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. This September I’m taking you to Lucca! (September 17-26, 2021). 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: $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
Matta Youtube & Podcast
Listen and follow along the Italian conversations with transcripts found on the Studentessa Matta blog.
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
The Matta Blog features over 10 years of articles that focus on Italian culture & language learning tips. Read articles in Italian & English.
Satisfy your passion for the Italian language and culture while practicing your Italian language skills. Every week you will always find something new on the blog!
Experience Italy the Matta Way!
Andiamo In Italia!
I’m going back to Lucca September, 17-26, 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
Sono Tornata in Italia! I’ve returned to Italy!
Sono Tornata in Italia! I’ve returned to Italy! Eccomi qui ad Arezzo a Cultura Italiana… quanto ho desiderato questo momento!!! I’m here in Arezzo at the school Cultura Italiana… how I’ve longed for this moment!!! È bello essere di nuovo in Italia, ad Arezzo, in Piazza Grande… e, soprattutto, alla scuola di lingua Cultura Italiana…
Hallelujah! I’m finally on my way to Italy!
Hallelujah! Finalmente parto per l’Italia! Sono di nuovo in cielo! Dopo due anni bloccata a casa negli stati uniti a causa della pandemia mondiale, sto tornando in Italia. Sono trascorsi due anni dall’ultima volta che sono stata in Italia e tre Matta programmi sono stati rimandati a causa del virus, quindi, sì! S`ono piuttosto entusiasta…
Parole, Parole, Parole: Vocabolario di agosto
Le parole e le espressioni di agosto August Words and Expressions to Ponder Durante il mese di agosto, 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 sentito nei film che ho trovato…
Announcing the 2022 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Program—Let’s get together and return to Italy next June!
Announcing the 2022 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Program. Now accepting reservations. Language, Culture & Jousting… and so much more! Price: $4,150 ENROLL IN THE AREZZO LANGUAGE PROGRAM 2022 NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR 2022 Sunday, June 12 – Friday, June 24, 202213 Days / 12 Nights / 36 Hours Language Classes / 9 Dinners /…
Get your daily dose of Italian through podcasts. See Italy through the eyes of Italians located in every corner of Italy!
Prendi la tua dose quotidiana di podcast italiani e vedi l’Italia attraverso gli occhi degli italiani che si trovano in ogni angolo d’Italia! Get your daily dose of Italian through podcasts and see Italy through the eyes of local Italians from every corner of Italy! Quest’estate ho ricevuto la mia dose quotidiana di italiano guardando…
Guest Post by Eleonora: Ferrara, the Emilian city “in the eye of the storm”
Ferrara, la città emiliana “nell’occhio del ciclone” Ferrara, the Emilian city “in the eye of the storm” Oggi sono lieta di presentare un guest post di Eleonora, una delle insegnanti di Homestay con cui collaboro, che vive in Emilia-Romagna. Il Homestay di Eleonora a Ferrara è un’opportunità per vivere in una parte d’Italia nord, lungo…
Read More Guest Post by Eleonora: Ferrara, the Emilian city “in the eye of the storm”
Small Italian words that express volumes
Non ne posso più! Dai! Non arrenderti! Te la caverai bene. Cosa combini con tutte quelle piccole frasi italiane intraducibili? What’s up with all those small untranslatable Italian phrases? A volte ti senti confuso da quelle paroline italiane impacchettate insieme in frasi difficili da capire? Che cosa significano: “Cavarsela, Te l’hai, C’è lo, Me ne…
Bruce Katz: an artist who can make art out of a peanut butter sandwich!
Bruce Katz: un artista cheriesce a fare arte da unpanino al burro di arachidi! Bruce Katz: an artist who can make art out of a peanut butter sandwich! Bruce è un mio amico che vive a San Francisco dove vivevo io. Dal momento in cui ho visto i suoi dipinti sono diventata una tifosa, diciamo.…
Read More Bruce Katz: an artist who can make art out of a peanut butter sandwich!
Guest post by Laura & Antonella, directors of “Love Italian Program” in Bologna.
Love Italian? Then you will love, love, love “Love Italian Program!” Antonella e Laura, le vostre insegnanti di italiano a Bologna vi presentano 3 amiche innamorate di Bologna: Lorenza, Margherita e Silvia Antonella & Laura, your Italian teachers in Bologna present three friends who are in LOVE with Bologna: Lorenza, Margherita, and Silvia What we…
Read More Guest post by Laura & Antonella, directors of “Love Italian Program” in Bologna.
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.
