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.
1-hour Chat or Tutoring Session: $50
Package of 5 one-hour Tutoring Sessions: $225
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): $4,300-$4,500
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 $250
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 2023: June 11-23
Lucca 2023: Aug 24 – Sept 2
Arezzo Fall 2023 Giostra/Joust Weekend
Sept 2 – 4
Montepulciano 2023: Sept 10 – 23, 2023
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
A response from the author to Artemisia Gentileschi.
La risposta dell’autore ad Artemisia e ai lettori. Article originally published in the Women Writers Forum Books by Women Ti ringrazio di cuore, Artemisia, per essere un esempio per tutte le donne e l’ispirazione per il mio romanzo. Dopo aver studiato la tua storia e essersi innamorati della tua arte, sento che le nostre strade…
Read More A response from the author to Artemisia Gentileschi.
A letter from Artemisia Gentileschi to the author.
Una lettera di Artemisia Gentileschi scritta all’autore. Article originally published in the Women Writers Forum Books by Women Volevo ringraziarti per il romanzo che hai pubblicato su di me. Mentre lo scrivevi, sono sicura che hai sentito la mia presenza al tuo fianco. Ero sempre lì per guardarti le spalle, per sussurrarti le cose alle…
Read More A letter from Artemisia Gentileschi to the author.
Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock Oggi parlo di modi di dire vivaci che praticamente saltano su e giù! Queste espressioni che coinvolgono rospi e rane sicuramente mettono una molla nel vostro passo e ti fanno balzare in avanti. Today I’m talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and…
Alessandra, Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable dish
Image Credit: Adobe Stock Alessandra, insegnante di Homestay a Livorno, condivide la ricetta per un homestay perfetto… e una ricetta per uno spaghettone delizioso! Conosci meglio Alessandra da Livorno, una insegnante che adesso offre Italian Language Homestay Vacations. Lei anche condivide una ricetta per un bello spaghettone fatto con carciofi e acciughe. Get to know Alessandra…
Ce l’abbiamo fatta Giovà… dopo 30 anni
Image Credit: Gazzetta di Parma Ce l’abbiamo fatta Giovà… dopo 30 anni ll capo mafioso arrestato dopo trent’anni in fuga Mafia Boss Arrested After Eluding Capture for 30 Years Matteo Messina Denaro, l’ultimo mafioso italiano legato ad un periodo selvaggio in cui la “mano nera” della Sicilia dichiarò guerra allo Stato italiano, fu arrestato in…
Gina Lollobrigida — an artist in every sense of the word
Gina Lollobrigida una vera artista in ogni senso della parola Gina Lollobrigida, lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. Gina Lollobrigida, the Italian star of the cinema, has died. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. Più ricordata come una modella e attrice – una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente,…
Read More Gina Lollobrigida — an artist in every sense of the word
Visiting Gardone and Villa Vittoriale home of Gabriele D’Annunzio: Podcast
Photo Credit: Studentessa Matta (Right-click and choose “Save as…” to download to your device.) Oggi voglio presentarvi il mio piccolo amico Davide. Davide ha appena compiuto undici anni e inizierà la scuola media a Bardolino, sulle rive del Lago di Garda questo autunno. È solo un piccolo ragazzo, ma ha molta creatività e immaginazione! Recentemente…
Read More Visiting Gardone and Villa Vittoriale home of Gabriele D’Annunzio: Podcast
Announcing the 2023 Spring Book Club Selection! “Io non ho paura” di Niccolò Ammaniti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HyL6QgvHtU&ab_channel=ItalianwithMelissalaStudentessaMatta Vuoi migliorare il tuo italianoleggere libri e chiacchierare in italiano? Want to improve your Italian by reading books & conversing in Italian? Sign up for the 2023 Spring “Matta” Leggiamo Italian Language Book Club What a NOVEL idea!! Che idea fantastica! Beginning the week of March 6th, 2023 we will be reading & discussing:…
Read More Announcing the 2023 Spring Book Club Selection! “Io non ho paura” di Niccolò Ammaniti
La Befana is about to arrive! Sweets, gifts, and clean houses for everyone!
Photo Credit: Studentess Matta, Adobe Stock È ‘quasi l’epifania, e la bellissima brutta Befana è in arrivo. Conosciuta come la “strega buona del Natale,” la Befana è il personaggio magico che porta regali ai buoini ragazzi il seig gennaio per la festa della Epifania. Ogni anno la notte prima lei sale sulla scopa e porta…
Read More La Befana is about to arrive! Sweets, gifts, and clean houses for everyone!
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.
