"You may have the universe if I may have Italy.” The previous quote, stated by Giuseppe Verdi, a renowned opera composer, exemplifies how much of an international treasure the country of Italy is. From the long canals of Venice to the white sand beaches of Sicily to the ancient architecture of Rome, the splendors of Italy are abundant all over the boot-shaped country. Gifting us with luxurious sports cars and delectable cuisine, Italy proves itself to be a hotspot of cultural activity.

A trip to Italy is no doubt something that should be on everyone’s bucket list. What better way to be prepared to take on the food capital of the world than to learn how to speak their language?  North Allegheny should adopt Italian as a world language because of the large population of Italian-Americans in Pittsburgh, the abundance of Italian references in pop culture, and the value of knowing Italian in several career fields.