29/10/2025
“Roman Holiday" and the Italian language
"Roman Holiday" is the title of a marvellous old American film from 1953, in which Gregory Peck takes Audrey Hepburn around Rome on a Vespa. Much has changed since then, but Vespa motor scooters are still an Italian style icon, and Rome is just as exciting as ever to explore. A homestay is therefore a “must”, whether you've come to Rome for the first time or you've been here before and want to find out more about the Eternal City.
My closest friends and my students know me as Lina, although my real name is Carmela. I have been teaching Italian to foreign students since 2009, in my home but with all the necessary teaching certifications. With my help you will increase your Italian vocabulary and fluency, while learning correct grammar, syntax and idiomatic expressions, and gaining a sensitivity for the register and nuances of the language. My method is empathic and direct, based on authentic audiovisual and written source materials, as well as free and guided conversation. We can talk about anything: art, literature, history, people, real life and fiction, according to your own specific interests and needs. I live in Garbatella, a lively and welcoming neighbourhood within easy reach of the city centre. A location for many Italian and foreign films, it is quiet and full of gardens and greenery.
I love Rome and her fascinating history, and I have elaborated several cultural itineraries for my students, during which we converse in Italian, while admiring artworks in museums and churches and exploring the most famous as well as the lesser-known places where the Romans hang out. With me you won't feel like a tourist, but one of the locals! These tours include The Caravaggio Tour, The Roman Curiosities and Anecdotes Tour, The Monuments and Sites Tour and The Street Food Tour.
Speaking of food, in a series of workshops I held in France, I experimented with studying Italian while cooking. In this way, you can learn the most common verb tenses and moods, and the typical vocabulary and expressions associated with the dishes that make Italian such a well-known and beloved language. I will specifically dedicate at least two mornings to practical cuisine, combining the study of Italian recipes and language in a special and unique way.
Happy learning and... Buon Appetito!
BUT
Let's not lose touch with each other!
One of the few positive things that we experienced during the difficult period of Covid lockdowns was the chance to dedicate some relaxing time completely to ourselves. However, my friends and I also organised a few online dinners! Everyone would cook the same dishes and, at the appointed time, we would all sit in front of our computers with a plate of good food and a glass of w**e. We were physically alone, but we ate and chatted together as if we were all sitting at the same table!
I would now like to make the same proposal, so that we can enjoy one last online meeting, a dinner (perhaps with a dish you have learned from me) or an afternoon tea. Are you intrigued by this idea?
