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
I’ve heard it so many times before, “I can read and understand Italian, but when I try to speak, I become tongue-tied!” Sound familiar? Is this your problem too? With Chat Italiano, you can regularly practice your Italian with me. It is a perfect way to keep up your Italian conversation skills at home, supplementing on-line or evening language classes. It is also a great way to get your language in shape just in time for your next trip to Italy!
Price: $25 / 30 minutes.
Andiamo in Italia
Travel with me to Learn in Italy
Twice a year, I take small groups to Italy with me to learn the language and practice conversation skills. 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 likeminded individuals and make memories and friends to last a lifetime. Andiamo in Italia!
Price: $3,850
At Home in Italy
Live in Italy in the Home of an Italian Teacher
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: $1000 to $1,500 / week
Travel to Italy in the Pages of One of Melissa’s Books
It’s a fun way to immerse in Italian culture and learn the language too! Available on Amazon in Print & Digital.
Price: 16.99
Dive into the Matta Blog and read articles in Italian & English
Satisfy your passion for Italian language and culture while practicing your Italian language skills.
Experience Italy the Matta Way!
Andiamo In Italia!
I’m going back to Arezzo next September 2021!
You are invited to come for 10 days of Italian study (beginners to advance students welcome) and discovering all that Arezzo has to offer.
Latest from the Blog – Dive into Italy and Italian
From the Multi-Award Winning Blog about Culture & Italian Language
Guest post by Kyle Ball—author of “Altared: a Tale of Renovating a Medieval Church in Tuscany”
Oggi ho una sorpresa per i lettori del blog di Studentessa Matta. Ho chiesto alla college autore—Kyle Tackwell Ball di scrivere un guest post per noi. Ero molto colpita dal suo libro in cui lei parla di un restauro di una proprietà che aveva acquistato vicino a Greve in Toscano. Ma, non ha comprato una…
Tutti a tavola! Serving up some observations about Italians and Food
Nella mia esperienza personale, ho notato alcune cose sul cibo e sugli italiani. La prima cosa… festival italiani ruotano attorno a una tavola piena del cibo. The first thing… Italian festivals revolve around a table of food. Sembra che al centro di ogni celebrazione… non importa se è religiosa, civile o se è una sagra,…
Read More Tutti a tavola! Serving up some observations about Italians and Food
The joust in Arezzo—celebrate the Italian way! New video chat.
https://youtu.be/nIUT-mTx7ks La giostra di Arezzo: festeggiamo come i veri italiani! Ciao a tutti! Sono Melissa — detta “la studentessa matta”. Attraverso podcast, video e blog post e viaggi e programmi in Italia che organizzo con le scuole in Italia, condivido curiosità dell’arte, cultura…cibo… boh! Direi… parlo un po’ di tutto che trovo interessante che tratta…
Read More The joust in Arezzo—celebrate the Italian way! New video chat.
Video chat about the Italian Macchiaioli and the French Impressionists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rzTmgcIP7o&ab_channel=ItalianwithMelissalaStudentessaMatta Ciao a tutti! Oggi vorrei parlarvi di un argomento molto vicino al mio cuore—un Gruppo degli artisti italiani che hanno dipinto nell’ottocento. Si chiamano “i macchiaioli.” Hello everyone! Today I would like to talk to you about a subject very close to my heart—a group of Italian artists who painted in the nineteenth century.…
Read More Video chat about the Italian Macchiaioli and the French Impressionists
Parole, Parole, Parole: Vocabolario di maggio
Le parole e le espressioni nuove di maggio May Words and Expressions to Ponder Durante il mese di maggio, 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 sentito nei film che ho…
More Good News from Italy! The Language Schools I work with in Italy are OPEN!
Lucca Italian School &Cultura Italiana Arezzo School are now OPEN! La scorsa settimana sono stata entusiasta di sapere che Lucca Italian School aveva aperta le sue porte al pubblico ed era, pronta per accogliere nuovamente gli studenti stranieri nelle loro classi. Last week I was thrilled to learn that Lucca Italian School had opened its…
Read More More Good News from Italy! The Language Schools I work with in Italy are OPEN!
L’Italiano Vero — Podcast for those who want the inside scoop on how to communicate like a real Italian
Nella mia ricerca quotidiana per trovare nuovi podcast e materiale per aggiornare e mantenere le mie capacità di lingua italiana, io di recente mi sono imbattuta in L’italiano vero.” In my daily quest to find new podcasts and material to keep my Italian language skills refreshed, I recently came upon “L’Italiano Vero.” Nasce da un’idea…
Italian language Homestay vacation in Lecco on Lake Como with Beatrice & Paola
Introducing a new Italian Language Homestay with Beatrice & Paola in Lecco on Lake Como Sono felice di presentarvi Beatrice a Paola, due insegnanti d’Italiano che abitano a Lecco su Lago di Como. Insieme loro hanno creato un programma fantastico soggiorno di Homestay in cui gli studenti possono godersi la vita italiana sulla riva del…
Read More Italian language Homestay vacation in Lecco on Lake Como with Beatrice & Paola
Parole, Parole, Parole: Vocabolario di Aprile
Le parole e le espressioni nuove di Aprile April Words and Expressions to Ponder Durante il mese di aprile, 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 sentito nei film che ho…
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 we had 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.
