Postage Stamps as Pedagogical Instruments in the Italian Curriculum

Abstract

Postage stamps have enjoyed a long tradition of informal and unstructured classroom usage. All too often, however, such usage has amounted to little more than a perfunctory circulation of some hastily gathered and possibly tattered postage stamps in a makeshift container. This approach fails to recognize the genuine instructional value of these tokens of popular culture. Nevertheless, some worthwhile suggestions for their explicit curricular introduction exist for French, German, and Spanish.' At least one brief set of seminal recommendations also exists for the incorporation of postage stamps in the Italian classroom.2 Since an ample inventory of reasonably priced new or cancelled postage stamps is already available, the use of these official documents from the realm of popular culture is a relatively simple task. Furthermore, Italy continues to produce new issues each year on a more frequent schedule. The diversity and abundance of the postage stamp renders it invaluable as a source for fascinating pedagogical strategies. In this article, we will examine several interrelated topics on postage stamps including their multiple functions, their significance as semiotic artifacts, and a rationale for their classroom use. Next, some suggestions for their successful incorporation into the Italian curriculum will be offered. Finally, specific recommendations for their inclusion in the Italian curriculum with exemplary activities in the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and cultural understanding will be provided.