centuries have cited Ponsacco are very numerous, and this has contributed to various assumptions and uncertainties about the origin of the name. Currently, according to the most reliable sources, it is believed that the name is born from the merger of pons sacks which means bridge Sacco. It is logical to assume that Sacco was the name of the person who had founded the bridge or that he kept and collected tolls of those who passed on the bridge of the River Farm, currently located in the immediate vicinity of the picturesque old town, on the road that led to the Saline Salaiola Volterra.
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Needs Analysis of English for ESP The questionnaire was administered to 50 people working in the tourism sector, in the Municipality of Ponsacco and the Province of Pisa, to analyze the state of the art and the needs related to English training.
The territorial framefork The landscape of the area and surrounding Ponsacco is typically Tuscan, characterized by rolling hills interspersed with small streams which join the river Era, but it is also the result of intense agricultural activity present since ancient times. Here nature and human hands have come together for the preservation of an extraordinary landscape. The area retains much of its rural origins: the countryside is cultivated with care, with fruit trees in the plains, the hills of olive groves and vineyards, and a lot of farms producing wine, oil, fruit, but also wheat and sunflowers. Then, an area rugged and very varied where tourism is mainly related to gastronomy, nature and history. Tourists can discover fun hiking trails, horseback riding or biking on scenic roads that wind through the farms and through small villages nestled between cherry trees, vineyards and olive groves and villages rich in history, to discover ancient churches whose territory is rich or works of ancient and modern art. To this is added staying at the many farms that complement traditional Tuscan cuisine with wine and oil of high quality and where, at certain times of the year, are offered to the tourist visits and tastings of local products and wines at the cellar door and the opportunity to witness historical events marked by the rhythm of the seasons. The area is rich of water springs for their healing properties have given rise to spas frequented since ancient times, not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for beauty treatments, for the pursuit of fitness and experience well being and peace of mind. Finally, concentrated in a few tens of kilometers, there are some of the most famous artistic treasures of Tuscany: from Pisa, with the Leaning Tower and its Piazza dei Miracoli (Miracles Square) UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city of the Etruscans, churches and medieval villages. A heritage that attracts millions of visitors all year round from all over the world.
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The sample: those who work in tourism and the English language they use Females made up the majority of the sample, with 56% (28 people), while 22 people, or 44%, were male. Among the respondents, there is no age group take precedence over other.
The composition of the sample
44% Male
56%
Female
The sample is composed predominantly of two groups:
Age groups
26%
26% Under 25 25-30
24%
24%
31-35 Over 35
The workers in the tourism sector in Ponsacco and surroundings are almost all Italians, and declare that they often need the English language. From managers to manual laborers in the world of tourism, the English language is really required at all people: need to talk, to welcome tourists, to write business letters, to make reservations, to ask questions, to
- Young people under 30 years, most often in contact with the public and clients, assigned to reception, reception, handling incoming requests and also operational assistance to the client, with a role mostly transversal; - Technical, on average over 30 years, variously distributed tasks but at a high-level professional and a higher degree of specialization (from accompanying as historical guide to wellness treatment, from driving on culinary tours, or animation of physical activity to health and beauty treatments, up to the management of executive positions in hotels, dining, museums). Educational background 4%
30%
26%
Primary school High school
40%
Vocational School University degree
Country Report – ITALY move words in a context that has not limits of cultural space.
Is English important in your occupation?
How often do you use English in your job?
4% 10%
8%
Often
Yes No
Regularly
50% 38%
Occasionally
90% Seldom
As declared, on average about half of the tourists are Italian, the other half foreigners, but from different parts of the world. The English language is then used as an international language, if not be able to speak Origin of tourists English, in most cases should be able to speak the same language of the client (most often German or French rarely). English is then used to converse with tourists from Japan, China, Russia, India, the Netherlands, Norway. 46% Italy Abroad The questionnaires show that the 54% operators in the area have an average/medium-high knowledge of the language, and are prepared especially for: - Reading, - Writing, - Listening; while they are average prepared on spoken language and tourism, and low achievers in: - Pronunciation, - Grammar and expressions. The framework reflects two principal types of training for operators in the sector: - On the one hand, an advanced level, including university language skills, but out of context and then later applied to tourism within the work activities. - On the other hand, an intermediate level of knowledge, but applied early to work in tourism, and therefore qualified by the experience.
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The English language in the tourism sector is a tool to express themselves appropriately in situations such as contextualized information offices, reception, travel agencies, tour operators, restaurants, hotels, spas and wellness, cultural sites and landscapes, or however, the relevance and attractiveness of tourism, food and wine events. The English language has the objective of improving the quality of services and the professionalism of those engaged in the organization, implementation and management of initiatives in tourism, and convention, conference and village events. Language skills 10%
2%
Speaking 2% Traslation
22% 4%
18%
Pronunciation Grammar/appropriate expressions Listening Reading
22% Vocabulary in tourism Writing 20%
Education and training in the English for tourism
Appropriate knowledge of the language is essential for the development of tourist territory because it is impossible to properly meet the needs of the visitor if he does not know how to relate to another: this is the belief expressed by tourism operators interviewed, who often find themselves working away from major centers and therefore little opportunity to be able to train properly especially in the linguistic field. Many people do not have the opportunity to attend language courses in schools but in a competitive market it is important to have a solid foundation to offer new services.
The system of vocal education and training in the area has several options, each with its own characteristics.
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The public university offers many degree programs for English, but at a generic level and less contextualized, or still oriented to a most cultural work. We have the University of Pisa, but also in other university centers of Tuscany if we enlarge the point of view (Florence and Siena). The courses of degree offered concern English language and literature, and can be often oriented to teaching or publishing works. Moving on the front of private schools instead, we found training paths leading to the interpretation and translation of written and spoken English (schools for interpreters), or opposite typology of paths in "Science of Tourism", which have some form of English language and are for the rest oriented to management and administration of enterprises and tourism services, and to knowledge of local, national and European regulations. In addition to the content level, little linked to the specific needs related to the use of English for tourism, the duration and cost of these paths are prohibitive for most operators, not to mention the distance, as it is a few centers scattered throughout Tuscany. The system for vocal and professional training is mainly promoted by the Tuscany Region through local governments, neighboring territories, which brings the generic language skills to the specific context of the tourism sector through policy action and funding channeled through the Structural Funds. Tuscany, in order to promote the qualification of the services, the exploitation of tourism resources and the development of tourism, discipline some professionals for tourism. The best-known figures that fall in this area are: -
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-
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Travel guide - who, by profession, accompany individuals or groups of people with the purpose of illustrating the historical, artistic, monumental, landscape, as well as the productive resources of the territory. Tour leader - who, by profession, accompany individuals or groups when traveling across the national and foreign country. to treat the implementation of travel plans and provide the necessary services for its whole duration, providing significant information of interest the transit zones, outside the scope of competence of tour guides. Environment guide - who, by profession, accompany individuals or groups in visits to parks, nature reserves, areas of value, environmental protection and interest giving information of a nature, landscape and environment with the exception of the areas of expertise of the guides. Agritourism operator - is a professional whose features are regulated at national and regional level, which prepares for a specific work activity, also governed by law in the area of the farm. Attendance at the course and passing the final examination by the holder of the account of the conditions for the acquisition of the third ear (the equivalent for tourism facilities of the stars for hotels).
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Technical director of travel agency - who, by profession, he works at a technicalspecialist in the area of production, organization or other intermediary for the travel and tourism products and is responsible for the corporate management of one or more travel agencies.
These recognized figures, whose training and qualification is regulated, are complemented by a number of entrepreneurs, technicians, operators and even volunteers from the world of companies, associations and institutions for place that does not even have an education or training technical and specific, and have gained the current levels of knowledge and skills of English for specific tourism through field training. The Tuscany Region, in the context of the regional system for training and for work, offers free content and training modules accessible remotely for the training of qualified and recognized figures, as well as for all citizens who want a cultural growth: the platform TRIO. TRIO is the web learning system of Tuscany, on which about 1.700 courses and training services are available, completely free of charge, to increase knowledge and to acquire professional certifications. The platform is used necessarily in all training activities recognized, authorized or funded by the Region of Tuscany, where these activities provide training remotely, even partially, and this is the main point of reference for all training activities associated with the acquisition of vocational skills in any work framework. About the English language, TRIO has a varied offer, consisting of: - English Modules of Basic/Beginner level - Forms of English level Pre-Intermediate/A2 - Modules for the professional/specific English About the latter, the areas covered are: - English Language for Public Administration - English language for Trade - English Language for Health (Hospital context, mostly) - English for Tourism In the offer for the touristic English, TRIO now consists of 10 modules, each lasting 1 hour: 1. Accommodations Divided into three lessons: 1, Hotels or Camping Grounds; 2, Holiday Accommodations; 3 Grammar. This module offers learns to talk about different types of accommodation for rental: four-star hotel located in the scenic Tuscan countryside to the more economically
Country Report – ITALY viable camping by the sea. Students can enrich their vocabulary and learn the use of the present tense to describe the various possible accommodations for the holidays. 2. Reservations and Arrangements Divided into three lessons: 1, Reservations; 2, Arrangements; 3, Grammar. This module is focused on the telephone conversation designed to make hotel reservations or modify them. Students can learn how to arrange the accommodation, to discuss packages and offers tours, to allow communication between two parties or to take phone and leave a message. 3. Facing Complaints Divided into three lessons: 1, Complaints; 2, Apologies; 3, Grammar. In this module, the student learns to deal with complaints from angry or unsatisfied customers. Must know how to apologize at the phone in formal writing. In grammar lesson will address the "simple past" of regular and irregular verbs and discover some standard formulations to be used in formal letters. 4. Conference Facilities and Organization Divided into three lessons: 1, Make it Run Smoothly!; 2 Making the Point; 3, Grammar. In this module, the student learns to talk about future actions: planned activities, sudden decisions, actions that you intend to make. The objective of the module will be pursued by a cartoon and two pieces of reading. The grammar will focus on the different types of the future that are formed with the verbs "will", "going to", "-ing". 5. Descriptions Divided into three lessons: 1, Interview for the Job; 2, Customer is King; 3, Grammar. In this module, the student learns to focus your attention on the description of tasks and work experience, and for this purpose will learn the use of "Present Perfect" to refer to actions that have persisted in the past, just as a job.
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6. Food and Restaurants Divided into three lessons: 1, Dining Services; 2, Making Dining Recommendations; 3, Grammar. In this module, the student dealing with food and restaurants; can see some-type of conversations that happen with customers at the table, learning to recommend particular dishes on the menu. To this end, in the lesson grammar, present themselves expressions to communicate quantity and some of the differences between the use of "like" and "would like". 7. Trips and Excursions Divided into three lessons: 1, Excursions; 2, Tour Transport; 3, Grammar. This module focuses on travels and excursions: the student learns to describe them in detail to advertise at the customers, prepare programs, suggesting a choice rather than another, based on the needs expressed by the customer. 8. Rates and Reservations Divided into three lessons: 1, Hotel Rates; 2 Helping your Guest; 3, Grammar. In this module, the student learns to provide hotel rates and price schedules, to do written reservation confirmations, ask questions in a gentle, to verify information through the use of indirect questions and "question tags." 9. Travel Industry Positions Divided into three lessons: 1, Travel Agencies; 2, Staff Responsibilities; 3, Grammar. This module is focuses in working routines, but also the work responsibilities. In the grammar lesson, the student will learn the use and construction of "modal verbs". 10. Emergencies Divided into three lessons: 1, Be Prepared!; 2, Foreign Tourists;
Country Report – ITALY 3, Grammar. In this module the student will learn to help customers in difficulty, to understand their needs of even the most absurd. In grammar lesson the student will learn the "first conditional" and the "second conditional".
The training needs for English tourism Studying questionnaires and conversations with respondents, and after analyzing the materials currently existing, we realize that the greatest needs are related to the acquisition and mastery of a vocabulary and a specific glossary, supported by simulations of conversations and typical phrases. It notes the need for a large vocabulary of terminology related: - to foods and drinks (to deliver and explain the menu in English, for example) - to objects and services found in hotels, - to buildings and monuments matters, - to landscape elements, - to products and treatments for health and beauty. The other important need is a typical phrasing, which should be presented in audio version, in order to improve pronunciation of students; this is something that is lacking, but that is little addressed by the training tools currently available.
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Analisi Fabbisogni Lingua Inglese per progetto ESP
Il questionario è stato somministrato a 50 persone operanti nel settore del turismo, nel Comune di Ponsacco e nella Provincia di Pisa, per analizzare lo stato dell’arte e i bisogni formativi.
Il Contesto territoriale Il paesaggio del territorio di Ponsacco e circostante è tipicamente toscano, caratterizzato da dolci colline intervallate da modesti corsi d’acqua che si ricongiungono al fiume Era, ma è anche il risultato dell’intensa attività agricola presente fin dall’antichità. Qui la natura e le mani dell’uomo si sono unite per la conservazione di un paesaggio straordinario. Il territorio conserva in gran parte le proprie origini contadine: la campagna è lavorata con cura, con gli alberi da frutta in pianura, le colline coltivate a oliveti e filari di viti, le numerose aziende agricole che producono vino, olio, frutta, ma anche grano e girasole. Un territorio quindi agreste e molto variegato dove il turismo è principalmente legato alla gastronomia, alla natura e alla storia. Il turista può scoprire divertenti percorsi trekking, fare escursioni a cavallo o in bicicletta sulle strade panoramiche che si snodano tra i poderi e attraverso paesini incastonati tra ciliegi, viti e olivi e borghi ricchi di testimonianze storiche, alla scoperta di antiche pievi il cui territorio è ricco o di opere d’arte antiche e moderne. A questo si aggiunge il soggiorno presso le numerose aziende agrituristiche che completano la tipica cucina toscana con vino e olio di alta qualità e dove, in alcuni momenti dell’anno, sono offerte al turista visite e degustazioni di prodotti locali e vini presso le cantine e l’opportunità di assistere a manifestazioni storiche scandite dal ritmo delle stagioni. Il territorio è ricco di acque sorgenti termali che per le loro proprietà curative hanno dato origine fin dall’antichità a centri termali frequentati non solo a scopo terapeutico, ma anche per trattamenti di bellezza, per la ricerca della forma fisica e per ritrovare benessere e tranquillità. Infine, concentrati in poche decine di chilometri si trovano alcuni dei più celebri tesori artistici della Toscana: Da Pisa, con la Torre che pende e la sua Piazza dei Miracoli patrimonio dell’UNESCO, le città degli Etruschi, le chiese ed i borghi medievali. Un patrimonio che in ogni momento dell'anno attira da tutto il mondo milioni di visitatori.
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Il campione: chi lavora nel turismo e quale inglese utilizza Le femmine hanno costituito la maggioranza del campione, con il 56% (28 persone), mentre 22 persone, cioè il 44% erano maschi. Tra gli intervistati non c’è una fascia di età prevalente rispetto alle altre. Composizione del campione
Fasce d'età del grafico
26%
26%
44% Under 25
56%
25-30
Maschi Femmine
24%
24%
31-35 Over 35
Il campione risulta composto Livello di educazione del campione prevalentemente da due gruppi: - Giovani con meno di 30 anni, più spesso a contatto con il 4% pubblico e i clienti, con mansioni di accoglienza, 30% reception, gestione richieste in 26% Scuola media entrata e assistenza anche operativa al cliente, con un Scuola superiore ruolo tendenzialmente Scuola trasversale; professionale - Tecnici, mediamente oltre i 30 Università 40% anni, con mansioni variamente distribuite ma ad un più elevato contenuto professionale ed un grado maggiore di specializzazione (dall’accompagnamento su percorso con guida storica, al trattamento di benessere, dalla guida su percorsi gastronomici, all’animazione di attività fisica per la salute, fino alla gestione di ruoli direttivi in strutture alberghiere, ristorative, museali).
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I lavoratori nel settore del turismo di Ponsacco e dintorni sono per la quasi totalità italiani, e dichiarano di aver bisogno spesso della lingua inglese. Dal manager alla manovalanza, nel mondo del turismo la lingua inglese è richiesta veramente a tutti: serve per conversare, per accogliere i turisti, per scrivere lettere commerciali, per effettuare le prenotazioni, per chiedere informazioni, per muoversi insomma in un contesto che non ha limiti di spazio culturale. E' importante l'inglese nel tuo lavoro?
10% Si No
90%
Secondo quanto dichiarato, circa la metà mediamente dei turisti sono italiani, l’altra metà stranieri, ma provenienti da diverse parti del mondo. L’inglese risulta quindi la lingua utilizzata in quanto lingua internazionale, qualora non si sia in grado, nella maggioranza dei casi, di poter parlare la lingua stessa del cliente (il più delle volte tedesco o raramente francese). L’inglese viene quindi utilizzato anche per conversare con turisti provenienti da Giappone, Cina, Russia, India, Olanda, Norvegia.
Quanto usi l'inglese nel tuo lavoro?
Provenienza dei turisti
8% 4% Regolarmente Italiani
46%
Spesso
50%
Stranieri
54%
38%
Occasionalmente
Raramente
Dai questionari risulta che gli operatori nel settore hanno mediamente una conoscenza medioalta della lingua, e sono preparati soprattutto per: - lettura, - scrittura, - ascolto; mentre sono mediamente preparati sull’inglese parlato e lessico turistico, e scarsamente preparati in: - pronuncia, - grammatica ed espressioni.
Country Report – ITALY
Il quadro riflette due tipologie di formazione principali per gli operatori nel settore: - Da una parte, un livello avanzato, anche universitario di conoscenza della lingua, ma decontestualizzato e poi applicato successivamente al turismo con l’attività lavorativa. - Dall’altra parte, un livello intermedio di conoscenza, ma applicato precocemente al lavoro nel turismo, e quindi specializzato con l’esperienza. L’inglese nel settore turistico risulta uno strumento linguistico per esprimersi in maniera appropriata in situazioni contestualizzate quali uffici d’informazione, reception, agenzie viaggi, tour operator, ristoranti, alberghi, strutture termali e del benessere, luoghi di interesse culturale e paesaggistico, o comunque di rilevanza e attrattività turistica, eventi e manifestazioni enogastronomici. La lingua inglese ha la finalità di migliorare la qualità dei servizi e la professionalità di chi svolge attività di organizzazione, realizzazione e gestione di iniziative a carattere turistico, e congressuale, di conferenze e manifestazioni paesane.
Conoscenze della lingua inglese
10%
2%
Parlato 2%
22% 4%
Traduzione Pronuncia Grammatica Ascolto
18%
Lettura Vocaboli Turismo
22%
Scrittura 20%
L’istruzione e la formazione per l’inglese turistico Un’adeguata conoscenza delle lingue è fondamentale per lo sviluppo turistico dei territorio poiché è impossibile soddisfare adeguatamente le esigenze del visitatore se non sai come relazionarti con lui: questa è la convinzione espressa dagli operatori del turismo intervistati, che spesso si trovano ad operare lontano dai grandi centri e quindi con scarse opportunità di potersi formare adeguatamente soprattutto in campo linguistico. Molte persone non hanno la possibilità di frequentare corsi di lingua nelle scuole ma in un mercato sempre più competitivo è importante avere delle basi solide per poter offrire nuovi servizi.
Country Report – ITALY Il sistema dell’istruzione e formazione professionale nel territorio presenta diverse possibilità, ognuna con le sue caratteristiche. L’università pubblica offre diversi corsi di laurea per la lingua inglese, ma ad un livello generico e poco contestualizzato, od orientati comunque ad un approccio più culturale che lavorativo. Abbiamo l’Università degli Studi di Pisa, ma anche negli altri poli universitari della Toscana se allarghiamo il punto di vista (Firenze e Siena). I percorsi di laurea offerti riguardano la lingua e la letteratura inglese, e possono essere orientati all’insegnamento della lingua, piuttosto che all’editoria. Spostandoci sul fronte delle scuole private invece troviamo percorsi rivolti all’interpretazione e traduzione di scritto e parlato (scuole per interpreti), oppure all’opposto percorsi in “scienze del turismo”, che hanno alcuni moduli di lingua inglese e sono per il resto orientati alla gestione e amministrazione di attività e servizi turistici e alla conoscenza delle normative locali, nazionali ed europee. Oltre che al livello di contenuto poco aderente ai bisogni specifici legati all’utilizzo della lingua inglese per il turismo, la durata ed i costi di questi percorsi risultano proibitivi per la maggior parte degli operatori, senza contare la distanza, poiché si tratta di pochi centri sparsi per la Toscana. E’ il sistema per la formazione professionale, promosso prevalentemente dalla Regione Toscana attraverso le amministrazioni locali, vicine ai territori, che avvicina e contestualizza le conoscenze linguistiche generiche allo specifico contesto del settore turismo, attraverso le azioni programmatiche ed i finanziamenti stanziati attraverso i fondi strutturali. La Toscana infatti, al fine di favorire la qualificazione dei servizi, la valorizzazione delle risorse turistiche e lo sviluppo dell’economia turistica, disciplina alcune figure professionali per il turismo. Le figure più note che rientrano in quest’ambito sono: - Guida turistica - Chi, per professione, accompagna persone singole o gruppi con lo scopo di illustrare le attrattive storiche, artistiche, monumentali, paesaggistiche, nonché le risorse produttive del territorio. - Accompagnatore turistico - Chi, per professione, accompagna persone singole o gruppi durante viaggi attraverso il territorio nazionale o estero per curare l'attuazione dei programmi di viaggio e assicurare i necessari servizi di assistenza per tutta la sua durata, fornendo significative informazioni di interesse turistico sulle zone di transito, al di fuori dell'ambito di competenza delle guide turistiche. - Guida ambientale - Chi, per professione, accompagna persone singole o gruppi nelle visite a parchi, riserve naturali, zone di pregio, tutela e interesse ambientale fornendo informazioni di carattere naturalistico, paesaggistico e ambientale con esclusione degli ambiti di competenza delle guide alpine. - Operatore agrituristico - Si tratta di una professionalità le cui caratteristiche sono disciplinate a livello nazionale e regionale, che prepara all’esercizio di una specifica attività lavorativa, anch’essa disciplinata per legge nel settore dell’agriturismo. La
Country Report – ITALY
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frequenza al corso e il superamento dell’esame finale da parte del titolare dell’impresa rappresentano una delle condizioni per l’acquisizione della terza spiga (l’equivalente per le strutture agrituristiche delle stelle per gli alberghi). Direttore tecnico di agenzia di viaggi - Chi, per professione, svolge mansioni di natura tecnico-specialistica nel campo della produzione, organizzazione o intermediazione di viaggi e altri prodotti turistici e ha la responsabilità della conduzione aziendale di una o più agenzie di viaggio.
Queste figure riconosciute, la cui formazione e qualifica è disciplinata, sono affiancate poi da una serie di imprenditori, tecnici, operatori e persino volontari del mondo delle aziende, delle associazioni e delle istituzioni pro loco, che non hanno magari un’istruzione o una formazione tecnica e mirata, e hanno acquisito gli attuali livelli di conoscenza e competenza dell’inglese specifico per il turismo attraverso l’addestramento sul campo. La Regione Toscana, nell’ambito del sistema regionale per la formazione e per il lavoro, offre contenuti e moduli formativi gratuiti fruibili a distanza per la formazione delle figure qualificate e riconosciute, come anche per tutti i cittadini che desiderino un accrescimento culturale: la piattaforma TRIO. TRIO è il sistema di web learning della Regione Toscana, sul quale sono disponibili, in forma completamente gratuita, circa 1.700 corsi e di servizi formativi per accrescere le conoscenze e per acquisire certificazioni professionali. La piattaforma viene utilizzata obbligatoriamente in tutte le attività formative riconosciute, autorizzate o finanziate dalla Regione Toscana, qualora esse prevedano formazione a distanza anche parzialmente, e per questo costituisce il punto di riferimento principale per tutte le attività formative legate all’acquisizione di competenze professionali in qualsiasi settore. Riguardo la lingua inglese, TRIO ha un’offerta variegata, costitutita da: - Moduli di inglese Base/Beginner - Moduli di inglese di livello Pre-Intermedio/A2 - Moduli per l’inglese professionale/specifico Riguardo questi ultimi, i settori coperti riguardano: - Lingua inglese per la Pubblica Amministrazione - Lingua inglese per il Commercio - Lingua inglese per la Sanità - Lingua inglese per il Turismo
Country Report – ITALY L’offerta per l’inglese turistico di TRIO si articola quindi in 10 moduli, della durata di 1 ora ciascuno: 1. Accommodations Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Hotels or Camping Grounds; 2, Holiday Accommodations; 3 Grammar. Questo modulo consente di imparare a parlare di varie tipologie di sistemazioni per le vacanze: dall’hotel a quattro stelle situato nella scenografica campagna toscana al più economicamente accessibile campeggio in riva al mare. L’allievo può arricchire il suo vocabolario ed apprendere l’uso dei verbi al presente per descrivere le varie possibili sistemazioni per le vacanze. 2. Reservations and Arrangements Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Reservations; 2, Arrangements; 3, Grammar. Questo modulo concentra l’attenzione sulla conversazione telefonica finalizzata a prendere prenotazioni alberghiere o a modificarle. L’allievo può imparare a prendere accordi sulla sistemazione in albergo, a discutere di pacchetti e offerte turistiche, a mettere in comunicazione due interlocutori telefonici o a prendere e lasciare messaggi. 3. Facing Complaints Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Complaints; 2, Apologies; 3, Grammar. In questo modulo l’allievo impara ad affrontare le lamentele di clienti arrabbiati o insoddisfatti. Dovrà saper porgere le scuse al telefono in modo formale, per iscritto. Nella lezione grammaticale affronterà il “simple past” di verbi regolari e irregolari e scoprirai alcune formule standard da usare in lettere formali. 4. Conference Facilities and Organization Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Make it Run Smoothly!; 2 Making the Point; 3, Grammar. In questo modulo l’allievo impara a parlare di azioni future: azioni programmate, decisioni improvvise, azioni che si ha intenzione di compiere. L’obiettivo del modulo sarà perseguito attraverso un cartoon e due brani di lettura. La riflessione
Country Report – ITALY grammaticale sarà incentrata sulle diverse tipologie di futuro che si formano con i verbi “will”, “going to”, “-ing”. 5. Descriptions Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Interview for the Job; 2, Customer is King; 3, Grammar. In questo modulo l’allievo impara a concentrare la tua attenzione sulla descrizione di mansioni ed esperienze lavorative; e a tale scopo apprenderà l’uso del “Present Perfect” per indicare azioni che si sono protratte nel tempo passato, proprio come un’attività lavorativa. 6. Food and Restaurants Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Dining Services; lezi one 2, Making Dining Recommendations; 3, Grammar. In questo modulo l’allievo ha che fare con pietanze e ristoranti; può vedere alcune conversazioni-tipo che si intrattengono con i clienti al tavolo, imparare a consigliare piatti particolari del menu. A questo scopo, nella lezione grammaticale, si presentano espressioni per comunicare quantità e alcune delle differenze tra l’uso di “like” e “would like”. 7. Trips and Excursions Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Excursions; 2, Tour Transport; 3, Grammar. Questo modulo si concentra su viaggi ed escursioni: l’allievo impara a descriverli nel dettaglio per pubblicizzarli ai clienti, a prepararne i programmi, a suggerire una scelta piuttosto che un’altra, in base alle esigenze espresse dal cliente. 8. Rates and Reservations Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Hotel Rates; 2, Helping your Guest; 3, Grammar. In questo modulo l’allievo impara a fornire tariffe alberghiere e tabelle di prezzi; a scrivere conferme di prenotazioni, a porre domande in modo gentile, a verificare informazioni attraverso l’uso delle domande indirette e “question tags”.
Country Report – ITALY
9. Travel Industry Positions Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Travel Agencies; 2, Staff Responsibilities; 3, Grammar. Questo modulo focalizza la sua attenzione sulle routines lavorative, ma anche sulle responsabilità connesse al lavoro. Nella lezione grammaticale, l’allievo viene introdotto all’uso e alla costruzione dei “modal verbs”. 10. Emergencies Articolato in tre lezioni: 1, Be Prepared!; 2, Foreign Tourists; 3, Grammar. In quest’ultimo modulo si impara ad aiutare i clienti in difficoltà, a comprendere le loro richieste anche quelle più assurde. Nella lezione grammaticale l’allievo impara il “first conditional” e il “second conditional”.
I bisogni formativi per l’inglese turistico Studiando i questionari e le conversazioni avute con gli intervistati, e dopo aver analizzato i materiali esistenti attualmente, ci si rende conto che i bisogni maggiori sono relativi all’acquisizione di padronanza di un lessico ed un glossario specifico, affiancati dalla simulazioni di conversazioni e frasi tipiche. Si rileva la necessità di un ampio vocabolario della terminologia legata: - ai cibi e bevande (per offrire e spiegare menu in inglese, ad esempio) - agli oggetti e servizi presenti nelle strutture alberghiere, - agli elementi architettonici e monumentali, - agli elementi paesaggistici, - ai prodotti e trattamenti per la salute e la bellezza. L’altra importante necessità che si rileva è quella di un frasario tipico che presenti anche la versione audio per migliorare la pronuncia, aspetto che risulta carente, ma che viene affrontato poco dagli strumenti formativi attualmente in circolazione.
