Photograph by George Sakkestad

Los Gatos High School Italian teacher Allison Balas spent four weeks this summer studying in Perugia, Italy.

LGHS teacher sharpens skills
on a visit to Italian university

Balas found lifestyle much less rushed

By Jason Baker

Los Gatos High School Italian teacher Allison Balas just might have the best job in the world. While many Los Gatans endured summer heat and smog this summer, Balas was a world away in Perugia, Italy, studying at the International University.

The California Foreign Language Teacher's Association in April honored Balas during its annual convention in Fresno. The Italian Cultural Institute of the Italian embassy awarded Balas a four-week study trip to Perugia, and the CFLTA provided Balas a travel grant to cover her airfare and related expenses.

Balas, now entering her second year as the head of the LGHS Italian program, said she spent her time sharpening her Italian skills and gathering information to bring back to her students. She also enjoyed a bit of shopping and traveling before and after her studies.

"The university is geared toward foreign students, so the common language is Italian," she said. "Perugia is a very nice city and the people there are used to hordes of students. They're very open to talking and sharing cultural experiences away from the classroom."

Balas holds a degree in Italian literature from the University of Oregon and a master's degree in Italian language, culture and literature from the Middlebury College Language Schools in Vermont. While completing her degree from Middlebury, Balas spent a year studying in Florence, Italy.

"The Italian lifestyle is very different than the American lifestyle," she said. "Generally, the lifestyle is to enjoy life and not to rush. It's not that they don't work hard, but they realize work isn't everything."

The LGHS Italian program is the last of its kind in the country. The program was continued primarily through the efforts of Florence Bell, who retired from teaching in 1998. The Committee to Preserve Italian Heritage and the high school also have provided financial support for the program. Additionally, the program has received funds from the Italian Catholic Federation and from Tom Albanese, the owner of Los Gatos' Campo di Bocce.

"The Los Gatos community has a rich Italian tradition, and the community has been wonderful in its support and encouragement," Balas said.

While the program still relies on donations to fund many of its activities, Balas said, the future of the program depends primarily on student interest.

"I think the fact that we had 19 first-year students last year and we have 30 this year means that students have an interest in the program," Balas said. The district funds the first-year class, while the third-year class is funded by outside sources, she said.

In the spring of 2000, the Italian 3 class will travel to Bologna, Italy, for two weeks. While there, students will have opportunities to visit Venice, Rome and other nearby cities. Balas said the class has set a goal of $8,000 to fund the trip and will hold fundraisers throughout the year, including a car wash on Sept. 19. Students hope the trip will help show school officials that students are interested in the Italian program and that it needs to be preserved.

In October, 19 students from an Italian English class will arrive in Los Gatos for a two-week visit. Families of third-year and first-year Italian students will play host to the visiting students.

Those interested in supporting the program or becoming a sponsor can contact Balas at (408) 371-3211. Donations may also be made to the LGHS Italian Club and mailed to Balas at 20 High School Court, Los Gatos, 95030.

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