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 Lucca in 2020!
You are invited to come for 10 days of Italian study (beginners to advance students welcome) and discovering all that Lucca has to offer. We will also enjoy excursions to Villa Reale, Volterra and Bolgheri.
Latest from the Blog – Dive into Italy and Italian
From the Multi-Award Winning Blog about Culture & Italian Language
Comparativo. How to make comparisons of equality in Italian using “tanto quanto” and “così come”
In un post precedente, ho parlato di come formare confronti di disuguaglianza usando le costruzioni: “più di” e “più + che.” In a previous post, I discussed how to form comparisons of inequality using the constructions: “più di” and “più + che.” Read post on Comparisons of Inequality Now let’s focus on how to use…
Comparativo in Italiano. How to make unequal comparisons in Italian using “più di” and “più che”
I confronti possono essere positivi o negativi. Comparisons can be a good thing or a bad thing. Secondo la teoria del paragonare sociale, il primo scopo di fare un confronto è una questione di sopravvivenza. Confrontiamo le nostre capacità con altre persone e valutiamo varie caratteristiche delle cose per guidare le decisioni che prendiamo per…
Spotify Italian Music Playlists
Ottieni Spotify e ottieni la tua playlist quotidiana di musica! Get Spotify and get your daily playlist of music! Chi deve girare I dischi o sintonizzarsi su una stazione radio quando ora puoi accedere a tutti I tuoi brani preferiti su Spotify? Who needs to spin records or tune into a radio station when you…
Artemisia Gentileschi – 16th century artist who painted her way to success against great odds
Fin dal primo giorno dopo essere presentata ad Artemisia in un’aula buia al università, sono stata affascinata e incuriosita dalla storia dell’artista del XVIº secolo. From the first day I was introduced to Artemisia in a darkened lecture hall in college, I have been fascinated and intrigued by the seventeenth-century artist’s story. Artemisia fu un’artista…
Do you know what a “Cicerone” is?
Fatto divertente da condividere al tuo prossimo cocktail party! Fun fact to share at your next cocktail party! Sai cos’è un “Cicerone” e da dove deriva la parola? Do you know what a “Cicerone” is and where the word is derived? La parola Cicerone nel dizionario italiano significa “guida.” Ad esempio, puoi essere una guida…
Oh, Mio Dio! Jude Law as the Young Pope!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPjW75fIbUo Dopo aver suonato la colonna sonora di cui sopra per The Young Pope… Non pensate che sia fantastico!? Devo dirvi che sono molto incuriosita dalla serie televisiva su HBO del regista italiano Paolo Sorrentino. Lo spettacolo ha tutto — intrighi, arte, costumi favolosi, personaggi ben definiti, musica — persino un canguro. Si può quasi…
Francesco Renga expresses love for his parents in the song: Aspetto che torni
In una commovente canzone intitolata “Aspetto che torni”, che compare nell’album “L’altra metà,” Francesco Renga rivela il dolore e il vasto vuoto che ha sentito personalmente perdere I suoi genitori. Sua madre, con la quale aveva un legame speciale, morì all’età di 52 anni quando era ancora un ragazzo. Fu lei a dargli il “dono…
Read More Francesco Renga expresses love for his parents in the song: Aspetto che torni
Is your Italian vocabulary limited? 7 TIPS to jumpstart your Italian language motors
Di recente ho condotto un sondaggio nel gruppo di conversazione sulla pagina di Studentessa Matta su Facebook e ho chiesto alle persone che partecipano lì, il problema più difficile affrontando l’apprendimento della lingua. Recently I conducted a survey in the Studentessa Matta Conversation Group on Facebook and asked people what they were struggling with most…
Read More Is your Italian vocabulary limited? 7 TIPS to jumpstart your Italian language motors
Do your Italian language skills frustrate you?
Where are you on your Italian language journey? Do you wish you could improve your command of the Italian language? Seite frustrate perché il vostro vocabolario non è così ampio come vorreste? State lottando con fastidiosi tempi grammaticali e vorreste poter fare conversazione con un italiano che intontrate in Italia? Siete arrabbiati con voi stessi…
What They’re Saying
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
