The first email message was sent over thirty years ago, but learning how to do it reserves a fresh surprise to the over-sixties attending the Grandparents on the Internet course at the Istituto Tecnico Commerciale Piero Calamandrei in Rome.
Surprised, amused, enthusiastic, proud and even incredulous are the emotions that stir in the classroom as emails are sent and received.
Francesco is seventy-one. Today he sent his first email message: “I just couldn’t wait to learn this. I needed to feel like I could participate in everyday life, feel alive, part of the society, that’s why I decided to attend this course and learn how to use new methods of communication.”
Amalia, his young tutor, is a student at the Calamandrei Institute. She proudly tells us about Francesco’s experience. “He couldn’t even turn a computer one when he first arrived. Now, he had just written his first email. What a success! He is full of enthusiasm and interest, pays attention and studies a lot.”
The success of the course held at the Calamandrei School has been made possible not only by the tutors and grandparents, but also thanks to the teachers, who have always been enthusiastic about the project and devoted lots of time to it. Indeed, the best description of this is the email that Francesco sent to Prof. Annamaria Pizzola, the course coordinator:
Dear Prof. Annamaria, I am so happy to have the opportunity to send you this message, even as an assignment, to express all my gratitude for your guidance. I am as happy as a child tonight because I have learnt how to send emails. I owe this to you. Thanks!
