100% Italian Native Speaker offering Italian lessons in London - pizza and gelato are included in the service!

Learn more about Debora

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  Born and raised in Italy, in a little town in Sicily, Italian is my mother tongue!

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Giacomo Leopardi - my favourite author - is without a doubt one of the founding fathers of the Italian culture. Through his masterpieces La ginestra and L'infinito, Giacomo makes you feel connected with your inner self. Inspired by the nature of the Italian landscapes, he makes you fall in love with Italy and its unique features.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  "Andar liscio come l'olio" is my favourite Italian idiomatic expression. It is used when everything works out beautifully and goes as smooth as silk. Olio means 'oil' - a must-have ingredient on Italian tables! This demonstrates how food is always important to us - even as part of our language!

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The main difficulty in learning Italian is to get to understand the countless modal verbs. We have so many verbs that even Italian themselves make mistakes! But, with a little bit of practice through grammar exercises and conversation, you will get to know the difference between mangiavo and ho mangiato - they both mean 'ate' (a must-known-verb you'll always hear from Italians!)

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Ever since I moved to the UK when I was 19, teaching Italian has not only allowed me to spread my love for my country to others, but it also has helped me to keep my roots and origins alive.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I started learning English when I was six and I studied Russian at university. Countless have been the funny misunderstandings related to language learning. For example, some words in Russian are written similarly and pronounced in a completely different way. I remember that once, instead of saying 'I write', I mispronounced the verb and I said 'I go to the toilet'. We all laughed during the lecture, but by making a mistake, I know now the difference between these words. Also, it still amazes me how, after have been living in the UK for four years, I get to know every day new English words and expressions. That's the beauty of language learning - there is always something to learn!

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  When travelling around and meeting people from different parts of Italy, I have always been fascinated by the multiplicity of different words and dialects that Italy has. I have learned new expressions that have allowed me to get to understand and appreciate the different traditions and ways of living of Italians. Also, by living in London and getting to know countless nationalities, I get the chance to learn new words in different languages and to discover lots of cultures!

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  Since I was young, I have always been passionate about languages. Having studied languages for my whole life, I know what it means to study a foreign language and for this reason, I understand what it takes to learn a language in the most effective way. My 3-year experience in tutoring at university and teaching Italian has made me even more passionate about this job!