FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I offer a free 30-minute trial, just to get the feel of what your Italian skills are and so you can get to know me a little; Discounts for groups of two or more; Discount for buying a package of 5, 10, 15 lessons at once; Flexibility in scheduling lessons; Homework assignments and corrections.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When you show your interest in learning Italian with me, I’ll first ask you what the goals are you'd like to achieve: Do you just love Italy and the Italian language? Are you taking a trip to Italy? Are you moving to Italy for work? Do you want to communicate with your relatives in Italy? Do you want to better your grammar? Do you like Italian cuisine, and would like to learn how to cook Italian dishes following Italian recipes? Are you struggling with your Italian course at school or university? Whatever your reason is, you can be confident that I’ll tailor the lessons based on your level, your interests and goals, using a “communicative approach”, even if you just want to learn or refine your grammar skills: “The communicative approach is based on the idea that learning language successfully comes through having to communicate real meaning. When learners are involved in real communication, their natural strategies for language acquisition will be used, and this will allow them to learn to use the language.”
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I studied at the University of Catania, Italy, and earned a combination Bachelor's/Master’s Degree in Foreign Languages and Literature. In the past 20 plus years I have taught English to Italian High school students, and English to American college students, military personnel and their spouses, professionals and enthusiasts for both work and personal enrichment, in traditional classroom settings and, since 2006, online, with Berlitz Language School, the oldest language school in the world, through BVC (Berlitz Virtual Classroom) and Skype, and I currently teach Italian at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I have also worked as a freelance translator and over the phone interpreter.