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
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
And the winner is…
Grazie a tutti che hanno partecipato nel recente Give Away di una mascherina! Thanks to everyone who took part in the recent Mask Give Away! C’è stata una bella partecipazione per il concorso per vincere una mascherine disegnato dalla Studentessa Matta. Grazie a tutti color che hanno partecipato! Secondo me, siete tutti vincitori! There was…
Guest post by Phil Rosen: How Losing my Luggage Helped Me Find My Way in Italy
Recentemente ho letto il nuovo libro di Phil Rosen intitolato: “Everywhere but Home” (disponibile su Amazon) È un resoconto personale delle sue esperienze vivere due anni all’estero a Hong Kong, insegnando e viaggiando nel sud-est asiatico. Ma più di questo, è un bella raccolta di storie di come gli occhi e la mente di Phil…
Read More Guest post by Phil Rosen: How Losing my Luggage Helped Me Find My Way in Italy
Maremma Maiala! How to swear like an Italian (and get away with it)
Quando sono stata nella Maremma di recente mi è stata presentata questa espressione interessante. When I was in the Maremma recently I was introduced to this interesting expression: Maremma Maiala! L’ho vista stampata su una maglietta, una linea originale di abbigliamento, sviluppata da due donne che vivono a Pitigliano. I first saw it on an…
Read More Maremma Maiala! How to swear like an Italian (and get away with it)
I should be traveling to Italy today… but instead…
Questa mattina, invece di stare davanti al mio computer… avrei dovuto sedermi in un aereo diretto in Italia. This morning, instead of sitting in front of my computer… I should be sitting on a plane bound for Italy. Avrei dovuto bere un cappuccino (o bicchiere di prosecco!), godendomi l’intrattenimento in volo mentre avrei dovuto viaggiare…
Read More I should be traveling to Italy today… but instead…
La leggenda di Porsena — il re etrucso (Matta Youtube Video)
Mi piace sempre una leggenda fantastica, piena di misteri e intrighi, e l’anno scorso quando sono andata a Chiusi, i miei amici mi hanno accontenta raccantadomi la storia di Porsena, un re etrusco, che era tanto ricco quanto benevolo. I always love a good legend, filled with mystery and intrigue, and last year when I…
Read More La leggenda di Porsena — il re etrucso (Matta Youtube Video)
It’s all in the past! Grammar Time! Review of Passato Prossimo
È una nuova settimana e vorrei vorrei dare un’occhiata alla grammatica. Ogni settimana parlo con gli studenti attraverso il mio incentivo “Chat Italiano” che offro qui (click Link per sapere di piu`). Recentemente Carol in Inghilterra ha voluto dare un’occhiata al passato prossimo. Quindi ecco una breve spiegazione come to formulare il passato prossimo usando…
Read More It’s all in the past! Grammar Time! Review of Passato Prossimo
AudioBook Give Away. Win a copy of Eternally Artemisia!
Ho appena finite la produzione di tutti e tre romanzi scritti da me, ambientati in Italia. I just wrapped up production of all three of my novels set in Italy! To celebrate I’m giving away an Audiobook of Eternally Artemisia Eternally Artemisia is NOW available on Amazon, Audible, and Apple iBook. The Audio versions of…
Read More AudioBook Give Away. Win a copy of Eternally Artemisia!
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
