Fall in Love with Italian! Certified Native Teacher Offering Tailored, Dialogue-Driven Lessons.

Find out more about Daniela

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

  I speak Italian fluently because it's my native language. I was born and raised in Basilicata, in the deep south of Italy.
  That said, I've always had a spontaneous love for the Italian language, both written and spoken.
  People abroad often tell me that we sometimes speak as if we're in a novel, and I find that incredibly beautiful.

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

  I could mention more internationally known names such as Dante and Fellini and many others and that would make perfect sense. But I'll use this space to talk about two of my personal favourites from literature and cinema.
  First, Italo Calvino, one of my all-time favourite writers. His language is a light yet profound journey through imagination, logic and the beauty of Italian. Every word feels chosen with the care of a craftsman and the vision of a dreamer.
  And then there's Monica Vitti, who for me represents a uniquely Italian mix of irony, intelligence and emotional sharpness. She was famous for her expressiveness and her unforgettable lines - funny, moving, sometimes absurd - that captured the spirit of an entire generation.

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

  Being a big fan of naps, I love the word pisolino. It means a short afternoon nap, something between cozy and necessary, and it's part of a slower rhythm that still survives in many parts of Italy.
  Then there's magari, a single word that expresses "if only", "hopefully" and "wouldn't it be nice" all in one. It's full of hope and longing.
  And one of my favourite everyday expressions is "ci sei o ci fai?" - a playful, slightly cheeky way to say "Are you really not getting it, or are you just pretending?" It's classic Italian irony in one line.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Because it's a way of sharing who I am. Italian isn't just the language I speak, it's how I cook, how I move my hands, how I feel and express myself.
  It holds all the places I've lived in and loved. Teaching it means sharing that richness with others and learning something new in return.
  It's not just a language, it's a whole way of seeing and living the world.

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

  Prepositions, irregular verbs and all those lovely exceptions can be tricky at first, especially if you want to speak "correct" Italian from the beginning.
  But here's the good news: you don't need to know everything before you start talking.
  My method focuses on real-life situations, dialogues, stories, spontaneous speech, so you pick things up naturally.
  That's how I learned English too: by using it in real life. Having a Superprof back then would have definitely sped things up!

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

  Italian was always my favourite subject, especially writing. At my school, we had daily grammar drills and wrote essays almost every day, something I later realised wasn't so common!
  A boy from another class once told me that our teacher often read essays aloud in class as examples of good writing, without saying who had written them. Out of curiosity, he checked and noticed that many were mine.
  That moment helped me recognise my own voice. I think I had a good instinct for language, but what really made the difference was having the space and encouragement to practise and grow.

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

  Living in London and moving back and forth between the UK and Italy gave me a whole new perspective on my own language.
  When you're far from home, you start to notice your language's patterns, gestures, rhythm, even the things you normally take for granted.
  I realised how much Italian relies on emotion and context, and how beautiful it is to make all of that come alive for someone learning it.
  I love both English and Italian, they represent two very different but equally important sides of my personality.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I've been teaching for almost four years. My students often say they enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, my empathy, and a bit of irony that makes things easier and more fun.
  I love creating personalised lessons because let's face it, I don't want to bore you, and I don't want to bore myself either.
  I use real stories, songs, conversations, and curiosity to make grammar feel natural. No one-size-fits-all here.
  
  Ready to start?
  I'll bring the espresso and the verbs.