Buongiorno! Hello! My name is Giampaolo and I have been an Italian tutor since 2009. I'm 100% committed to my students and focused on their learning goals, using a communicative approach, encouraging the development of Listening, Reading, and Speaking abilities, through practice, but having fun at the same time. I strongly believe that we can learn from our mistakes if we put them in the right perspective, if we are able to smile about them and if we don't let them stop us. Before getting back on the horse. A mistake doesn't define who you are but it can make you aware and it can show you a new direction to take.

My 3 guiding principles:

- Point number one. Personalizing the learning journey is essential.

- Point number 2. The right communication in both directions is key.

- Point number 3. Listening to the students and involving them in the process is crucial.

1) How do I adapt to my students pace, space, unique personality, style of learning and interests?

Beginning with asking the right questions (such as "What do you intend to use this language for?"; "What will you need it for?; "What are your goals?") has often proven to be the best way to start.

These questions have always allowed me to better address the needs and wishes of my students and to design the course around those requests and their unique style of learning. Why take a course if it doesn't suit you like a tailored suit or dress?

2) How do I build the students' confidence in their future skills?

I believe it is very important to pay attention to the students and to build the confidence in them (no matter if they know some Italian or if they are absolute beginners) that they can achieve the goals set together and that they will be able to communicate effectively in the target language, no matter how hard or slow this process may seem when they start learning.

3) How to get this result?

My approach is simple, to proceed step by step, to listen carefully to the students, to start from their needs, to engage them in their learning, to monitor and encourage them along the process, to highlight their progress, to find new spurs, to give creative inputs, to inspire their curiosity and constantly motivate the students, by tapping into their interests.

- A brief self introduction:

I am an experienced Language Trainer and Tutor of Italian as a foreign language with a more than 11 years history of working in the linguistic services industry. Since I can recall it, I have always loved teaching, storytelling and learning by meeting people from other cultures and by sharing experience.

- My skills:

My main skills are Teaching Italian as a Foreign Language, Training, Coaching, Executive and Corporate Training, Course Planning and Development, Intercultural Communication, Distance and E-Learning, Italian Language exams preparation.

- Preparation for language tests:

Since I am also an examiner for the PLIDA Italian language proficiency certification exams, I'm also specialized in preparing the students to get a certification of knowledge of Italian (PLIDA, CILS) for the most diverse purposes: enrolling in a university, finding a job, setting up home in Italy, obtaining the Italian citizenship.

- Why have my students chosen me in the past?

My students chose me to be their Italian tutor for various reasons: settling in a new home, fitting in a new office and acclimate to new colleagues, being able to deal with local authorities, to speak when they enter Italian stores, to apply for official documents, to communicate with the teachers of their children's who are enrolled in Italian schools, or even to find a long lost love, whom they had met when they were young on a transoceanic cruise ship...

- Need help to settle down in Italy?

A special service I did for some of them was to help them settle down in Italy, by assisting them in all stages and with all the matters related to it (for ex. in applying for documents or aiding them to work out relocation and administrative issues).

- Other reasons for studying with me?

Of course many people contacted me simply because they were planning a holiday in Italy or a short stay for tourism, business or study purposes, or just because they wanted to spend some time in Italy to reconnect with their parents' family of origin or because they were curious to know more about Italian culture and history.

- Common ground:

I studied 5 languages and I traveled extensively in Europe (Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Croatia) and in Israel (where I lived for 3 months, working and volunteering), I settled in, studied and worked abroad in 3 different countries.

That was fundamental to learn how to adjust to new environments, languages, habits and to relate to people from different countries and cultures.

- Linguistic challenges and cultural differences:

Thanks to my experience I can definitely understand the challenges you will face in learning a new language, the main aspects you will struggle with, while getting acquainted to a new environment and establishing relationships in the new country you'll be living in.

- My languages:

I am a native Italian speaker and I'm proficient in English and French. I have a limited working proficiency in Spanish. I have some knowledge of Dutch (Flemish), Arabic, Hebrew, Korean too.

- Who are my students?

During my 11 years of experience as a tutor I have taught to more than 200 students from all over the world. People of all backgrounds (business women, undergraduates or graduates, corporate employees and executives of all levels, trainees, long terms expats and their spouses, factory workers, sales managers, engineers, job applicants, elderly couples, single parents, school kids, academics, young researchers, life coaches, casual visitors, food and wine tourists, professional travellers, opera students and singers) of all ages, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious beliefs.

- My network:

I have a large network of former students, I am very proud of. Along these years I have built durable human and professional relationships with most of them. Some have been studying with me for more than 5 years.

- My education:

I studied Latin and Ancient Greek, Italian, History, Art, English at school, I have a Degree in Italian Literature and History that I got at the University of Parma in Italy, I spent an academic semester at the University of York (UK) studying History and French, I got a Certificate as a qualified teacher of Italian to foreigners (CEDILS) issued by the University of Venice and I have a background of study in the European Cultural Film Heritage Preservation field, that led me to work for 2 years in Brussels, Belgium and for 4 years at the Cineteca di Bologna Film Archive, in Italy.

- More about me:

I am an expert on Language training, Italian Literature, Humanities, History, Italian Politics, Intercultural Issues, Art History, Film History and Film Conservation practice.

- My areas of strength:

Conversational Italian, Italian for beginners, Intensive Italian, Business Italian, Travel Italian, General Italian, Italian Literature, Italian History, preparation courses for PLIDA or CILS Italian proficiency exams, Intercultural Communication.

- About my classes and teaching style:

I am a dedicated, reliable, friendly, empathetic and passionate tutor, who likes to build human relationships based on mutual trust, honesty and clear terms people can be comfortable with. I am a trusted professional who loves to create a fun and relaxed setting to work in.

- My availability:

I'm available all week for both individual and small group classes, for regular, intensive, specific or for special needs courses.

- Book a trial lesson with me:

Do you want to discover your potential in Italian, to be learning and entertained at the same time?

So what are you waiting for to book a trial lesson with me?