"I was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, where I earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Foreign Languages and Literature, specializing in English and German. I moved to the United States in 2004 and since then have developed extensive experience teaching Italian and English as a Second Language across universities, cultural institutes, private schools, and online platforms.

I hold a Ph.D. in Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a TESOL graduate certificate. My research and teaching focus on multilingual education, language acquisition, and creating inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments. I have taught students of all ages—from young children to working professionals—and I design lessons tailored to each learner’s goals, whether it’s travel Italian, business communication, literature, or grammar.

In addition to classroom teaching, I have founded and managed language schools in both Italy and the U.S., where I designed curriculum, trained instructors, and implemented assessments that meet students’ needs. I love sharing the Italian language and culture in ways that are practical, engaging, and fun—even including Italian cooking classes!

I am happy to tailor my lesson plan to include any topics that are of interest, including but not limited to travel language classes, basic to advanced grammar, business lexicon, literature, and cooking classes.

I look forward to helping you reach your language goals while exploring the richness of Italian culture and communication." less...