Italian Lessons

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. I realized that there are a lot of Italian tutors out there, but very few good ones. I met with students who had been taking lessons with other tutors for months and couldn't even engage in basic conversation! When looking for a tutor, you should ask about their method (if you are a beginner the teaching method is different from the method used for an advanced speaker who wants to tweak his language skills) and if it seems sound, you should go for that tutor. You should also ask for references or to see testimonials from current or previous students. I listed a few with real names and last names along with profession on my website. Another thing is that if a tutor only charges 25-30 dollars an hour, it means that s/he has little experience. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. A potential customer should definitely ask about my background and education. When learning a language you need to seek a native speaker, but you also need to make sure s/he is educated and perfectly bilingual and articulate. The last thing you need is to learn your tutor's mistakes! You should also ask where the lessons are held. It is important that the lessons be held in a quiet stress free environment conducive to learning and not in a bookstore or coffee shop.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am a native teacher (from Venice, so I do not have a strong regional accent), so I am actually a real teacher with teaching qualifications. Therefore, I know grammar and teaching methods very well. The fact that I am proficient in 4 languages makes teaching Italian easier since I know the structure of romance languages inside out along with the best teaching methods.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I view my students' learning as a sculpture and it is very rewarding to see this "sculpture" take its shape when I see my students being able to actually converse in Italian. I take pride in that...

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How long will it take me to learn? There is no cookie cutter question. It depends on your level of commitment, how much you are willing to work in the classroom and at home along with your learning curve, which is different for everybody. A motivated beginner student can engage in simple basic conversation within a month and a half meeting once a week.