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! Conversation Practice.
NEW: One-on-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring
Chat with me in Italian OR
Sign up for One-On-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring Session
I’ve heard it so many times before, “I can read and understand Italian, but when I speak, I get tongue-tied!” Sound familiar? With Chat Italiano, you can regularly practice Italian with me, supplementing online or evening language classes.
Looking for a language coach to practice your Italian skills? Do you need help understanding Italian grammar? Now you can schedule a One-on-One Italian Coaching/Tutoring session to receive personalized help and get answers to language questions.
Chat or Tutoring Session: 30 min / $25
Andiamo in Italia
Travel with me to Learn in Italy
The 2022 Matta Andiamo in Italia! Italian Language programs are now available to sign up! Next year THREE programs are available: Arezzo (June 12-24), Lucca (Aug 25-Sept 3), Ascoli (Sept 11-23).
Join Melissa and her Italian School Partners in Italy to learn Italian. Perfect for couples or individuals. Open to all language levels. 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 like-minded individuals and make memories and friends to last a lifetime. Andiamo in Italia!
Price (without airfare): $4,150
At Home in Italy
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 Variable based on Season, Location, Teacher. Price range per week: $1000 to $1,500
Matta Youtube & Podcast
Listen and follow along with the Italian audio with transcripts found on the Matta blog.
Read the award winning Dual Language Italian Blog
The Matta Blog features articles that focus on Italian culture & language learning tips.
Travel to Italy in the pages of Melissa’s novels set in Florence, Arezzo, Montepulciano & Sicilia
It’s a fun way to immerse in Italian culture and learn the language too! Waking Isabella has been translated into Italian. All books are available on Amazon in Print, ebook, and Audiobook.
Price: 16.99
Join the “Matta” Leggiamo Italian Language Book Club!
What a NOVEL idea! Che idea fantastica! Practice your reading comprehension, auditory listening skills, and conversation abilities. The goal of the Matta Book Club is to have fun, laugh, and learn together!
Two Book Club Enrollment Options:
Option 1: Group Book Club Up to 5 People
Eight Week Course, 1-hour Weekly Meetings
Price $200
Option 2: One-on-One Individual Book Club
Eight Week Course, 1-hour Weekly Meetings
Price $400
Experience Italy the Matta Way!
The Matta Andiamo In Italia! Italian Language Immersion Programs
Arezzo Spring: June 12 – 24, 2022
Lucca Fall: Aug 25 – Sept 3, 2022
Arezzo Fall: Giostra/Joust Weekend
Sept 3 – 5, 2022
Ascoli Fall: Sept 11 – 23, 2022
Sign up now! Spots are limited.
Latest from the Blog – Dive into Italy and Italian
From the Multi-Award Winning Blog about Culture & Italian Language
Zoe Balancing a Teapot on her Head – what does she have to do with language learning?
Zoe che tiene in equilibrio una teiera sulla testa: che diavola fa con l’apprendimento della lingua? La foto di “Zoe che tiene in equilibrio una teiera sulla testa,” catturato da Rodney Smith, un fotografo surrealista totalmente divertente, dallo spirito libero, stravagante… e bene, in una parola, così me! Se ci fosse un’immagine che incarnasse la…
Read More Zoe Balancing a Teapot on her Head – what does she have to do with language learning?
4 Metà (Four to Dinner): Netflix Italian Film, 2022 
In una nuova commedia romantica, “4 Metà il regista Alessio Maria Federici affronta la questione complessa e scottante “esiste davvero l’anima gemella?” In a new romantic Netflix comedy, “4 Metà,” (Four to Dinner) director Alessio Maria Federici tackles the complex and burning question “do soul mates exist?” La premessa: Una coppia felicemente sposata Luca (Flavio…
Read More 4 Metà (Four to Dinner): Netflix Italian Film, 2022 
Best Italian Classes with Irene: Guest Post
Sono lieta di presentarvi Irene di Best Italian Classes.com. Irene viene dall’Umbria e ha creato un sito che offre corsi dedicati agli studenti avanzati. Penso che ci sia una mancaza di corsi avanzati, quindi quando Irene mi ha contattato l’altro giorno, dicendomi dei suoi corsi, l’ho invitata a scrivere un guest post, per dire ai…
Dare del Lei o dare del tu? Addressing someone formally and informally in Italian. How to do it and when to know the difference!
View Post La principale differenza tra discorso formale e informale in italiano: The main difference between formal and informal speech in Italian: Il tono di voce uilizzato The tone of voice that is used Il pronome utilizzato The pronoun that is used Formal Tone Il tono di voce usato nella forma formale italiano è generalmente…
Matta Italian Words and Expressions — aprile 2022
“Matta” parole e espressioni aprile 2022 Practice Matta Parole on Quizlet with flashcards! New Italian Words and Expressions to Learn! Durante il mese scorso 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…
Animals in Italy: Do they “speak” and understand Italian?
Vai! Pensaci un po’!(Ti do un minuto) Naturalmente, hanno il loro dialetto italiano! Naturally, they have their own dialect! Se hai intenzione di parlare al tuo animale domestico o animale da fattoria in italiano, naturalmente, risponderà alle parole e intonazioni della lingua, proprio come risponderebbe ai tuoi toni e parole in qualsiasi lingua era abituato…
Read More Animals in Italy: Do they “speak” and understand Italian?
Andiamo a Ascoli Piceno! Youtube Video
https://youtu.be/88eQKLH4rUo Ciao a tutti! Sono Melissa, la studentessa matta. Benvenuti al Matta Youtube canale! Sono contenta che voi siate qui con me oggi. Il mio obiettivo è di aiutarvi ad apprendere la lingua italiana meglio! I’m glad you’re here with me today. My goal is to help you learn Italian better! Per facilitare gli studi…
Italiano con Amore : Un Podcast di Eleonora Silanus da non mancare!
Ultimamente sto ascoltando diversi podcast in Italiano su Spotify. Sono stata particolarmente felice di trovarne uno prodotto da Eleonora Silanus intitolato: “Italiano con Amore.” Lately, I’ve been listening to several interesting Italian podcasts on Spotify. I was especially delighted to find one produced by Eleonora Silanus called: “Italiano con Amore.” Se ti interessa migliorare le…
Read More Italiano con Amore : Un Podcast di Eleonora Silanus da non mancare!
Paradiso vs. Inferno. Italian expressions that take us from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven
Dio santo! Al diavolo! Espressioni italiane che ci portano dalle profondità dell’inferno alle altezze del cielo. Gli italiani hanno una moltitudine di modi di dire e barzellette che coinvolgono Dio e il Diavolo che usano per esprimersi in modi santi. Italians have a multitude of idioms and wisecracks that involve God and the Devil they…
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 did we have 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.
