The Italian Spirit Tutoring
When people are learning a new language, they focus on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Those are important, but native speakers express themselves in ways that are hard to fit into a simple set of rules but are the key to natural-sounding conversation. They use little conversational fillers, reaction words, and spontaneous expressions that give a […]
In one of my recent lessons, I was working with a student on traditional Italian food and ancient cooking methods. While I introduced her to porceddu sardo, she told me about the New England clam bake. That unexpected connection inspired this article — a cultural parallel between two distant populations, united by the same ancestral […]
In Italy almost all tables are set with a bowl of Parmigiano Reggiano to sprinkle or a block to grate over the food. It is a fine cheese, loved all over the world. I became curious and wanted to know when Parmigiano Reggiano was born and why it is so prized. Parmigiano Reggiano was born […]
I want to take you on a small journey through something as quintessentially Italian as pasta or opera: the way we communicate. In Italy, words are only the beginning. There are two other Italian languages that don’t involve words at all. One is the mix of gestures and expressions often thought of as “typically Italian” […]
I love fashion—especially the kind that celebrates freedom of movement, like the work of Yohji Yamamoto, the Japanese designer known for not creating clothes “to please men,” and Coco Chanel, who liberated women from the rigidity of corsets, bulky dresses, and excessive decoration. Therefore, as an independent lady, I chose independent fashion as an introduction […]
When people speak about the Italian Renaissance, they speak about greatness. They speak about Leonardo, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Alberti. They speak about painting, architecture, poetry, music, and thought. It was an age of change and creation, a rebirth of classical arts, science, and engineering. But this raises a question: if the Renaissance was a rebirth, where […]
One of my students is from Buffalo, NY. When she told me the fascinating story of Garden Walk Buffalo, I thought it would be interesting to compare that tradition with the similar-but-different garden festivals of Italy. Garden Walk Buffalo is the largest free garden tour in the United States. Hundreds of private homeowners open their […]
Today we’re talking about a somewhat different cartoon: it makes you laugh and, as always, there is time for reflection within the laughter. These cartoons were part of my adolescence and remain timely, sadly because war remains current. Sturmtruppen is a famous Italian comic series created by Bonvi (the pen name of Franco Bonvicini, born […]
The History of the Officina Profumo‑Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella We are in Florence, just a few steps from the train station and the famous Dominican basilica. Here stands the Officina Profumo‑Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, considered the oldest pharmacy in Italy and one of the oldest in the world still in operation. Its history […]
March 8 is an important date in the global struggle for women’s rights. In many countries around the world, this day is celebrated as International Women’s Day, which in Italy is commonly known simply as Festa della Donna. It is a meaningful occasion dedicated to reflecting—both locally and globally—on the condition of women, on the […]