A friendship that goes beyond screens

After a year of enriching virtual exchanges, the Italianist students of 5e2 and 5e4 of the College Charles III were finally able to meet their Italian correspondents from the Istituto Comprensivo Gramsci di Vinovo, near Turin. This long-awaited meeting took place in Savona on Thursday, May 8, 2025, as part of a school trip that is both cultural and human.

Since September 2024, the students, represented by an avatar, have been communicating, performing oral and written activities, participating in video conferences on TEAMS, or even exchanging on a collaborative wall, without ever having seen the true face of their correspondent.

The day in Savona was an opportunity to move from the virtual to the real. It allowed:

- To identify and get to know each other through an original game of riddles,
- To freely exchange with their correspondent, each in the language of the other, around their personality and interests,
- To visit the emblematic monuments of Savona, from bilingual presentations prepared beforehand in class.

The emotion was at the rendezvous at the moment of the separation: no one wanted to leave. The quality of the exchanges, the shared enthusiasm and the smiles proved once again how important it is, in the digital age, to bring concrete human experiences.

This project was made possible thanks to the constant investment of the project leaders: Ms. Cristina MAGGIO and Mr. Andrea MELIS, as well as the accompanying teachers: Mrs. Monica BREGLIA and Mr. Davide BENSO for the Italian school, Mr. Steve COJAN for the Charles III College.

A big thank you also to the Management of both institutions for their valuable support, which allowed these students to live an unforgettable day and, perhaps, to form lasting friendships beyond borders.

Finally, thank you to the parents of the students who trusted us and allowed their child to fully participate in this beautiful project of exchange and discovery.

Savone

Savone