Mara E

Mara E Hi! I'm Mara—an online ESL teacher since 2009, teacher trainer, children's book author, and American mom raising two kids in Italy.

🇮🇹 Looking for a family-friendly weekend in Emilia-Romagna?This weekend we stayed at Villaggio della Salute Più, and it ...
07/09/2026

🇮🇹 Looking for a family-friendly weekend in Emilia-Romagna?

This weekend we stayed at Villaggio della Salute Più, and it was the perfect mix of nature, camping, and water fun.

What we loved:
🌿 Beautiful countryside views
🏕️ A peaceful campground
🦆 Ducks, ponds, and plenty of space for little explorers
💦 Pools, waterslides, and thermal water
🍝 A restaurant with a playground for the kids
🚠 Even a covered conveyor belt to help you reach the upper pools without walking up the hill!

As parents of two young kids, we don’t always come home with perfect photos—but we do come home with wonderful memories. ❤️

If you’re planning a trip through Emilia-Romagna, this is definitely a place I’d recommend for families.

Have you ever been to Villaggio della Salute Più, or is it now on your Italy bucket list? 🇮🇹



🇮🇹 Why We Chose to Raise Our Kids in ItalyPeople often ask why we decided to raise our children in Italy.The answer star...
07/09/2026

🇮🇹 Why We Chose to Raise Our Kids in Italy

People often ask why we decided to raise our children in Italy.

The answer starts long before we became parents.

In 2008, I came to Bologna as a study abroad student. That’s where I met my husband. After finishing my final year of college in Santa Cruz, California, I moved to Italy in 2009, and we built our first life together here.

In 2015, we moved back to the United States to be closer to my dad while he wasn’t well. We eventually settled in Las Vegas, where my husband worked in the video game industry and I taught English at a college-prep ESL school.

During our time there, the 2017 Las Vegas shooting deeply affected us. Although we weren’t at the concert, it changed the way we thought about the future. Later, when I became pregnant, I found myself thinking about the kind of childhood I hoped our children would have.

For our family, that meant returning to Italy.

We wanted our children to grow up close to family, surrounded by two languages, with easy access to parks, piazzas, and the slower rhythm of everyday life that we had come to love.

No place is perfect, and every family has different priorities. This was simply the choice that felt right for ours.

Looking back, I’m grateful our children get to grow up with both their American and Italian heritage every day. ❤️🇮🇹

People often ask why I decided to write children’s books.The answer goes back much further than becoming an author.My mo...
06/30/2026

People often ask why I decided to write children’s books.

The answer goes back much further than becoming an author.

My mom is Italian, and I grew up spending my summers in Italy. Years later, after teaching English since 2009, I realized how powerful stories are for helping children learn and stay curious.

Now I’m raising my own children in Italy, and I wanted to create the kinds of books I would have loved as a child—books that introduce Italy through its cities, food, traditions, and everyday life.

📚 Welcome to Italy takes readers on a journey across the country.

🍝 Mangiamo! celebrates Italian food and culture.

And this is only the beginning. I have many more ideas waiting to become books.

Have you or your family ever visited Italy? What’s your favorite place, memory, or Italian food? 🇮🇹

When I started teaching online, I thought I needed the perfect classroom, perfect props, and perfect lessons.I was wrong...
06/25/2026

When I started teaching online, I thought I needed the perfect classroom, perfect props, and perfect lessons.

I was wrong.

Over the years, I’ve taught from:
🏠 A small apartment
🚪 A converted hallway closet
✈️ While traveling with a laptop and a few simple props

What I’ve learned is that students connect with you far more than they connect with your setup.

If you’re considering online teaching, start with what you have and grow from there.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known when you started teaching—or any new career?

When I started teaching English in 2009, I never imagined I’d one day be writing children’s books.After years of helping...
06/24/2026

When I started teaching English in 2009, I never imagined I’d one day be writing children’s books.

After years of helping students learn through stories, I decided to create my own. Inspired by my Italian heritage, my summers spent in Italy as a child, and now raising my own children here, these books are designed to help young learners explore Italy through language, culture, food, and adventure.

📚 Welcome to Italy
🍝 Mangiamo!

And there are more to come.

Have you ever been to Italy? Let me know your favorite city, region, or Italian dish below! 🇮🇹

When I applied to VIPKid in 2015, I honestly thought it might be a scam.At the time, the idea of teaching children onlin...
06/18/2026

When I applied to VIPKid in 2015, I honestly thought it might be a scam.

At the time, the idea of teaching children online from home seemed almost too good to be true.

I eventually gave it a chance and taught my first online classes in 2016. What started as a new teaching opportunity quickly grew into something much bigger.

Over the years, I’ve taught thousands of classes and worked with companies including VIPKid, LingoAce, Zebra English, AirCourse, TwinkleTalk, Polly English, Buzzy English, and more.

Along the way, I also became a:
🍎 Mock Class Mentor
🎤 Workshop Host
🎓 Demo Reviewer
👩‍🏫 Teacher Trainer

Today, I teach online from Italy while raising two children, creating resources for teachers, and writing children’s books.

If you’re considering online teaching, know that you don’t need a perfect setup or years of online experience to get started. You just need to take the first step.

Have you ever taken a chance on something that completely changed your career?

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Hi, I’m Mara! 👋I’ve been teaching English since 2009, starting in language schools in Italy before moving into college p...
06/16/2026

Hi, I’m Mara! 👋

I’ve been teaching English since 2009, starting in language schools in Italy before moving into college prep programs and eventually online teaching.

Since 2016, I’ve taught thousands of classes online and worked with companies including VIPKid, LingoAce, Zebra English, AirCourse, TwinkleTalk, Polly English, Buzzy English, and more. Along the way, I’ve also served as a teacher trainer, mock class mentor, demo reviewer, workshop host, and content creator.

Today, I live in Italy with my family, continue teaching online, create resources for teachers, and write children’s books inspired by language, culture, and family adventures.

Here you’ll find a mix of:
🍎 Online teaching tips
📚 Children’s books and literacy
🇮🇹 Life in Italy

I’m glad you’re here!

What brought you to my page?






LifeInItaly
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