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Studentessa Matta

Cultural Anecdotes & Current Affairs

  • amici italiani
  • Amici, Friends
  • Curiosities & Current Affairs
  • Guest Posts & Interviews
  • Italian Culture
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  • fiat-500-italian-car-new-ad-branding-film-spots-called-immigrants

    Fiat 500: The small car making a big splash with ad campaigns!

  • Charlene’s Venetian Adventure: Learning Italian at the Venice Italian School

    Charlene’s Venetian Adventure: Learning Italian at the Venice Italian School

  • Cyberitalian — Founder Maura Garau Explains her Learning Philosophy

    Cyberitalian — Founder Maura Garau Explains her Learning Philosophy

  • Emigrare o resistere? Love Italy or leave it.

    Emigrare o resistere? Love Italy or leave it.

  • Primo giorno di maggio: Find Me in My Garden

    Primo giorno di maggio: Find Me in My Garden

  • Mia sorella italiana Rossella: A Friendship Across Languages

    Mia sorella italiana Rossella: A Friendship Across Languages

  • Vi presento la mia nuova cucciola – We have a new beagle puppy!

    Vi presento la mia nuova cucciola – We have a new beagle puppy!

  • Naufragio-Giglio-Costa-Concordia-sinks-off-Italian-Coast

    Naufragio al Giglio: A Tragedy off the Italian Coast

  • arRiva la Befana Subacquea! The Epiphany Witch Makes a Splashy Entrance in Garda!

    arRiva la Befana Subacquea! The Epiphany Witch Makes a Splashy Entrance in Garda!

  • Nutella_bicchieri

    Quando il vasetto di Nutella è vuoto

  • Holiday Greetings from la Matta and family: Un saluto speciale per le feste!

    Holiday Greetings from la Matta and family: Un saluto speciale per le feste!

  • Italian Language Homestay in Borgomanero / Lake Region with Lucia

    Italian Language Homestay in Borgomanero / Lake Region with Lucia

  • Dove Appendo il Cappello: My Home Sweet Home

    Dove Appendo il Cappello: My Home Sweet Home

  • The Friendships I’ve Made in Italy – The True Joy of Learning Italian

    The Friendships I’ve Made in Italy – The True Joy of Learning Italian

  • Truffle Tales in Gubbio: Unlocking Doors with Italian

    Truffle Tales in Gubbio: Unlocking Doors with Italian

  • 2011 Cinque Terre in Tempesta: Un Paradiso Trasformato in Inferno

    2011 Cinque Terre in Tempesta: Un Paradiso Trasformato in Inferno

  • Mare-Puglia-Dolce-far-niente-sweet-life-beach-Italy

    Al Mare in Puglia – Dolce Far Niente: Sweetness of Doing Nothing

  • Dianne Hales: Celebrating Italian Language Receives Special Recognition from Italy!

    Dianne Hales: Celebrating Italian Language Receives Special Recognition from Italy!

  • 2011 Studentessa Matta: Ranked 50th Among the Top 100 Language Learning Blogs!

    2011 Studentessa Matta: Ranked 50th Among the Top 100 Language Learning Blogs!

  • Due compleanni, una famiglia: Celebrating with Our AFS Italian Exchange Student

    Due compleanni, una famiglia: Celebrating with Our AFS Italian Exchange Student

  • La Lettera di John Sykes del 1732 – Sailing back in time with my ancestor

    La Lettera di John Sykes del 1732 – Sailing back in time with my ancestor

  • amicizie-italia

    Belle amicizie che ho trovato in Italia — Making friends everywhere I go!

  • jovanotti-concert-san-francisco-stern-grove-ombelico-mondo

    Jovanotti in concert a San Francisco: Ombelico del mondo Tour!

  • Dillo con 24.000 Baci! Say It with 24,000 Kisses!

    Dillo con 24.000 Baci! Say It with 24,000 Kisses!

  • Buona festa della mamma! Thanks mom, for all the gifts you gave me

    Buona festa della mamma! Thanks mom, for all the gifts you gave me

  • From Virtual Connection to Kindred Spirits: Meeting Dianne Hales

    From Virtual Connection to Kindred Spirits: Meeting Dianne Hales

  • Mulino Bianco Magic: The Sweet Dream of Italy’s Perfect Family

    Mulino Bianco Magic: The Sweet Dream of Italy’s Perfect Family

  • A Spasso con la Moka: Bialetti’s Iconic Coffee Pot!

    A Spasso con la Moka: Bialetti’s Iconic Coffee Pot!

  • Parliamo d’italiano. Let’s talk about Italian. My very first Matta blog post.

    Parliamo d’italiano. Let’s talk about Italian. My very first Matta blog post.

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Dal profumo di caffè al panico al bancone: sopravv Dal profumo di caffè al panico al bancone: sopravvivere alla colazione italiana!

From scent of coffee to panic at the counter: how to survive ordering Italian breakfast like a pro!

Colazione all’italiana! Ordering breakfast at the bar like a local
How to Order Breakfast Like an Italian: Coffee & Pastries at the Bar

Sei in Italia. È presto.
#CoffeeAndCornetto #FareColazione #ItalianBarEtiquette #ItalianBreakfastVibes #LearnItalianWithMatta #studentessamatta
🇮🇹 Un consiglio dalla Matta 🇮🇹 Matta Italian Langu 🇮🇹 Un consiglio dalla Matta 🇮🇹
Matta Italian Language Tip!

☕ Fare una bella figura al bar

Making a Good Impression at an Italian Coffee Bar

Want to order your espresso like a local? 🇮🇹

In my newest post on StudentessaMatta.com (for A1 to B1 Italian learners), you’ll learn the Italian you need to confidently order coffee al bar.

Here’s a little cultural tip to help you fare una bella figura (make a good impression):

💧 If your espresso comes with a small glass of still or sparkling water, many Italians take a sip before drinking their coffee. The water cleanses the palate so you can better appreciate the aroma and flavor of the espresso.

You may have heard that drinking the water after your espresso insults the barista. It’s a fun story... but mostly café folklore. Many Italians drink the water afterward simply because they’re thirsty or want to refresh their palate before heading back to work. Most baristas won’t think twice about it.

The real secret to fare una bella figura isn’t memorizing every unwritten rule. It’s appreciating the culture, being courteous, and speaking even a little Italian with confidence. 

One espresso.
One new word.
 One small conversation.

That’s how fluency grows.

👉 Read the full article on StudentessaMatta.com and join me in Italy for an immersive Italian language adventure where you’ll practice your Italian one espresso at a time!
Sono a Vancouver, in Canada, per festeggiare il 4° Sono a Vancouver, in Canada, per festeggiare il 4° compleanno di Ty e il 2° compleanno di Lu! 🎉🎂 Tanti auguri a questi due adorabili cuccioli, che riempiono ogni giornata di sorrisi, energia e tanta gioia! ❤️🎈
A Quick Shot of Italian for Your Daily Routine Un A Quick Shot of Italian for Your Daily Routine

Una rapida dose di italiano per la tua routine quotidiana — for A1-B1 Learners

Un caffè al bar
A Coffee at the Café

Uno dei modi più piacevoli per praticare l'italiano è entrare in un bar. Non serve una conversazione lunga. Bastano poche parole: un saluto, un ordine e un sorriso.
#CoffeeinItalian #EverydayItalian #Italiangrammar #italianlanguage #Italianvocabulary #LearnItalian #MattaEspresso #SpeakItalian #StudentessaMatta
One of the greatest joys of writing novels set in One of the greatest joys of writing novels set in Italy is hearing from readers who experience the places I’ve written about firsthand. 

This is Lauretta, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Arezzo this June. Originally from San Francisco, she’s spending the summer in beautiful Arezzo studying Italian at Cultura Italiana Arezzo, my wonderful partner language school.

Lauretta speaks Italian beautifully and recently sent me this message:

“Ciao Melissa, sono Lauretta d’Arezzo. Sto leggendo il tuo libro, Il risveglio di Isabella, e mi piace moltissimo! Mi aiuta ad ampliare il mio vocabolario. Penso che i romanzi che parlino dei fatti veri della storia siano molto interessanti. Grazie per aver scritto Il Risveglio di Isabella.”

Grazie, Lauretta! ❤️ Sono davvero felice che il romanzo ti stia piacendo.

Il risveglio di Isabella is set against the backdrop of Arezzo, Tuscany, and follows an American art historian who uncovers a centuries old mystery linking a missing Renaissance masterpiece, the tragic life of Isabella de’ Medici, and a young woman living in wartime Italy. Blending art, history, romance, and suspense, the novel is a journey through Tuscany’s rich past that inspires one woman to rediscover her own creativity and purpose.

Available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle ebook, and Audible audiobook.
Happy reading... or as we say in Italy, buona lettura! 🇮🇹❤️

#StudentessaMatta #IlRisvegliodiIsabella #WakingIsabella #ItalianLanguage #Arezzo
🇮🇹 Un consiglio dalla Matta 🇮🇹 Matta Italian Langu 🇮🇹 Un consiglio dalla Matta 🇮🇹
Matta Italian Language Tip!

When it comes to comparing things in Italian! 

(Read the latest blog post on the http://StudentessaMatta.com )

Comparing things is something we do every day. We compare prices, restaurants, cities, wines, calories… and even grammar rules! In Italian, you’ll hear three different verbs for making comparisons: confrontare, paragonare, and comparare. They may all translate as to compare, but each has its own nuance. And watch out for one particularly sneaky false friend: confrontare.

Confrontare = to compare two or more things side by side to identify their similarities and differences. This is the verb Italians use most often in everyday conversation when comparing prices, cities, restaurants, books, wines, or just about anything else.

Paragonare = to compare by drawing a likeness or placing one thing on the same level as another. It often has a more figurative, descriptive, or literary feel.

Comparare = also means to compare, but it’s much less common in spoken Italian. You’ll mainly encounter it in formal, legal, bureaucratic, or technical language.

And most importantly... Confrontare ≠ to confront

In Italian, confrontare has nothing to do with 
challenging or confronting someone.

You confrontare two wines.
You don’t confront the waiter!

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  • Blog
    • Italian Language Learning, Tips, Motivation
    • Art & Artists
    • Cultural Anecdotes & Current Affairs
    • Food & Wine
    • History, Holidays, Festivals
    • Literature, Music, Film
    • Traveling, Cities, Excursions
    • Matta Posts with Quizlet Vocabulary Flashcards
    • Sofia la piccola Matta teaches beginner Italian to children
    • Blog Signup
  • About
    • Get to know Melissa
    • What people are saying…
    • Matta Guest Posts
    • Other sites by Melissa
      • Melissa Muldoon Author Site
      • Art of Loving Italy Blog
      • Pinterest Art of Loving Italy
      • Matta Youtube Channel
      • Matta Music Spotify Playlist
      • Matta Podcast
    • News, Awards
    • Studentessa Matta Theme Song
    • Why are you learning Italian? Share Your Story
  • Learn with Melissa
    • Online Lessons + Conversation
    • Learn in Italy with Melissa
    • Join the Matta Italian Book Club — Private & Group Reading Experiences
    • Matta Quizlet Interactive Flashcards
      • Book Club Vocabulary: Io Non Ho Paura
      • Book Club Vocabulary: Guida Astrologica
      • 2022 Italian Words of Week
      • 2021 Italian Words of Week
  • Learn in Italy
    • Matta Travel Programs – Study in Italy with Melissa
      • 2027 June Matta Arezzo Italian Program
      • 2026 September Matta Tuscan Villa Language Program
      • 2026 September Matta & ItalianME Florence Language Program
      • 2026 Arezzo Jousting Festival September Weekend Program
      • Matta Travel Philosophy
    • Previous Matta Language Programs Italy
    • Italian Language Homestay Vacations
    • Walk in Italy Day Experience / Italian Lesson in Italy
  • BookClub
    • About BookClub
    • Commissario Ricciardi: Il posto di ognuno
    • Commissario Ricciardi: Condanna del sangue
    • Commissario Ricciardi:Il senso del dolore
    • Il Treno dei Bambini
    • La Libreria dei Gatti Neri
    • Brodetto galeotto
    • Io non ho paura
    • Quattro metà
    • Prima regola non innamorarsi
    • Il risveglio di Isabella
    • Guida astrologica per cuori infranti
    • Book Club Resource Hub
  • Novels
    • Melissa Muldoon Author Website
    • Amazon Author Page
      • Buy Dreaming Sophia
      • Buy Waking Isabella
      • Buy Il Risveglio di Isabella
      • Buy Eternally Artemisia
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