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
Win the “Dreaming Sophia “Audiobook
It’s time for a NEW Audiobook GiveAway! Dream with Sophia! Cari lettori – Dear readers, Nella mia nuova registrazione di “Dreaming Sophia — because dreaming is an art” letta dalla talentuosa attrice Amy Gordon, tim imbarcherai in un viaggio in Italia per scoprire di più sulla sua musica, storia, cultura, arte e cinema. Vivrai l’Italia…
Vocabolario: Arrampicarsi sugli specchi, scombussolare— che significano??
L’altro giorno stavo guardando le repliche di “Un Posto al Sole.” Si tratta di una telenovela con l’attrice Nina Soldan che interpreta il ruolo della famigerata ricca diva Marina Giordano. Marina (Soldano) è una donna perfida e senza scrupoli. Moglie di Rocco, s’innamora di Roberto Ferri, con il quale ha da anni una relazione complicata.…
Read More Vocabolario: Arrampicarsi sugli specchi, scombussolare— che significano??
Beginning with Becca! Learning to make sounds in Italian.
Ciao a tutti! ho una nuova studentessa che vuole imparare italiano. Si chiama Becca e per lei ho organizzato la sua prima lezione: i suoni italiani. È stato un successo… quindi ho pensato che sarebbe utile anche per alcuni di voi. Ciao a tutti! I have a new student who is interested in learning Italian.…
Read More Beginning with Becca! Learning to make sounds in Italian.
Playing around in Italiano—Giochi, Barzellette, Scherzi
To download and listen to the podcast click this link (Right-click and choose “Save as…” to download to your device.) Ciao a tutti! Sono Melissa! Bentornati sul mio canale! Sono ritornata con un nuovo video! Spero che tutto vada bene con tutti voi! Sono molto contenta perché recentemente ho avuto l’occasione di incontrare…
Read More Playing around in Italiano—Giochi, Barzellette, Scherzi
Il linguaggio dei gesti
Parlare italiano è una cosa. Vivere la lingua italiana è un’altra! Speaking Italian is one thing. Living the Italian language is another! Quando comunicate in italiano, comunicate non solo con le parole ma spesso con il vostro corpo. Ci sono alcuni gesti che distinguono davvero un madrelingua da una persona che sta imparando la lingua.…
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…
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
