Engaging and active Italian lessons in Leeds from Italian Native Language with Teaching Experience.

Find out more about Mariarita

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I am native Italian, so yep, I speak fluent Italian because it is part of my origins.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Well, as I am quite passionate about art and history is hard to pick only one.. But I would say that an emblematic representative character of my language's culture, to me, is Gaius Julius Caesar, 12 July 100 BC - 15 March 44 BC). He was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. In addition to being clever, Caesar was incredibly energetic. Immense intelligence and energy were not the only qualities that made Caesar a formidable leader. He was also exceptionally driven, power-hungry, and cunning. He was a soldier, general, diplomatic, strategist, writer and man of a great mind, brave, smart. In other words: a genius.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  Ow, we have loads! I love Italian traditions!! Italian language is wide, great, romantic, clever and beautiful. But I think what I like the most is the Italian attitude to smile, shake hands and hug people! We are really friendly and open people and we like to show our emotions and thoughts!

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking languages is my passion! I love to be able to speak another language! Going for holiday into a new country and be able to thank people, order food, ask directions or have a chat with locals! That is the best! You cannot have a real experience of a place if you don't know its language!

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Italian can be a tough language to learn, as it has a lot of grammar, but is not as bad as people think! The process is different for every student, based on skills, goals, time, and such.. but let's see how I usually organise my lessons:
  
  Well at the beginning are very intuitive and engaging lessons.
  Student will learn:
  How to introduce Yourself in Italian
  How to say your age (only if you want! haha)
  How to ask/say where are you from
  How to talk about hobbies and what you like or dont.
  How to talk about yourself.
  
  Slowly we will introduce also Grammar and Reading Text!
  
  A bit of Grammar (to make sure students are able to use with confidence the basic tenses);
  Reading a text and comprehension;
  Speaking and Conversation
  Learning how to talk with confidence about a topic
  
  I always add fun facts and curiosities about Italian culture!

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I was always passionate about teaching Italian and about languages! I started proper school at the age of 5 (in Italy you usually start at 6 years old) and when the teacher asked me what I wanted to be when grown up, I answered: an Italian teacher!
  When I went to high school (in Italy is Scuola Superiore and is 5 years, ending when you are 19 years old) I started a course of journalism and I did put so much of myself, writing and everything that, after a year I got the Senior role and the year after I became Chief Editor of the newspaper and so it was for the following 3 years. It was one of the best learning adventure of my life and it gave me so much in terms of learning process and approach to different topics and communication. After graduating from high school I went to Uni to study "Lettere" to become an Italian teacher and I started a collaboration as editor with the two main regional newspapers.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  While I was at Uni, for my Master Degree, I decided to do my research dissertation about philosophy and I won a research project for 3 months in a Uni in Paris. So I moved there (best ever experience of my life!) and only there I realised how important it is to learn and speak a different language. It was very challenging at the beginning but I studied hard and did my very best to get deep into French culture and language asap. Being there, as a student, it helped me so much to understand things from another point of view, as the learner. I came back from Paris with a totally different mindset about teaching and with an even greater passion about teaching Italian.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I am super passionate about teaching Italian! I would do, always, my very best to tailor my lessons to every single student, as every student is different, and although I have my system is important to adapt this to different people, understanding their needs, skills, goals, etc. As in Uni I have studied psychology and philosophy, I feel confident to understand people's feelings about a language, and work with that.
  I am always ready to step that extra mile, because I really wish to give to my students not just the language knowledge, but a better understanding of the "Italian way": how we live, our culture, how we move our hands, how we greet people, about our food and wine traditions, our history, my culture. Understanding deeply a culture is a great way to improve our language skill, so when you visit Italy you won't just be able to speak Italian, you will feel Italian!