An Italian Teacher’s Unusual Summer Assignments

An Italian Teacher’s Unusual Summer Assignments. You Won’t Regret It If You Follow Them.

A grade school teacher in Italy assigned his students a list of 15 tasks to complete over the summer, but instead of the usual academic assignments, they involved personal enrichment activities such as dancing, watching the sunrise, and reading for fun.

A translation of the document into English reveals that he wants them to walk by the sea, thinking about beloved things and feeling happy. 

He also asks his students to write about feelings of turmoil, find the strength to pursue dreams, and fully embrace the dance that is summer. 

Learning is still an important part of the vacation, as he tells them to read because they want to be inspired and to use the vocabulary learned in class that year. 

According to him, “The more things you can say, the more things you can think; and the more things you can think, the freer you are.” 

Responses on Facebook have been overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting that they wished they had a teacher like him.

His list of assignments:

1. Sometimes, in the morning, go take a walk along the seashore completely alone: look at the way sunlight is reflected on the water and think about the things you love the most in your life; be happy.

2. Try to use some of the new words we learned together this year: the more things you manage to say, the more things you’ll manage to think; and the more things you think, the freer you’ll be.

3. Read as much as you possibly can. But not because you have to. Read because summers inspire adventures and dreams, and when you read you’ll feel like swallows in flight. Read because it’s the best form of rebellion you have (for advice on what to read, come see me).

4. Avoid things, situations and people who make you feel negative or empty: seek out stimulating situations and the companionship of friends who enrich you, who understand you and appreciate you for who you are.

5. If you feel sad or afraid, don’t worry: summer, like every marvelous thing in life, can throw the soul into confusion. Try keeping a diary as a way to talk about how you feel (in September, if you’d like, we’ll read it together).

6. Dance, shamelessly. On a dance floor near your house, or alone in your room. Summer is dance, and it’s foolish not to take part.

7. At least once, watch the sunrise. Stay silent and breathe. Close your eyes, be thankful.

8. Play a lot of sports.

9. If you meet someone you find enchanting, tell him or her as sincerely and gracefully as you can. It doesn’t matter if she or he doesn’t understand. If they don’t, she or he wasn’t meant to be; otherwise, summer 2015 will be a golden time together (if this doesn’t work out, go back to point number 8).

10. Review your notes from our class: Compare the things we read and learned to the things that happen to you.

11. Be as happy as sunlight, as untamable as the sea.

12. Don’t swear. Always be well-mannered and kind.

13. Watch films with heartbreaking dialogue (in English if you can), in order to improve your language skills and your ability to dream. Don’t let the movie end with the final credits: live it again while you’re living and experiencing your summer.

14. In sparkling sunlight or hot summer nights, dream about how your life could and should be. During the summer, always do everything you can to avoid giving up, and everything you can to pursue your dream.

15. Be good.

Can you match the two parts of the expressions?

1. watching	a. for fun
2. reading	b. by the sea
3. think about	c. happy
4. walk	d. beloved things
5. feel	e. the sunrise
6. pursue	f. the dance
7. embrace	g. a diary
8. avoid	h. shamelessly
9. keep	i. negative situations
10. dance	j. dreams
11. stay	k. your eyes
12. close	l. a lot of sports
13. be	m. silent
14. play	n. your notes
15. review	o. thankful

Key:

1. e.

2. a.

3. d.

4. b.

5. c.

6. j.

7. f.

8. i.

9. g.

10. h.

11. m.

12. k.

13. o.

14. l.

15. n.