Leading people who are crazy about Italy, giving them insights into language and culture, and helping them overcome learning doldrums, and frustrations.
I’m Melissa, but people know me as Studentessa Matta – The crazy student – because every day I dive head first into the Italian language and use it wherever I am, whether in Italy or at home.
I want to show you how to improve your Italian and help you become more conversant.
My goal is to inspire you to learn the language and introduce you to a slice of Italy you might not know about by either traveling with me, conversing with me, or reading posts and novels in which I write about Italy.
Follow along with me, and let yourself go a little “matta” and find out how quickly you can overcome your anxiety and frustration with traditional methods as I help you to build your own unforgettable language learning experience.
Chat Italiano! Conversation Practice.
NEW: One-on-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring
Chat with me in Italian OR
Sign up for One-On-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring Session
I’ve heard it so many times before, “I can read and understand Italian, but when I speak, I get tongue-tied!” Sound familiar? With Chat Italiano, you can regularly practice Italian with me, supplementing online or evening language classes.
Looking for a language coach to practice your Italian skills? Do you need help understanding Italian grammar? Now you can schedule a One-on-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring session to receive personalized help and get answers to language questions.
1-hour Chat or Tutoring Session: $50
Package of 5 one-hour Tutoring Sessions: $225
Andiamo in Italia
Travel with me to Learn in Italy
The 2022 Matta Andiamo in Italia! Italian Language programs are now available to sign up! Next year THREE programs are available: Arezzo (June 12-24), Lucca (Aug 25-Sept 3), Ascoli (Sept 11-23).
Join Melissa and her Italian School Partners in Italy to learn Italian. Perfect for couples or individuals. Open to all language levels. During the mornings, we study at a partner school in classes perfect for your language level. In the afternoons we go on adventures and excursions. We sink our hands into pasta dough, raise our wine glasses, laugh, dance, and chat the evenings away in Italian with teachers and Italian friends. You will travel with like-minded individuals and make memories and friends to last a lifetime. Andiamo in Italia!
Price (without airfare): $4,300-$4,500
At Home in Italy
Ready to take your language skills to Italy and live and study in the home of your Italian teacher?
At Home in Italy is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in language and culture for one or two individuals in a city that interests you and at a time that fits your travel schedule. Homestays combine formal study with everyday family activities.
Make new friends and experience a different side of Italy few tourists see, and return home closer to being bilingual than when you left.
Price Variable based on Season, Location, Teacher. Price range per week: $1000 to $1,500
Matta Youtube & Podcast
Listen and follow along with the Italian audio with transcripts found on the Matta blog.
Read the award winning Dual Language Italian Blog
The Matta Blog features articles that focus on Italian culture & language learning tips.
Travel to Italy in the pages of Melissa’s novels set in Florence, Arezzo, Montepulciano & Sicilia
It’s a fun way to immerse in Italian culture and learn the language too! Waking Isabella has been translated into Italian. All books are available on Amazon in Print, ebook, and Audiobook.
Price: 16.99
Join the “Matta” Leggiamo Italian Language Book Club!
What a NOVEL idea! Che idea fantastica! Practice your reading comprehension, auditory listening skills, and conversation abilities. The goal of the Matta Book Club is to have fun, laugh, and learn together!
Two Book Club Enrollment Options:
Option 1: Group Book Club Up to 5 People
Eight Week Course, 1-hour Weekly Meetings
Price $250
Option 2: One-on-One Individual Book Club
Eight Week Course, 1-hour Weekly Meetings
Price $400
Experience Italy the Matta Way!
The Matta Andiamo In Italia! Italian Language Immersion Programs
Arezzo 2023: June 11-23
Lucca 2023: Aug 24 – Sept 2
Arezzo Fall 2023 Giostra/Joust Weekend
Sept 2 – 4
Montepulciano 2023: Sept 10 – 23, 2023
Sign up now! Spots are limited.
Latest from the Blog – Dive into Italy and Italian
From the Multi-Award Winning Blog about Culture & Italian Language
Tacchino arrotolato — turkey with an Italian twist
Involtino di tacchino al profumo di salvia e rosmarino: una nuova svolta su una pietanza preferita! Italian Turkey roll seasoned with sage and rosemary — a new twist on an old favorite! È quasi il Ringraziamento 2022. Come molti, preparerò una cena al tacchino per la mia famiglia. Sto tirando fuori molte ricette tradizionali di…
Read More Tacchino arrotolato — turkey with an Italian twist
Coffee Break Languages Biggest Sale Ever!
Coffee Break Languages il più grande vendita mai! Get 40% OFF All Coffee Break Language courses Ciao a tutti! Sono lieta di condividere con voi notizia incredibile! Questa settimana Coffee Break Languages offre prezzi incredibili e molto bassi per tutti i corsi di lingua! Per poco tempo per “Black Friday” offre uno sconto di 40%!!!…
Oh, mia Dea!! What is an Armilla Picena?
Oh, my Goddess!! What is Armilla Picena? Prima dei Romani, i Piceni si stabilirono in quella regione che oggi conosciamo come le Marche. Before the Romans, the Piceni population settled in the region we now know as le Marche. Lo scorso settembre, quando sono stata ad Ascoli Piceno, ho fatto una scoperta intrigante! Per la…
Announcing New Online Italian History Course 1915-1992 taught in Italian
New online Italian History Course taught in Italian covering the Years 1915 – 1992 Storia d’Italia del novecentoDalla prima guerra mondiale (1915)alla fine della prima repubblica (1992) History of twentieth-century ItalyFrom World War I (1915)to the end of the first republic (1992) Sono lieta di annunciare un nuovo corso online di Storia Italiana che sarà…
Read More Announcing New Online Italian History Course 1915-1992 taught in Italian
Omaggio agli Angeli di Fango – Tribute to Mud Angels
Il 3 novembre è l’anniversario del diluvio che devastò Firenze nel 1966. November 3rd marks the anniversary of the flood that devastated Florence in 1966. Il 3 novembre del 1966, dopo settimane di piogge torrenziali, le rive dell’Arno cedettero e l’acqua del fiume sfociò nella città. Firenze venne catturata, praticamente inconsapevole quella notte, e fu…
Read More Omaggio agli Angeli di Fango – Tribute to Mud Angels
Italian Podcast: Leggenda del ponte del diavolo – Legend of the Devil Bridge in Borgo Mozzano
(Right-click and choose “Save as…” to download to your device.) Nel podcast di oggi parliamo della leggenda del ponte del diavolo … o “come si può ingannare il diavolo e farlo arrabbiare!” La mia ospite sarà Daniela Bonaccorsi, uno dei dirigenti di Lucca Italian School. Recentemente ho registrato Daniela mentre lei raccontava la storia del…
Matta Italian Words and Expressions — October 2022
“Matta” parole e espressioni ottobre 2022 Practice Matta Parole on Quizlet with flashcards! New Italian Words and Expressions to Learn! Durante il mese scorso ogni settimana ho pubblicato una parola o un’espressione combinato con un’immagine sulla pagina di Facebook di Studentessa Matta. Queste sono parole casuali che mi sono imbattuto durante la lettura o che ho…
Read More Matta Italian Words and Expressions — October 2022
Costumi di Halloween — Cosa indossarai? Halloween costumes – what will you wear?
BOO! È Halloween di nuovo! Siamo già quel periodo dell’anno in cui gli spiriti dei defunti tornano sulla terra alla ricerca di un corpo da possedere. Si dice che i travestimenti più orripilanti servano a tener lontano gli spiriti. Si ritiene anche che intagliare volti terrificanti sulle zucche sia un altro ottimo modo per evitare le visite di anime…
Read More Costumi di Halloween — Cosa indossarai? Halloween costumes – what will you wear?
Italian Possessive Adjectives and Prossessive Pronouns
Il tuo, il mio, e il nostro! A chi appartiene? Yours, Mine, and ours! Who does it belong to? Come rendere il possessivo nella lingua italiana. How to make things possessive in the Italian language. In inglese per indicare la proprietà di un oggetto, aggiungiamo un apostrofo al nome di una persona seguito da una…
Read More Italian Possessive Adjectives and Prossessive Pronouns
What They’re Saying
Sheree Isola — 3-time trip participant — talks about her experience in Italy with Melissa!
Bill Bahr — 2-time trip participant — talks about his experience in Italy with Melissa!
Karina Kagramanova, Andiamo in Italia Small Group Language Participant: This was the best trip of my life! From the moment I heard Melissa’s podcast, I felt I found my kindred spirit. An incredible woman with infinite love for Italy and the Italian language. This program was worth every cent I spent and even more. Everything was so thoughtful, not only did we have interesting excursions but also trips to bio farm, cooking lessons, and wine tasting. The excursions, views, and dinners were fabulous!
Daniel Bayer, At Home in Italy Italian Homestay Participant: I had a fabulous time staying with Cristina in Trento in September. The opportunity to be fully immersed in Italian from morning to night took my language abilities to an entirely new level. Cristina was wonderful to be with— very friendly, with a wide range of interests (from art to film to sports), and always helpful and supportive with my clumsy attempts to speak Italian. A bonus was that Trento is a great place to stay. It is a lively city in a beautiful location surrounded by mountains, not overwhelmed by tourists, and close to many attractions from Venice and Verona to the Dolomite mountains and Lake Garda. The experience couldn’t have been better.
