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I would love to add you to my list of satisfied students. Before you contact me for a trial lesson, please consider what you expect — and how we will work together.
Perhaps you wish to take a few lessons to prepare for a trip to Italy (A1–A2), or your desire is to become fluent (B1–C2). My teaching approach is the same.
My goal is to speak to you in Italian, as much as possible, limiting English to a last resort. We focus on each lesson’s material, made available to you in advance from my library, until we decide to take a different path. At that point I create custom-designed lessons for you.
Please print the material in two copies. On one copy you may make notes in English — then turn that copy over and work only with the page without English notes.
Read the text out loud. Keep repeating each line until you are comfortable reading it. In Italian we do not use the word “spelling”; we use compitare, and the command compita. When I say: “compita la parola arrivederci!” — you go: ar – ri – ve – der – ci. Repeat syllable by syllable, first slowly, then faster, until you feel comfortable.
It is my job to confirm that you have it right — including the accent on the correct syllable, which is not written: Ar – ri – ve – dér – ci. I also correct diction: open or closed vowels. Arrivedérci is correct; arrivedèrci is not. Perché (closed vowel), cioè (open vowel).
Once you have “digested” the lesson, write a few lines as homework. I review and correct your homework — that is part of your lesson fee.
Eventually you should choose something that interests you to read — a magazine article or a book. Your curiosity will keep us going. From zero Italian (A1) to B1 may take a year; further improvement may take several years more.
My goal is to retain you as a student and keep you interested. I publish my own teaching material because I have always been disappointed with existing textbooks — and I keep republishing improved lessons in response to your feedback.
Local businesses sponsor the back page of many lessons so I can offer materials at no charge. Please support our local businesses, and thank them for sponsoring Parliamo Italiano Kenosha.
Parliamo Italiano? is the title of my publications. You are welcome to share my teaching materials, but MUST leave my information. You can’t take credit for any of my creations.
Full series list: Lessons
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Authentic regional Italian cooking. Gold-level sponsor and student Bruno (Brian) Zarletti’s restaurants.
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LaMacchia Travel and Italy go hand in hand—it's a relationship built on heritage, passion, and more than 95 years of unforgettable travel experiences.
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