In a television commercial scheduled to begin broadcasting early this month to promote the Marche region of Italy, two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman recites "L'Infinito," a poem by the 19th-century Italian writer Giacomo Leopardi. But before the spot even airs, the actor is accused of butchering the Italian language. According to the New York Times, a critic in the Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera praised Mr. Hoffman for his "commitment," but also complained of "the astronomical distance" between his pronunciation and "the Italian ear," adding that "he stumbles on the eternal words" of one of Italy's most revered lyrical poets.

It takes a bit of fantasia to play calcio in Italy. According to Football Italiano, "...fantasia...is the spirit upon which all Italian football draws its energy."

Need culinary heat? Try 'nduja, a traditional Southern Italian salumi with a burst of heat in every bite. The New York Times explains in A Dollop of Salami, Spreading From Calabria that: "'Nduja is part of the Italian sausage family known as salami dal spalmare, spreadable salamis, made by finely grinding fat and meat and then aging the paste in a casing."

Dried red chili peppers are responsible for the "flaming liquid salami."

The Società Onoraria Italica—The Italian National Honor Society for High School Students—is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Italian. The purpose of the program is to recognize achievements in Italian as well as to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Italian culture and civilization.

During the school year 2007-2008, 3,078 high school students from 176 schools in 15 states across the country were accepted as members of the Società Onoraria Italica.