Databases

Cucina d'Infierno/Hell's kitchen

16 pupils from three partner schools learnt to cook Italian food through the medium of Italian under the direction of masterchef Franco Taruschio. The pupils – half of them complete beginners in Italian – learnt the language in school alongside their cookery training, and all achieved NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) language units in Italian level 1 in all four skills. The Year 9 pupils were recruited to the project on recommendation of their teachers and after a formal interview with Franco Taruschio and employers. After three months of Italian lessons, pupils attended the college for four complete days to cook in the professional training kitchens with Franco Taruschio. Italian was used in the kitchen as much as possible and two language teachers joined the group to provide linguistic help to students and to assess them against NVQ criteria. After continuing with their language learning and successfully completing their NVQs, the students returned to the college with Franco to cook and serve a three-course meal for 70 parents and invited guests. The project proved particularly successful in motivating boys: nine out of the 16 participants were boys, and all partner schools report that the project has enhanced the status of language learning and students’ self-esteem, particularly among boys, who are often reluctant language learners. The Cucina d’Inferno model of language learning in a vocational context is now being offered to schools across the Forest 14–19 Partnership.