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
Austin, Texas. Dove abito io. (Youtube Video)
Ciao a tutti! Come state? Oggi vorrei parlarvi della città in cui mi trovo quando non sono in Italia! Hi everyone! How are you? Today I would like to tell you about the city I am in when I am not in Italy! Alla fine di 2019, dopo vent’anni vivere in California, mi sono trasferita…
“Matta” parole e espressioni del gennaio a febbraio!
Vorrei stuzzicare il vostro appetito per l’apprendimento d’Italiano! I’d like to whet your appetite for Italian language learning by sharing fun words and expressions I encounter during my reading and video watching Durante i mesi di gennaio e febbraio, ogni settimana ho pubblicato una parola o un’espressione combinato con un’immagine sulla pagina di Facebook di…
Read More “Matta” parole e espressioni del gennaio a febbraio!
Friends from Arezzo share a few favorite things about their city.
It’s been a while—13 months in fact—since I last made a video in Italian! Time flies when you are busy publishing a novel, producing Audiobooks, and waiting out the pandemic. But, now after a year, as things begin to sort themselves out and travel seems possible again I thought I’d brush off my video camera…
Read More Friends from Arezzo share a few favorite things about their city.
Trentino una zona tranquilla nel cuore delle dolomiti piena di leggende
Oggi parleremo della zona nord-orientale di Italia—Trentino, e il suo capoluogo Trento Trentino è una regione italiana anche chiamata Südtirol. È una zona tranquilla nel cuore delle dolomiti. Trentino is an Italian region also called Südtirol. It is a quiet area in the heart of the dolomites. La città di Trento è situata nella valle…
Read More Trentino una zona tranquilla nel cuore delle dolomiti piena di leggende
How to learn the Italian language effectively: 1 Essential element—Guest post by Elisabetta Maccani
Sono contenta di presentarvi Elisabetta Maccani la fondatrice di Italiano con Eli TV! I am happy to present to you Elisabetta Maccani, the fonder of “Italian with Eli TV!” Elisabetta Maccani si occupa di formazione linguistica ad adulti stranieri da più di 10 anni. È un’insegnante di italiano certificata dall’Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia e…
Stanley Tucci’s new show: Searching for Italy
Ho appena visto la prima puntata di “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” e penso che sia fantastico e faccia venire l’acquolina in bocca! I just watched the first episode of “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy,” and I think it is mouthwateringly fantastic! Lo spettacolo si concentra sulla cucina nelle varie regioni d’Italia e Tucci è…
Eroi della resistenza — I sette Fratelli Cervi
Conoscete la storia dei sette Fratelli Cervi? I sette fratelli Cervi erano i figli di Alcide Cervi e Genoeffa Cocconi… nati a cavallo del secolo a Campegine nel Emilia-Romagna. C’erano anche due sorelle. The seven Cervi Brothers were the sons of Alcide Cervi and Genoeffa Cocconi… born at the turn of the century in Campegine…
Buon San Valentino!
Nessuno mi AMA come il mio FRIGO. Ogni volta che lo apro, si ILLUMINA! No one LOVES me like my refrigerator. Every time I open it, it LIGHTS UP! Oggi è San Valentino, la festa degli innamorati. Come nasce la ricorrenza? Today is Valentine’s Day, the holiday of lovers. How did this day come about?…
“Allora!” A new on-line Italian Magazine for Italian language learners
I am delighted to share my friend Beatrice’s FANTASTIC new project! It is an interactive online Italian language learning magazine called “Allora.” What a great idea for anyone learning Italian! It is a perfect and innovative resource to move your Italian language skills closer to fluency! Who is Beatrice? Well, she is someone you should…
Read More “Allora!” A new on-line Italian Magazine for Italian language learners
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.
