"Buongiorno," From The Senior Center! (Video)

“Molto bene!” exclaims Patrizia Farina, teacher of the Italian language class at the . Nine women call out their congratulations and clap their hands in delight as each one grapples with new words and grammar.

 A phrase is written on the board and the students attack their bi-lingual dictionaries to decode the phrase. The quiet intense search for the meaning explodes into laughter at the sudden understanding of the Italian words.

 Farina teaches Italian at Western Connecticut State University and donates an hour and a half each week to teaching the women in Bethel who congregate for this class. Over the summer, Farina took several students from WCSU, and one from the Senior's class, to Italy for a three week intensive course.

 Ursela Perrefort went on that trip and said that the teacher was very strict and they had homework every night, even on New Years Eve. Perrefort is originally from Germany, and the students say that her passion for Italian drives her to study hard, and Faina said, “It shows.”

 The reasons for attending the ladies' study group varies. “My goal is to enjoy life,” Linda Lugar, a teacher, said with enthusiasm. Her mission was clear from her question, “Como se dice, Whiskey?” to her bright red jacket.

 Another woman said, “My daughter lives in Italy and my grandson speaks Italian. I want to know what they are saying about me. I haven't told them I am taking Italian!” 

Besides her native German and English, Perrefort also speaks Dutch. “I have had 20 years of studying language, and Patrizia is the best teacher I have ever had,” she said.

 Farina said she never knew what this class would come to mean to her. In 2008, a call had come in to the university from the Senior Center requesting an advanced student to come and teach. Farina, recovering from a divorce, was happy to offer her services as a way to fill up some extra time. After six years, she said the group has become a family.

 The seniors said that for them the class is not just about learning Italian. They all agreed that the class gives them a sense of purpose, and a lot of satisfaction. “When adults go to school, they go because they want to be there.”

 Judging from the box of cannolis and the Italian candy pastry on the table, they not only want to be there every week. It's a party.