Good practices for the OPEN project (target audience adolescents between 13 and 18 years old)

Good practice n. 1

Title​: Italian language lab

Implementing organization​ : Gualandi Foundation for deaf people, Bologna, Italy; www.fondazionegualandi.it; Beatrice Vitali – beatricevitali@fondazionegualandi.it

Target group​: Deaf adolescents between 12 and 16 years old

Short description, including reliable theoretical background (objectives, target groups, context, undertaken activities, results, impact) : To master a language that for deaf children often requires a hard learning process, both in school and in the rehabilitation process. This is the reason that brought the Fondazione Gualandi to propose Italian language labs where they could try with a small group of children innovative, non-didactic teaching methods. These would be occasions to learn the language, discovering both the oral and written language in everyday activities, in known and frequently visited places, and in the observed, heard and lived actions and stories. The labs are first and foremost a space, a workstyle, a way to get in touch with the language through practical activities; in this way they can strengthen the knowledge they already have or they are trying to obtain, each in their own time and way. There is also the important aspect of socialization: getting together with other deaf children will give them the opportunity to get to know each other and strengthen communication, without giving up the fun.