Language

Language

In 2022, St Gregory the Great introduced an innovative approach to teaching Italian called TCL (Teachers as Co-Learners). This approach emphasizes that language learning involves not only acquiring new words but also understanding how to use them effectively for communication.

At St Gregory the Great, we recognize that students need to hear and use new words repeatedly—up to 40 times—before they can fully retain them. To achieve this, we incorporate multiple learning methods, including words, gestures, visuals, digital tools, animated cartoons, and text. This is carried out through daily 15-minute Italian language sessions that combine multimodal exposure and repetition. These sessions help students deeply internalize new language and transfer it to long-term memory through consistent practice and reinforcement across various contexts. Special attention is given to using spoken words alongside gestures and visuals.

Our approach involves both teachers and students as co-learners of the Italian language, supported by a skilled Language Assistant who helps guide the learning process. Additionally, students have access to structured language resources that enhance the effectiveness of the TCL program. This model also enables students to make clear connections between their first language and Italian. As a result, students experience increased language acquisition, improved retention, greater engagement and confidence, and the ability to use the target language spontaneously.