Getting started

We would like to welcome you to the course, introduce ourselves, and learn more about why you are here.

Who we are

Authors

Carla Bagna

Hi, I’m Director of the Language Centre of the Università per Stranieri di Siena. Expert in language teaching, in particular in Italian as Foreign Language. Involved in different researches on presence, vitality and visibility of Italian around the world, linguistic landscape and language testing.

Marco Cassandro

Hello, I’ve been teaching Italian as a second language for over 20 years. I’m currently working at the Università per Stranieri of Siena. I have also written scientific articles and developed other learning materials and course books.

Sabrina Maffei

Hello, I have been a teacher of Italian as a second language for more than 20 years now. I am still teaching Italian at the Università per Stranieri of Siena. I have also published scientific articles, developed learning materials and course books.

Matteo La Grassa

Hi, I have a PhD in Linguistics and Teaching of the Italian Language to Foreigners. My main research topics are: language learning by senior learners; the teaching of Italian vocabulary to foreign students; the teaching of written Italian to deaf people; the educational use of new technologies. I have written scientific articles and developed learning materials on these topics. I’m currently working at the FAST Centre of Università per Stranieri di Siena, the research institute for Teaching Language with Technological Support.

Luisa Salvati

Hi, I started my career as a teacher of L2 Italian at schools, organizations working for migrants and universities in Italy and above and now I am a teachers trainer in this field. I am a PhD in Linguistics and am currently a research fellow at the Language Centre of the Università per Stranieri in Siena.

Donatella Troncarelli

Hi, I started my career as a lecturer of Italian as a foreign language at the Università per Stranieri di Siena. Afterwards I was the Director of the FAST Centre for some years. Presently I am the President of the post graduation course ELIIAS (E-learning for language teaching) and Chair of the Bachelor degree course “Language and culture for teaching Italian as foreign language and for the school”. I have also planned and developed learning materials and paths.

Andrea Villarini

Hi, I’m a Professor of Modern Language Teaching at the Università per Stranieri di Siena. I am currently Head of the Research Institute for Teaching Language with Technological Support.

Course Assistant

Francesca Gallina

Hi, I have a Post Doc position at the Università per Stranieri di Siena, where I have specialised in linguistics and teaching Italian as a second language.

Other collaborators:

Video Producution Staff

Simone Madioni, Rodolfo Mascelloni, Giovanni Ronchitelli Norberto, Susanna Bruni, Leonardo Moggi, Diego Cadau.

Actors

Marta Manna, Margherita Gravagna, Joshua James Smith.

Technology Consultants

Nello Scarabottolo, Manuela Milani.

English Language Consultants

Kristina Noto, Clare Collins.

Assistants

Elona Marku, Laura Renzoni, Giulia Viaggi, Nicoletta de Cicco.

Why are you here?

Please add to the comments below answering the following question:

• Why are you interested in learning Italian?

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