Italian beginners: module 3

Ottavia Castellina is an art historian, photographer and tutor. After gaining a degree in Art History at Turin University she completed an MA in Photography at the London College of Communication. Over the past years she has been teaching Italian, art history and photography both in Italy and in the UK, while her photographic work has been internationally exhibited and published. She currently works as a photography lecturer at Genoa University while organizing workshops and courses in a range of different contexts and institutions.

Anna was drawn to London in her adolescence, by her love of English language and culture. She received a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and Modern Languages Teaching Certificate from Westminster College in 1996 and her Postgraduate diploma in Higher Education from Goldsmith University, in 1999. In 1997, she started teaching Italian at the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martin, before moving to the London School of Economics, in 1999, where she is still working as a teacher and as a coordinator of Italian language. She started teaching adults at the City Lit in 1998, where she began to appreciate working with a wide range of students of various ages and backgrounds. She enjoys the social aspect and human contact of education, always reflected in her approach to teaching. In her classes she encourages interaction among students, which is the foundation of learning a language as she has experienced, whilst learning French a Spanish. Anna also taught Italian at the Courtauld Institute of Art between 2009 and 2019.

Silvana Vistola is a qualified teacher who holds a QTS certificate. She has worked, as a lecturer in Italian, for two major Sixth Form Colleges in London, is friendly and patient and is currently teaching at Westminster University. Silvana has experience in teaching adults at different language levels, from beginners to advanced level courses and literature. She is familiar with classroom management, dealing with mixed ability groups, using the latest teaching materials, setting targets and achieving goals. Silvana is passionate about languages, creative writing, and literature, has worked as a translator and holds an MA in media studies; for this reason, digital tools (such as: videos, online newspapers, social media) are an integral part of her teaching. Silvana’s main priority is to create a friendly and relaxed environment in which students can learn, have fun, and make friends. She believes in fostering a cooperative environment in which learning becomes more enjoyable and more effective.

Ciao! My name is Veronica De Felice and I come from Southern Italy. I was born in Pompei ("not in the ruins", a joke I always make with my students) and I have always been fond of languages. Indeed, I studied languages at secondary school (English, Spanish, French and Latin) and I graduated at the University of Naples, l'Orientale, with a BA (Hon) in Modern Foreign Languages. I moved to London in 2002 and, after three years, I gained a CLTA qualification at Goldsmith University, and a few years later a level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector. In 2006, I started working as an Italian tutor in various colleges and universities, such as Goldsmith College, the University of Arts, Croydon College, University of Wesminster, City University and City Lit since 2010. At the moment, I am also teaching A level italian at LAE Tottenham, and the IB diploma in an international school in central London. I believe that studying and speaking another language expands your personal and communication skills, and makes you see the world from a different perspective. For me, learning a language is about challenging yourself, getting out of your comfort zone and having fun!