Every language is a boundary that unites and does not divide," thus began her welcome Prof. Natalina Hoti, Director of the University Language Center "Our Lady of Good Counsel" at UKZKM, as she opened the proceedings of the X Congress of DILLE (Italian Society of Language Teaching Research and Educational Linguistics) which was held for three days in the Aula Magna at the NSBC University Campus in Tirana. Numerous guests and academics exchanged experiences, ideas, and contributions, providing excellent service in educating the younger generations about language, this great treasure of humanity.
The President of the “Our Lady of Good Counsel” Foundation, Fr. Ruggero Valentini, said during his welcome that our example, that of UKZKM in Albania, has given so much to Albanian and Italian students, even offering Albanian students a European diploma despite Albania not being part of the EU.
This congress, said President Fr.Valentini, comes naturally within this organization because of these connections and interactions between Italy and Albania, which experience only steady growth.
On the topic of “Languages, territories and contexts: linguistic-educational policies today”, said the President of the ZKM Foundation, we must properly assess the connection that is created between territory and languages.
The biblical episode of the Tower of Babel brings to mind God’s gift, who gave the people in that tower different languages as a means to understand each other and to dialogue. Therefore, according to Fr. Ruggero Valentini, languages must be a tool to promote and protect communication and dialogue.
The Rector of UKZKM, Prof. Leonardo Palombi, in a virtual connection, greeted the representatives of the Italian Embassy at this meeting and many friends, drawing attention to the historic moment in which this linguistically grounded meeting takes place. We live in a dynamic world,” said the Rector, “where thousands of people still do not have the opportunity to communicate widely due to the lack of communication technology; therefore, the attention brought by this meeting to education with language policies is an opportunity that must be promoted. Many think that languages are a barrier, but in fact they are not, because by embracing the diversity among us, we bring inclusion and opportunities for everyone,” said Prof. Leonardo Palombi, adding that effective language policies provide more chances for culture, employment, and competition. At the meeting, Sergio Alias, First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Albania, also greeted the attendees and congratulated UKZKM for this organization that unites everyone in Albania, a country that, as Mr. Alias said, enjoys the support of Italy. "We have so many connections in Albania where the Italian language is widely spread and spoken," said Alias. According to him, the Italian language has been a bridge that created this special relationship between Albania and Italy, which we also experienced in the ’90s when Albanians came to Italy with a deep knowledge of Italian that they had simply learned from television, and this was surprising.
