Maurizio Altini (48) is a multi-talented guy, although he would not wish to be perceived that way.
He was born in Rimini in north-east Italy and runs the popular 'Chatterbox' restaurant in Lisnaskea and finds the time to teach Italian to A Level in Fermanagh College. He is also fluent in French and German and, considering he hadn't a word of English when he first emigrated to England, it means he can converse in four languages.
It begs the question: how many Irish people bother learning a second language?
Well, Joan Major, the Head of Languages at Fermanagh College, is trying to promote a greater awareness of languages other than our own. Her Department has recently initiated a programme of evening classes at the College on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, among them GCSE Italian on Mondays, from 7.30-9.30 and AS Italian on Wednesday evenings, at the same times.
Elsewhere, there are classes on Mondays in recreational French (6pm-8pm), GCSE French (8-10), AS Spanish (6-30 to 9-30), and AQA English B (7-9).
On Tuesdays, in addition to English as a Second Language, there is recreational Spanish (6-8), AQA GCSE Spanish (8-10), recreational Irish (6-8), and CCEA GCSE Irish (8-10).
On Wednesday evenings, there are more ESOL classes together with AS French (6-30 to 9-30), Mandarin Chinese (7.30-9.30), and Polish (7.30 to 9.30).
These classes are being offered on the proviso that a minimum of 14 students enrol in each. Anyone interested is invited to contact the College at - 028 66 322431.
Even after all those years away from home, having lived for eight years in England and then moving to Fermanagh in 1988, Maurizio never lost his mother tongue.
"Thanks to the Internet, it's very easy to keep up with the news and current affairs as well as through sending e-mails to friends.", he explained.
He admits to having been very good at languages at school from where he moved into a catering college in Rimini which insisted that its pupils were fluent in French and German to equip them for huge tourist market.
"I was always in catering," he explained. "My ex-partner was from Irvinestown, so we settled in Enniskillen before moving to Maguiresbridge. We started off in Irvinestown and, by the time we sold it, I was already operating 'Chatterbox' in Lisnaskea."
Maurizio became involved with the Languages Department of Fermanagh College 3-4 years ago when he was invited to help out with reading and conversing during an Italian class. He was then asked to register as a part-time lecturer, and he's still there.
"I started off the A level Wednesday class, and most of the class graduated from my GCSE class. But, some were already speaking Italian and they only want to brush up on it, without taking an exam.
"Others were mature students who had some connection with Italy and they wanted to keep up their good standard of conversation, some simply wanted to be able to have basic Italian so as to enjoy their holidays in Italy more."
He agreed that, by and large, people from here and the UK had a laid-back attitude to acquiring a second language.
If anyone is interested in a programme of Languages For Business/Work (including ESOL) please get in touch with Joan Major, Languages Coordinator (joan.major@swc.ac.uk ; Tel: 028 66 342281).
On this Friday, 26 September, at 11.00 am - 12.30, a number of foreign nationals who are attending courses at the college are bringing in food, with music and cultural symbols of their own country.
