FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 4

FOREIGN LANGUAGES

TAUGHT BY A.I.C. The Broadcasting Commission has extended its foreign language courses to include German and Italian, in addition to French. These broadcasts will begin next week, and wjll. be transmitted as follow: French.—Mondays, 6-6.15 p.m., E.S.T. (February 7-May 9). German.—Tuesdays, 6-6.15 p.m., E.S.T. (February 8-May 10). Italian.—Thursdays, 6-6.15 p.m., E.S.T. (February 3-May 12). For South Australia and Western Australia the talks will be programmed at suitable times.

The German and Italian courses will be designed for beginners. The German course will emanate from Melbourne, and will be conducted by Mr Otto Steiner, in collaboration with Miss Verona Neumann. The Italian course will be transmitted from the Sydney studios, and will be conducted by Signor F. C. Bentivoglio, assisted by Miss Enrica Bentivoglio. In the case of French, it will bo presumed that listeners have reached the intermediate standard. The broadcasts will be relayed from the Sydney-studios, and directed by Dr L. D. Woodward and M. Jean de Vial.

The commission hopes that these French, German, and Italian broadcast lessons and readings will serve two main classes of listeners. First, there are those who require help in the earlier stages of learning a foreign language—especially a language such as German or Italian, in which little or no tuition is given in most schools. Secondly, those who, although acquainted vyith the language, may be benefited by hearing it spoken with fluency, grace, and authority. * It is believed that the scope of these .broadcasts will be wide enough to embrace an audience composed of both adults and children. Besides providing listeners with an opportunity of hearing ithe languages correctly pronounced, they will also help in developing an appreciation of the music and literature of the respective countries. The courses will be entertaining as well as instructional, and will present interesting dialogues, chats on news of the day, and readings of stories and poems.