The Italian Language Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Italian Language Foundation (ILF) was established on July 3, 2008 to promote and support Italian language
education in the United States
and specifically to reinstate the Advanced Placement program
(AP) of the College Board
for AP Italian Language and Culture.
The foundation was founded by Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., currently the ILF's president, and Louis A. Tallarini, its chairman. Dr. Cuomo, working with Matilda Raffa Cuomo, former First Lady of the State of New York, had successfully advocated for the College Board to develop and implement the AP program in Italian Language and Culture, which was launched in 2005, but discontinued after the 2008-2009 academic year due to budgetary reasons.
The ILF has worked with major Italian-American non-profit groups and educators interested in Italian language and culture, such as the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
(ACTFL), as well as with the Republic of Italy, in order to raise awareness and funds in support of its mission. In addition to a pledge of $1,500,000 by the Republic of Italy, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, organizers of New York City's annual Columbus Day Parade, pledged over $500,000 in support of reinstatement of the AP Italian program.
On November 10, 2010 the College Board announced that the AP Italian program will be reinstated beginning in the fall of 2011, with the first AP Italian exam scheduled for May 2012.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
education in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and specifically to reinstate the Advanced Placement program
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
(AP) of the College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
for AP Italian Language and Culture.
The foundation was founded by Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D., currently the ILF's president, and Louis A. Tallarini, its chairman. Dr. Cuomo, working with Matilda Raffa Cuomo, former First Lady of the State of New York, had successfully advocated for the College Board to develop and implement the AP program in Italian Language and Culture, which was launched in 2005, but discontinued after the 2008-2009 academic year due to budgetary reasons.
The ILF has worked with major Italian-American non-profit groups and educators interested in Italian language and culture, such as the American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is an American organization aiming to improve and expand the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction...
(ACTFL), as well as with the Republic of Italy, in order to raise awareness and funds in support of its mission. In addition to a pledge of $1,500,000 by the Republic of Italy, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, organizers of New York City's annual Columbus Day Parade, pledged over $500,000 in support of reinstatement of the AP Italian program.
On November 10, 2010 the College Board announced that the AP Italian program will be reinstated beginning in the fall of 2011, with the first AP Italian exam scheduled for May 2012.