Here's a terrific example of Italian-Americans helping students learn the Italian language. According to the CapeGazette.com, an online newspaper covering Delaware's Cape region, "...local Italian-Americans donated 30 dictionaries to the school's Italian language program [Cape Henlopen High School], new to the curriculum this year."

The eight donors represented the local chapter of UNICO, a national Italian-American service organization.

The peanut gallery is a term that originated in the age of vaudeville as a nickname for the cheapest (and ostensibly rowdiest) seats in the theater; the cheapest snack served at the theater would often be peanuts, which the patrons would sometimes throw at the performers on stage to show their disapproval. Milan's La Scala opera house has its own version of the peanut gallery—the loggionisti. These patrons of La Scala's uppermost balconies are revered and feared for their scathing boos and catcalls at the slightest missed note or theatrical indiscretion.

New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni was the all-time leading scorer for Olimpia Milano in Italy and spent four years coaching there as well. The Knicks also have Italian forward Danilo Gallinari on the roster. So it makes some sense that the NBA, which is always looking to broaden its reach internationally, is apparently planning to send the team to Italy to play some exhibition games before next season gets underway, according to the Associated Press.

For those who prefer dual language Italian-English stories, Italy Magazine has several articles with both languages side-by-side. As a bonus, the Italian version has audio. One recent article, titled: Silken Artworks of Como / Prodotti Artigianali di Seta di Como, explored the silk industry in the town of Como.