Learning Italian with stories
A personalised Pinocchio project
What we did and why
Over six weeks, students explored Pinocchio through reading, drawing, writing and discussion.
The project was tailored to their level and helped them practise storytelling, character description and opinion writing in a creative and enjoyable way.
Story-based learning gives children a meaningful reason to use Italian. They are not just completing exercises: they are reading, thinking, drawing, describing, explaining and writing.
This project is an example of how I tailor lessons to each child, combining structure, creativity and fun.
My aim is to help children enjoy Italian while building real language skills and confidence.
Skills developed
Retelling a story
Describing characters
Giving opinions
Writing in sequence
Using time connectives
Building confidence
Drawing was not just a fun extra. It helped the student think about the story, remember vocabulary and prepare ideas before writing.
By combining reading, drawing and writing, the lessons stayed creative while still developing real language skills.
Students used pictures, drawings and time connectives to retell key moments from Pinocchio in their own words.
This helped them organise events clearly and build confidence moving from simple sentences to a fuller story retelling.
One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing students' progress over time.
By the end of the six weeks, one student was able to produce a longer written retelling of the story, drawing on the language we had practised throughout the project. The combination of reading, drawing, sequencing and guided writing helped her build confidence step by step.
This final page is a good example of how tailored lessons can support children in developing real writing skills in Italian in a way that feels achievable and enjoyable.
We also used the story to practise describing characters, including il gatto e la volpe.
The student worked on both appearance and personality, then turned her ideas into short written descriptions.
Students also learnt how to express and support their opinion in Italian.
They practised moving beyond “I like / I don’t like” by giving reasons and examples.
Why story-based learning works
Story-based learning gives children a meaningful reason to use Italian.
Instead of practising grammar and vocabulary in isolation, they use the language to understand events, describe characters, explain ideas and express opinions.This makes the learning more memorable, more personal and more enjoyable.
This project is an example of how I tailor Italian lessons to each child. Some children need more support with writing, while others are ready to be challenged with longer sentences, opinions and detailed descriptions.
In my lessons, every activity is adapted to the learner’s level, confidence and interests.