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 June 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
L’arte del merletto al tombolo – Anna Maria ci spiega tutto
https://youtu.be/vdEEkd7ueo8 Il mese scorso ad Arezzo sono stata molto fortunata a conoscere la mamma della mia amica Debora e mi ha spiegato come si fa tombolo. Avete mai sentito parlare di tombolo? Sì? Immagino che abbiate appena pensato al gioco con cui gli italiano si divertono a Natale che si chiama tombola. Ma non sto…
Read More L’arte del merletto al tombolo – Anna Maria ci spiega tutto
Torre del Mangia: Siena – Climbing to the top of the tower
30 Giorni di Indie Travel Project Il giorno 19 del progetto e il tema è: “SPIRITO – Sei mai stato in un posto dove ti senti un potere elevato? 30 Days of Indie Travel Project Day 19: “SPIRIT – Some places have the power to make even the most die-hard agnostic reconsider their position. Have…
Read More Torre del Mangia: Siena – Climbing to the top of the tower
Audiobook Giveaway: Waking Isabella
Sono lieta di annunciare che l’audiolibro di “Waking Isabella” è ora disponibile su Audible e Amazon. Il romanzo, ambientato ad Arezzo, in Italia, è letto in inglese dalla talentuosa Amy Gordon che dà vita ai personaggi con la sua bella voce e le sue drammatiche capacità di recitazione. Amy ed io abbiamo collaborato strettamente sul…
Sofonisba Anguissola subject of a new novel
Sofonisba Anguissola—try to repeat that name three times fast! Il nome Sofonisba Anguissola non rotola necessariamente facilmente dalla lingua. Per aiutarti a pronunciare il suo nome l’ho suddiviso: Sofo-nees-bah Ahn-gwee-sola. The name Sofonisba Anguissola doesn’t necessarily roll off the tongue easily. To help you pronounce her name I’ve broken it down: Sofo-nees-bah Ahn-gwee-sola. Sofonisba Anguissola…
La mia sala – Great way to improve Italian listening comprehension & enjoy art!
Cerchi altri modi per migliorare le tue capacità di comprensione uditiva della lingua italiana? Are you looking for more ways to improve your Italian language listening comprehension skills? Ti piacerebbe saperne di più sull’arte? Would you like to learn more about art? Ti piacerebbe visitare la Galleria degli Uffizi a Firenze ma in questo momento…
Read More La mia sala – Great way to improve Italian listening comprehension & enjoy art!
Stefano Massini – “Parole in Corso”
Stai cercando un nuovo modo per perfezzionare le tue capacità di ascolto italiano? Prova “Parole in Corso” di Stefano Massini. Lui realizza brevi segmenti video e spiega le origini di una frase italiana. Are you looking for a new way to practice your Italian listening skills? Try out Stefano Massini’s “Parole in Corso.” He creates…
Andare a Cavallo – Riding a horse at the beach and useful horse lingo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umSjclyPaB0 Ciao a tutti! Avete passato un buon fine settimana? Che avete fatto? Mi piacerebbe saperlo. Potete lasciarmi un commento nel box sotto. Io ho fatto qualcosa molto divertente. Con una mia amica sono andata al mare e siamo andate a cavallo sulla spiaggia. State sintonizzati. Vi racconto tutto. Hi guys! did you have a…
Read More Andare a Cavallo – Riding a horse at the beach and useful horse lingo
Congiuntivo – molto sexy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bfYQZPLCEA Se avessi avuto una canzone come questa per aiutarmi ad imparare il congiuntivo, avrei appreso subito!!!! If I had a song like this to help me learn the subjunctive tense, I would have learned it right away! L’altro ieri ho visto questo video su Facebook e mi è piaciuto. Mi è piaciuto così tanto che…
Andiamo al mercato di Arezzo – Let’s go to the market in Arezzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKl2b7j2Z9A&feature=youtu.be Oggi andiamo al mercato di Arezzo. Ci sono tante belle cose da comprare. Il migliore sarebbe il cibo fresco che si può comprare lì. Ci sono tante cose…pepperone, fiori di zucca, tartufi, frutta e vari tipi di formaggi e carne…ma specialmente la porchetta! Venite con noi! Today we are going to Arezzo’s Saturday market.…
Read More Andiamo al mercato di Arezzo – Let’s go to the market in Arezzo
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!
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! – Karina Kagramanova, Andiamo in Italia 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. – Daniel Bayer, At Home in Italy participant
