STUDENTS from St Joseph's College Mildura immersed themselves in Italian culture this week.

Want to buy one of these photos? Go to our Photo Sales section Four Year 8 Italian classes visited the Irymple Bocce Club on Tuesday and Wednesday to make authentic Italian pizzas, play bocce and traditional card game briscola.

The cultural session was run by Italian born Giovanni Barbera, who moved to Mildura seven years ago.

Mr Barbera has worked with the college for three years to run the annual program, which he said was a good opportunity to show off the Bocce club, and meet with the students.

"I like to show students that the club is here because it's nice to get some younger people through and involved," he said.

"It would be good if they got something out of me talking about learning a second language as well, even if it is a few years down the track.

"We use knowledge when we need it, so it would be nice to think even one of the students will think one day 'hey that's what that pizza guy meant.'"

St Joseph's College Italian teacher Mary Manfield said the excursion was a great way for students to put their leaning into practice outside of the classroom.

"Italian is one of the top four spoken languages in the world, and Mildura has a highly populated Italian community," she said.

"Immersion is the best way to learn a language so we love to take advantage of that when we can."

Ms Manfield also said any culture rich activities were important in promoting the school's Italian trip program, which was held for language students in Years 10 and 11.

"It is a bit of an incentive for the young students for the Italian trip that will come up later in the language program," she said.