School of Italian Language and Culture in Palermo, Sicily

A native of Livorno with a love for the sea (that goes without saying!),  good food and the Italian language. I have worked as a journalist, video maker, book editor, proofreader and translator, but teaching Italian has always been a part of my life. The continuous and stimulating exchange with students is the main reason why I love this job.

After living in London, Rome, Turin and Dublin I felt the need for the South, and Palermo welcomed me with its extraordinary cultural, artistic, culinary and natural riches. I love living in a city where the street names are in three languages, a symbol of the peaceful and centuries-old coexistence of different cultures. In my spare time I read, cook, try to do sport, and travel.

I started teaching Italian to foreign students soon after getting my university degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in 1991. My degree allowed me to teach English to Italian students, but a little exposure to teaching experience made me realize very soon that this wasn’t my dream job. Still today I’m very grateful to those who gave me the chance to teach to students who wished or needed to pick up my mother tongue.

Initially I thought it would be a piece of cake to do this job since I have a good knowledge of the Italian language and culture. But very soon I understood that it was not just a question of teaching, but above all of establishing  a human connection with the students in order to identify needs and requirements and defeat fears and prejudices.

I have been teaching at Culturforum, Italian Language and Culture School in Palermo, for more than 15 years now. And thanks to this job I have been able to meet and work with people from many different countries. This is what I like most about my work, the opportunity to immerse myself in the most diverse cultures and be able to observe my own culture from new points of view.

I have been part of the wonderful Culturforum family for years now. I have always loved this job because it allows me to connect with people from all over the world, in a continuous exchange of knowledge related to different cultures and traditions. I graduated in Modern Languages and Translation for International Relations at the University of Palermo.

For me, teaching Italian is not just a job but a true vocation. I love seeing my students progress, gain confidence, and become passionate about our language and culture. Every day is a new challenge and an opportunity to create meaningful connections with people with very diverse backgrounds. Every day is a new challenge and an opportunity to create meaningful connections with diverse people. 

My passions? Travel and art. At the moment I am trying my hand at watercolor painting, I really enjoy expressing my creativity through this technique. In addition to teaching, I guide Culturforum students on some of the visits, sharing with them my great  passion for my city.

My greatest passions? Travelling and foreign cultures and languages: I speak three languages and never tire of learning new ones. I grew up in a small village nestled in green hills in the interior of Sicily. Since I was a child, I have looked at other worlds with curious eyes, driven by the desire to experience other lives beyond the horizons of my island.

After my degree in Italian L2 and a master's degree in Languages and Translation for International Relations, I felt I needed to escape the confines of the island, so I spent a few years in other countries. I lived in Boston, Granada, and Tallinn. During those years, I was able to gain valuable experience in promoting the Italian language abroad. Upon returning to Sicily, I settled in Palermo where I worked with foreign students attending courses at the University of Palermo. For many years now, I have been part of the Culturforum staff.

The aspects of this experience I find most rewarding? Above all, the students’ determination, enthusiasm, and passion. I like bringing empathy and smiles to the classroom. Being able to accompany students on their journey of learning Italian is, for me, an opportunity for personal enrichment and cultural growth, which are fundamental values in my life.